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The Real Deal: Harvick In Control Heading To Chicagoland
Jul 8th
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series begins the
second half of the 2010 season with Kevin Harvick
(No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet) leading the
standings and his Richard Childress Racing teammates
not far behind.
Any notion that Havick’s resurgence was cosmetic,
evaporated last Saturday at Daytona International
Speedway, where he nabbed his second win of
2010 and second career victory at Daytona.
Teammate Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar
Chevrolet) finished fifth and sits eighth in the standings.
Though he finished 17th due to a last-laps shuffle,
Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger
Helper Chevrolet), nearly beat the other two; he
hovers just outside the top 12, in 14th place.
So it’s Harvick out front as the series prepares
for Saturday night’s LifeLock.com 400 at Chicagoland
Speedway — the third race in the 10-event
Race to the Chase, the summer stretch that sets the
field for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
Use ink when you inscribe Harvick’s name. He’s
not going away. But he can’t be satisfied if he hopes
to catch series wins leaders Jimmie Johnson (No.
48 Lowe’s Chevrolet) and Denny Hamlin (No. 11
FedEx Ground Toyota) when it comes to Chase
bonus points. Hamlin and Johnson each have five
wins thus far; Harvick has two.
“With our current situation in the points, we are
going to do all we can to give ourselves an opportunity
to win each week,” Harvick said.
His Chase competitors should note his Chicagoland record: two wins, five top fives and six top 10s. He’s
similarly strong in NASCAR Nationwide Series competition there, with two victories in that series.
“Every time we go back there it seems like it just fits our program and my driving style and everything
that we do,” said Harvick, who’s enjoying a rebirth in his 10th NASCAR Sprint Cup season, all with RCR.
Thus far, he’s led the standings for a career-high 13 weeks, including the last nine consecutively. The
recent decision to re-sign with RCR quieted any lingering distraction, and last year’s dreadful team performance
(Harvick finished 19th, Burton 17th and Bowyer 15th) has turned blessing-in-disguise.
Significant in-house reorganization, the installation of Burton’s former crew chief, Scott Miller, in a director
of competition role, and overall rededication have yielded a serious challenge to Hendrick Motorsports’
and Johnsons’ four-time and reigning series champion dominance.
Sustaining it is in Harvick & Company’s hands.
“He’s still the champion, and he’s still the guy to beat,” Harvick said. “For us, we’ve just got to keep
working hard. We’re in a fortunate position with the start to our season, that we’ve got a plan to keep working
on our cars and keep trying to make things better. Hopefully when the stress starts with ten weeks to go, we’ll
be as ready as we’ve ever been from the 29 and an RCR standpoint to make a strong run at it “
Statistical Advance: Samsung Mobile 500 At Texas Motor Speedway
May 15th
Statistical Advance: Samsung Mobile 500 At Texas Motor Speedway
April 12, 2010
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 12, 2010) – Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Texas Motor Speedway going into the Samsung Mobile 500 on April 18.
TEXAS-SPECIFIC STATISTICS
Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford)
- One win, three top fives, five top 10s
- Average finish of 20.9
- Average Running Position of 15.8, 13th-best
- Driver Rating of 95.4, seventh-best
- Series-high 266 Fastest Laps Run
- 583 Green Flag Passes, ninth-most
- Average Green Flag Speed of 172.380 mph, fourth-fastest
- 2,088 Laps in the Top 15 (62.3%), ninth-most
- 336 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), fifth-most
Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet)
- Two top fives, four top 10s
- Average finish of 12.8
- Average Running Position of 13.3, eighth-best
- Driver Rating of 88.5, 12th-best
- Average Green Flag Speed of 172.024 mph, eighth-fastest
Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)
- One win, two top fives, nine top 10s
- Average finish of 13.8
- Average Running Position of 13.7, 11th-best
- Driver Rating of 93.8, ninth-best
- 155 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most
- 601 Green Flag Passes, fourth-most
- Average Green Flag Speed of 172.010 mph, ninth-fastest
- 2,137 Laps in the Top 15 (63.8%), eighth-most
- 324 Quality Passes, seventh-most
Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M’s Toyota)
- Three top fives, four top 10s
- Average finish of 15.9
- Average Running Position of 11.8, fourth-best
- Driver Rating of 98.6, fourth-best
- 158 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most
- Average Green Flag Speed of 172.338 mph, fifth-fastest
- 2,205 Laps in the Top 15 (65.8%), sixth-most
- 288 Quality Passes, ninth-most
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 AMP Energy Drink/National Guard Chevrolet)
- One win, three top fives, seven top 10s; two poles
- Average finish of 14.6
- Average Running Position of 10.2, third-best
- Driver Rating of 94.4, eighth-best
- 122 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most
- 590 Green Flag Passes, seventh-most
- Average Green Flag Speed of 172.205 mph, sixth-fastest
- Series-high 2,790 Laps in the Top 15 (83.3%)
- Series-high 421 Quality Passes
Carl Edwards (No. 99 SUBWAY Ford)
- Three wins, three top fives, four top 10s
- Average finish of 16.0
- Average Running Position of 12.7, sixth-best
- Driver Rating of 99.7, third-best
- Series-high 266 Fastest Laps Run
- 551 Green Flag Passes, 13th-most
- Average Green Flag Speed of 172.404 mph, third-fastest
- 2,476 Laps in the Top 15 (73.9%), fourth-most
- 342 Quality Passes, fourth-most
Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
- One win, seven top fives, nine top 10s; two poles
- Average finish of 15.1
- Average Running Position of 14.0, 12th-best
- Driver Rating of 91.4, 10th-best
- 139 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most
- 2,021 Laps in the Top 15 (60.3%), 11th-most
- 274 Quality Passes, 11th-most
Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx/March of Dimes Toyota)
- Three top fives, six top 10s
- Average finish of 10.6
