Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Michigan International Speedway Track Facts: 2018 FireKeepers Casino 400

Kyle Larson has won three straight races at Michigan International Speedway.
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 2018 Top 16 at Michigan International Speedway
Rank
Driver
Races
Poles
Wins
Top Fives
Top 10s
DNFs
Average Finish
Driver Rating
1
Kyle Busch
26
0
1
4
8
3
19.5
87.4
2
Kevin Harvick
34
1
1
10
15
1
12.7
94.5
3
Joey Logano
18
3
2
5
12
1
12.9
96.3
4
Martin Truex Jr
24
0
0
6
9
1
15.4
87.0
5
Brad Keselowski
17
1
0
5
8
0
12.8
94.3
6
Clint Bowyer
24
0
0
1
11
1
17.7
79.8
7
Kurt Busch
34
2
3
5
11
8
19.5
89.0
8
Denny Hamlin
24
0
2
7
11
3
14.8
90.1
9
Kyle Larson
8
1
3
4
5
1
10.9
101.1
10
Ryan Blaney
6
0
0
1
1
0
18.2
85.1
11
Aric Almirola
11
0
0
0
0
0
20.2
67.6
12
Jimmie Johnson
32
0
1
5
13
3
16.3
97.7
13
Chase Elliott
4
0
0
3
4
0
3.5
113.9
14
Erik Jones
2
0
0
1
1
0
8.0
98.4
15
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
10
0
0
0
1
0
21.0
65.0
16
Alex Bowman
5
0
0
0
0
1
33.6
44.2
* – Based on last 26 races at Michigan International Speedway (2005 – 2017).


Loop Data Leaders: Michigan International Speedway
Monster Energy Series - Top 3 In Key Loop Data Statistics
Driver Rating

Avg. Running Position
Laps Led

Chase Elliott
113.9
Chase Elliott
5.974
Jimmie Johnson
606
Matt Kenseth
101.9
Matt Kenseth
10.979
Matt Kenseth
389
Kyle Larson
101.1
Erik Jones
11.334
Joey Logano
356
Fastest Laps Run
% of Laps in the Top 15

Quality Passes

Jimmie Johnson
449
Chase Elliott
96.0%
Matt Kenseth
1,064
Matt Kenseth
281
Erik Jones
78.1%
Jimmie Johnson
910
Martin Truex Jr
256
Matt Kenseth
77.8%
Denny Hamlin
900
Loop Data stats are from 2005 - Present

Michigan International Speedway Data
Season Race #: 15 of 36 (06-10-18)
Track Size: 2-miles
Banking/Turn 1 & 2: 18 degrees
Banking/Turn 3 & 4: 18 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 5 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 2 degrees
Frontstretch Length:  3,600 feet
Backstretch Length:  2,242 feet
Race Length: 200 laps / 400 miles
Stage 1 and 2 Length: 60 laps (each)
Final Stage Length: 80 laps

Top 10 Driver Ratings at Michigan
Chase Elliott............................. 113.9
Matt Kenseth............................ 101.9
Kyle Larson.............................. 101.1
Erik Jones.................................. 98.4
Jimmie Johnson.......................... 97.7
Joey Logano............................... 96.3
Kevin Harvick............................. 94.5
Brad Keselowski......................... 94.3
Denny Hamlin............................. 90.1
Kurt Busch................................. 89.0
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2017 races (26 total) among active drivers at Michigan International Speedway.

Qualifying/Race Data
2017 pole winner:
Kyle Larson, Chevrolet
202.156 mph, 35.616 secs. 06-16-17

2017 race winner:
Kyle Larson, Chevrolet
143.369 mph, (02:47:24), 06-18-17

Track qualifying record:
Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet
206.558 mph, 34.857 secs. 08-17-14

Track race record:
Dale Jarrett, Ford
173.997 mph, (2:17:56), 06-13-99

At Michigan International Speedway:


History
·        Michigan International Speedway sits on more than 1,400 acres in the "Irish Hills" of Southeastern Michigan. Ground-breaking took place on Sept. 28, 1967.
·        The first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan was held June 15, 1969 – won by Cale Yarborough at a speed of 139.254 mph.
·        The track was known as Michigan Speedway during the time Roger Penske was the primary owner (1996-99).
·        The first MENCS race was 500 miles in length; the second was scheduled for 600. The track was re-measured to 2.04 miles for the last race in 1970 and both races in 1971 – with the race distance being 402 miles. All other races have been scheduled for 400 miles.
·        The 2-mile speedway underwent a repave in 2012.
·        There have been 97 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Michigan International Speedway since the first race there in 1969. Other than 1973, which had just one race, there have been two races each season since 1969.

Starts
·        386 drivers have competed in at least one Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway; 284 in more than one.
·        Bill Elliott leads the series in starts at Michigan with 61.
·        Matt Kenseth leads all active series drivers in Michigan starts with 37.
·        Bobby Isaac leads the series in average starting position at MIS with a 3.125 in eight starts.
·        Chase Elliott leads all active drivers in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Michigan with a 7.500 in four starts.
·        A total of 38 drivers have made their first series start at Michigan International Speedway.
·        Landon Cassill (6/13/2010) is the only active Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver to make his first career start at Michigan International Speedway.

Poles
·        49 different drivers have won the Busch Pole Award at Michigan, led by David Pearson with 10.
·        Kasey Kahne and Joey Logano lead all active drivers in poles at Michigan with three each.
·        Donnie Allison won the inaugural Busch pole at Michigan in 1969 with a speed of 160.135 mph (Ford). 
·        Seven drivers have won consecutive Busch Pole Awards at Michigan: David Pearson (1974 sweep) and (1976-1978), Ron Bouchard (1981-1982), Terry Labonte (1983 sweep), Bill Elliott (1984 sweep) and (1988 sweep), Bobby Labonte (2003 sweep), Brian Vickers (2008-2009 sweep) and Joey Logano (2016 sweep). 
·        David Pearson holds the record for most consecutive poles at Michigan with five; fall 1976 through 1978. Most recent driver to post consecutive poles at MIS - Joey Logano’s 2016 sweep.
·        Youngest Michigan pole winner: Joey Logano (08/16/2013 – 23 years, 2 months, 23 days).
·        Oldest Michigan pole winner: Mark Martin (08/19/2012 – 53 years, 7 months, 10 days).
·        Seven drivers have posted their first career Busch Pole award in the Monster Energy Series at Michigan International Speedway – Marcos Ambrose (6/17/2012), JJ Yeley (6/17/2007), Jeff Burton (08/18/1996), Bobby Hamilton (6/23/1996), Rusty Wallace (6/28/1987), Ron Bouchard (8/16/1981) and Pete Hamilton (6/07/1970).
·        Nine different manufacturers have won a pole at Michigan in the MENCS; led by Ford with 28; followed by Chevrolet (27 each), Mercury (10), Dodge (nine), Pontiac (eight), Toyota (five), Buick (three), Plymouth (two) and Oldsmobile (one).

Wins
·        37 different drivers have won in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Michigan International Speedway, led by David Pearson with nine wins.
·        Kyle Larson, Kurt Busch and Matt Kenseth lead all active MENCS drivers with three wins each.  
·        NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough won the inaugural Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway driving for Wood Brothers Racing in a Mercury.
·        Nine drivers have posted consecutive wins at Michigan International Speedway – most recent, Kyle Larson who has won the last three races at Michigan. Larson can become the ninth driver in series history to win four consecutive races at a single track with a win this weekend – the last driver to accomplish the feat was Kevin Harvick at ISM Raceway (2013-2015).  
·        Bill Elliott (1985 sweep and 1986 sweep) holds the record for the most consecutive wins in the series at Michigan with four.
·        Ryan Newman (2003-2004) and Kyle Larson (2016-2017 sweep) are the only two active drivers to win consecutive series races at Michigan.
·        Youngest Michigan winner: Joey Logano (08/18/2013 – 23 years, 2 months, 25 days).
·        Oldest Michigan winner: Harry Gant (08/16/1992 – 52 years, 7 months, 6 days).
·        Roush Fenway Racing has the most wins at Michigan in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series with 13: Mark Martin (four), Greg Biffle (four), Carl Edwards (two), Matt Kenseth (two) and Kurt Busch (one).
·        The top six winning MENCS organizations at Michigan are Roush Fenway Racing (13), Wood Brothers Racing (11), Joe Gibbs Racing (eight), Hendrick Motorsports (eight) and Team Penske (eight).
·        Eight different manufacturers have won in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Michigan; led by Fordwith 35 victories; followed by Chevrolet with 26, Mercury (12), Dodge (nine), Toyota (five), Buick (four) Pontiac (four) and Oldsmobile (two).
·        20 of the 97 (20.6%) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Michigan have been won from the Busch pole; the most recent won from the pole – Kyle Larson (June 2017).
·        The first starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (21) than any other starting position at Michigan International Speedway – 20 from the Busch Pole and one from the first starting position due to qualifying being cancelled.     
·        The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Michigan is 32nd, by Mark Martin in the spring of 2009.
·        Among the 10 active series Michigan winners, Kevin Harvick (19), Kyle Busch (13) and Joey Logano (10) all made 10 or more attempts before their first win.
·        Jamie McMurray has made the most series starts (30) among full-time active drivers at Michigan without a win.
·        Only two drivers in series history have recorded their first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career win at Michigan International Speedway – NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett (8/18/1991) and Kyle Larson (8/28/2016).   

Additional Finishing Position Stats
·        A total of 41 different drivers in Monster Energy Series history have finished runner-up at Michigan, led by Jeff Gordon with eight second-place finishes; followed by NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip with seven and Kevin Harvick with six.
·        A total of 91 different drivers in the Monster Energy Series have posted top-five finishes, led by NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough with 21 top fives; Matt Kenseth leads all active drivers with 14.   
·        A total of 144 different drivers have finished inside the top-10 at Michigan in the Monster Energy Series, led by NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin with 31 top 10s. Matt Kenseth leads all active drivers with 20.
·        Chase Elliott leads all active drivers in the MENCS in average finishing position at Michigan with a 3.5. Below are the top 10 active drivers in the series in average finish at MIS:

Active Drivers
Average Finish
Starts
1
Chase Elliott
3.500
4
2
Erik Jones
8.000
2
3
Matt Kenseth
10.757
37
4
Kyle Larson
10.875
8
5
Kevin Harvick
12.706
34
6
Brad Keselowski
12.824
17
7
Joey Logano
12.944
18
8
Denny Hamlin
14.750
24
9
Martin Truex Jr
15.417
24
10
Ryan Newman
16.242
33


Track/Event Specific Stats
·        Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory (MOV) in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Michigan International Speedway was the June 10, 2001 race won by Jeff Gordon over Ricky Rudd with a MOV of 0.085 second.
·        Below are the top five closest Monster Energy Series margins of victories at Michigan:
Margin of Victory
Race Winner
Runner-Up
Date
0.085
Jeff Gordon
Ricky Rudd
6/10/2001
0.131
Matt Kenseth
Dale Jarrett
6/16/2002
0.168
Dale Jarrett
Mark Martin
8/18/1996
0.270
Bobby Labonte
Jeff Gordon
6/18/1995
0.281
Denny Hamlin
Matt Kenseth
6/19/2011

·        There have been five Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races resulting with NASCAR Overtime at Michigan International Speedway:
Date
Scheduled No. of Laps
Actual No. of Laps
NASCAR Overtime Laps
Race Winner
8/13/2017
200
202
2
Kyle Larson
8/19/2012
200
201
1
Greg Biffle
8/21/2011
200
203
3
Kyle Busch
6/15/2008
200
203
3
Dale Earnhardt Jr
8/21/2007
200
203
3
Kurt Busch

·        Five of the 97 (5.2%) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Michigan International Speedway have been shortened due to weather conditions:
Date
Scheduled No. of Laps
Actual No. of Laps
No. of Fewer Laps
Race Winner
6/14/2015
200
138
-62
Kurt Busch
6/18/2006
200
129
-71
Kasey Kahne
8/19/2001
200
162
-38
Sterling Marlin
6/11/2000
200
194
-6
Tony Stewart
8/17/1969
300
165
-135
David Pearson

·        Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Michigan International Speedway four times: June, 1985; June, 1990; August, 2004; June, 2008.    
·        Cale Yarborough leads the series in laps led at MIS with 1,308. Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in laps led at Michigan with 687 laps led in 30 starts. Below are the top five active lap leaders at Michigan in the MENCS:
Active Drivers
Led
Completed
% Led
Starts
Jimmie Johnson
687
5,991
11.5%
32
Kurt Busch
448
5,902
7.6%
34
Matt Kenseth
443
7,082
6.3%
37
Joey Logano
356
3,397
10.5%
18
Kevin Harvick
323
6,599
4.9%
34


Female Competitor Stats
·        Four female drivers have competed at Michigan International Speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Janet Guthrie, Robin McCall, Shawna Robinson and Danica Patrick. Of the four female drivers to compete at Michigan, Guthrie has the best finish (10th).  
Driver
Starting Position
Finishing Position
Date
Danica Patrick
18
22
8/13/2017
Danica Patrick
23
37
6/18/2017
Danica Patrick
25
21
6/12/2016
Danica Patrick
23
25
8/16/2015
Danica Patrick
19
16
6/14/2015
Danica Patrick
14
18
8/17/2014
Danica Patrick
27
17
6/15/2014
Danica Patrick
28
23
8/18/2013
Danica Patrick
37
13
6/16/2013
Patrick Averages
23.8
21.3

Shawna Robinson
32
34
6/10/2001
Robinson Averages
32.0
34.0

Robin McCall
29
33
8/22/1982
Robin McCall
35
29
6/20/1982
McCall Averages
32.0
31.0

Janet Guthrie
18
27
8/20/1978
Janet Guthrie
15
10
8/22/1977
Janet Guthrie
12
26
6/19/1977
Guthrie Averages
15.0
21.0


NASCAR in Michigan
·        There has been a total of 146 NASCAR national series races among four tracks in the state of Michigan.
Track Name
City
Monster Energy
Xfinity
Camping World
Total Races
Michigan International Speedway
Brooklyn
97
26
18
141
Grand River Speedrome
Grand Rapids
2
0
0
2
Michigan State Fairgrounds
Detroit
2
0
0
2
Monroe Speedway
Monroe
1
0
0
1
Totals

102
26
18
146
·        The first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race held in the state of Michigan was at Grand River Speedrome in Grand Rapids, Michigan on 7/1/1951 – won by Marshall Teague from the pole in a Hudson.

Michigan Drivers In NASCAR
·        99 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Michigan.
·        Nine of the 99 have won at least one race in NASCAR’s national series.
Driver
Monster Energy
Xfinity
Camping World
Total
Brad Keselowski
24
38
1
63
Paul Goldsmith
9
0
0
9
Johnny Benson
1
3
14
18
Erik Jones
0
9
7
16
Tim Fedewa
0
4
0
4
Butch Miller
0
2
1
3
Tracy Leslie
0
1
0
1
Jack Sprague
0
1
28
29
Bob Keselowski
0
0
1
1

Date
Track
Busch Pole
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Race Winner
OEM
2/18/2018
Daytona
Alex Bowman
Kurt Busch
Ryan Blaney
N/A
Austin Dillon
Chevrolet
2/25/2018
Atlanta
Kyle Busch
Kevin Harvick
Brad Keselowski
N/A
Kevin Harvick
Ford
3/4/2018
Las Vegas
Ryan Blaney
Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick
N/A
Kevin Harvick
Ford
3/11/2018
ISM
Martin Truex Jr
Kyle Busch
Kurt Busch
N/A
Kevin Harvick
Ford
3/18/2018
Auto Club
Martin Truex Jr
Martin Truex Jr.
Martin Truex Jr.
N/A
Martin Truex Jr
Toyota
3/26/2018
Martinsville
None-Weather
Denny Hamlin
Ryan Blaney 
N/A
Clint Bowyer 
Ford 
4/8/2018
Texas
Kurt Busch
Kevin Harvick
Kyle Busch
N/A
Kyle Busch
Toyota
4/15/2018
Bristol
Kyle Busch
Brad Keselowski
Brad Keselowski
N/A
Kyle Busch
Toyota
4/21/2018
Richmond
Martin Truex Jr.
Joey Logano
Joey Logano
N/A
Kyle Busch
Toyota
4/29/2018
Talladega
Kevin Harvick
Brad Keselowski
Paul Menard
N/A
Joey Logano
Ford
5/6/2018
Dover
Kyle Larson
Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick
N/A
Kevin Harvick
Ford
5/12/2018
Kansas
Kevin Harvick
Ryan Blaney
Kyle Larson
N/A
Kevin Harvick
Ford
5/19/2018
All-Star Open
N/A
Alex Bowman
Daniel Suarez
N/A
AJ Allmendinger
Chevrolet
5/19/2018
All-Star Race
Matt Kenseth
Kevin Harvick
Kyle Busch
Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick
Ford
5/27/2018
Charlotte
Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch
Toyota
6/3/2018
Pocono
Ryan Blaney
Martin Truex Jr
Kevin Harvick
N/A
Martin Truex Jr
Toyota
6/10/2018
Michigan
6/24/2018
Sonoma






7/1/2018
Chicagoland
7/7/2018
Daytona






7/14/2018
Kentucky
7/22/2018
New Hampshire






7/29/2018
Pocono
8/5/2018
Watkins Glen






8/12/2018
Michigan
8/18/2018
Bristol






9/2/2018
Darlington
9/9/2018
Indianapolis






9/16/2018
Las Vegas
9/22/2018
Richmond






9/30/2018
Charlotte
10/7/2018
Dover






10/14/2018
Talladega
10/21/2018
Kansas






10/28/2018
Martinsville
11/4/2018
Texas






11/11/2018
ISM
11/18/2018
Homestead








Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series - Milestones
STARTS
Driver: Kevin Harvick
Has
Needs
Milestone:
624
1
Will become the 25th driver to make 625 or more Monster Energy Series starts.
Driver: Ryan Newman
Has
Needs
Milestone:
598
2
Will become the 28th driver to make 600 or more Monster Energy Series starts.
Driver: Denny Hamlin
Has
Needs
Milestone:
448
2
Will become the 51st driver to make 450 or more Monster Energy Series starts.
Driver: AJ Allmendinger
Has
Needs
Milestone:
349
1
Will become the 71st driver to make 350 or more Monster Energy Series starts.
WINS
Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Has
Needs
Milestone:
83
1
Tie Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip for fourth on the all-time series wins list.
Driver: Kyle Busch
Has
Needs
Milestone:
47
1
Tie Herb Thomas (48) for 14th on the all-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series wins list.
Driver: Kevin Harvick
Has
Needs
Milestone:
42
1
Tie Bill Elliott (44) for 16th on the all-time MENCS wins list.
Driver: Matt Kenseth
Has
Needs
Milestone:
39
1
To tie Mark Martin for 19th on the all-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series wins list.
Driver: Denny Hamlin
Has
Needs
Milestone:
31
1
To tie Dale Jarrett for 24th on the all-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series wins list.
Driver: Kurt Busch
Has
Needs
Milestone:
29
2
Tie Denny Hamlin for 25th on the all-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series wins list.
BUSCH POLES
Driver: Ryan Newman
Has
Needs
Milestone:
51
3
Tie Bill Elliott for eighth on the all-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series poles list.
Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Has
Needs
Milestone:
35
1
To tie Rusty Wallace and Rex White for 18th on the all-time series poles list.
Driver: Kyle Busch
Has
Needs
Milestone:
30
1
To tie Fonty Flock for 23rd on the all-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series poles list.
Driver: Kasey Kahne
Has
Needs
Milestone:
27
2
To tie Kyle Busch and Ricky Rudd for 25th on the all-time Monster Energy Series poles list.



Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series - Milestones
Second-Place Finishes
Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Has
Needs
Milestone:
46
2
Tie Lee Petty for 11th on the all-time series second-place finishes list.
Driver: Kyle Busch
Has
Needs
Milestone:
43
1
Tie Tony Stewart for 13th on the all-time series second-place finishes list.
Driver: Matt Kenseth
Has
Needs
Milestone:
30
1
Tie Benny Parsons for 24th on the all-time series second-place finishes list.
Top Fives
Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Has
Needs
Milestone:
224
1
To become the 11th series driver all-time to post 225 or more top fives
Driver: Matt Kenseth
Has
Needs
Milestone:
181
1
Tie Terry Labonte for 18th on the series all-time top-five finishes list
Top 10s
Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Has
Needs
Milestone:
347
2
Tie Rusty Wallace for 11th on the series all-time top-10 finishes list
Driver: Kevin Harvick
Has
Needs
Milestone:
318
1
Tie Cale Yarborough for 16th on the series all-time top-10 finishes list
Laps Led
Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Has
Needs
Milestone:
18,665
335
To become the ninth driver in the MENCS all-time to lead 19,000 laps.
Driver: Matt Kenseth
Has
Needs
Milestone:
11,751
249
To become the 15th driver all-time in the MENCS to lead 12,000 laps.
Driver: Martin Truex Jr.
Has
Needs
Milestone:
6,827
173
To become the 29th driver all-time in the MENCS to lead 7,000 laps.


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