- Average Running Position of 12.2, fifth-best
- Driver Rating of 95.6, sixth-best
- 102 Fastest Laps Run, 11th-most
- 572 Green Flag Passes, 10th-most
- Average Green Flag Speed of 172.127 mph, seventh-fastest
- 2,071 Laps in the Top 15 (68.7%), 10th-most
- 347 Quality Passes, third-most
Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet)
- One win, six top fives, nine top 10s
- Average finish of 10.8
- Average Running Position of 13.6, 10th-best
- Driver Rating of 96.1, fifth-best
- 180 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most
- Average Green Flag Speed of 171.883 mph, 12th-fastest
- 2,175 Laps in the Top 15 (64.9%), seventh-most
- 272 Quality Passes, 13th-most
Matt Kenseth (No. 17 Crown Royal Ford)
- One win, seven top fives, 10 top 10s
- Average finish of 9.3
- Average Running Position of 9.3, second-best
- Driver Rating of 105.0, second-best
- 149 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most
- Series-high 652 Green Flag Passes
- Average Green Flag Speed of 172.444 mph, second-fastest
- 2,669 Laps in the Top 15 (79.7%), third-most
- 358 Quality Passes, second-most
Mark Martin (No. 5 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet)
- One win, six top fives, 10 top 10s
- Average finish of 13.2
- Average Running Position of 13.5, ninth-best
- Driver Rating of 88.9, 11th-best
- 86 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-most
- 555 Green Flag Passes, 11th-most
- Average Green Flag Speed of 171.880 mph, 13th-fastest
- 2,228 Laps in the Top 15 (66.5%), fifth-most
- 298 Quality Passes, eighth-most
Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet)
- One win, four top fives, 10 top 10s
- Average finish of 12.2
- Series-best Average Running Position of 8.5
- Series-best Driver Rating of 106.1
- 239 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
- Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 172.575 mph
- 2,778 Laps in the Top 15 (82.9%), second-most
- 328 Quality Passes, sixth-most
Martin Truex Jr. (No. 56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota)
- One top five, four top 10s; one pole
- Average finish of 14.4
- Average Running Position of 13.1, seventh-best
- Driver Rating of 88.0, 13th-best
- 553 Green Flag Passes, 12th-most
- Average Green Flag Speed of 172.001 mph, 10th-fastest
- 2,005 Laps in the Top 15 (66.5%), 12th-most
- 274 Quality Passes, 11th-most
Chase Contenders Chase Contenders
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 at Texas Motor Speedway
| Driver | Races | Poles | Wins | Top Fives | Top 10s | DNFs | Average Finish | Driver Rating*
|
|
| 1 | Jimmie Johnson | 13 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 1 | 10.8 | 96.1 |
| 2 | Matt Kenseth | 15 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 9.3 | 105.0 |
| 3 | Greg Biffle | 12 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 20.9 | 95.4 |
| 4 | Kevin Harvick | 14 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 13.3 | 82.8 |
| 5 | Jeff Gordon | 18 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 15.1 | 91.4 |
| 6 | Clint Bowyer | 8 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 12.8 | 88.5 |
| 7 | Jeff Burton | 18 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 15.2 | 84.3 |
| 8 | Carl Edwards | 10 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 16.0 | 99.7 |
| 9 | Tony Stewart | 16 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 2 | 12.2 | 106.1 |
| 10 | Dale Earnhardt Jr | 15 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 14.6 | 94.4 |
| 11 | Joey Logano | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29.7 | 49.3 |
| 12 | Kyle Busch | 10 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 15.9 | 98.6 |
* – Based on last 10 Texas Motor Speedway races.
At Texas Motor Speedway
History
- Construction began in 1995.
- The first NASCAR race was a NASCAR Nationwide Series event on April 5, 1997.
- The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was on April 6, 1997.
Notebook
- There have been 18 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Texas Motor Speedway, one per season from 1997 through 2004 and two races per year since 2005.
- Four drivers have competed in all 18 Texas races: Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte and Mark Martin.
- Jeremy Mayfield was the first pole winner, in 1998. Qualifying for the inaugural race in 1997 was canceled.
- Jeff Burton won the first NASCAR Sprint Cup race.
- 12 drivers have scored poles, led by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Bobby Labonte, Ryan Newman and Jeff Gordon with two.
- 15 drivers have won races, led by Carl Edwards, with three. Jeff Gordon won at Texas for the first time, last season. Gordon has won at every track he has run except Homestead-Miami Speedway.
- 14 of 18 races have been won from a top-10 starting position. Only one has been won from the pole (Kasey Kahne in 2006).
- Matt Kenseth started 31st en route to his victory at Texas in 2002, the deepest in the field that a race winner has started.
- Both Jeff Burton (1999) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2000) scored their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win at Texas.
- Five of the last seven races have had a margin of victory under one second.
- Matt Kenseth (9.3) is the only active driver to average a top-10 finish.
- Roush Fenway Racing leads all owners in victories, with seven. Hendrick Motorsports is second, with three wins.
- There has been one season sweep, by Carl Edwards in 2008. Edwards is looking to break a 43-race winless drought.
NASCAR in Texas
- There have been 27 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in Texas.
- 72 drivers in NASCAR’s three national series (all-time) have their home state recorded as Texas.
- There have been seven race winners from Texas in NASCAR’s three national series:
| Driver | NSCS | NNS | NCWTS |
| Terry Labonte | 22 | 11 | 1 |
| Bobby Labonte | 21 | 10 | 1 |
| A.J. Foyt | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Billy Wade | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Bobby Hillin Jr. | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Johnny Rutherford | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| David Starr | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Colin Braun | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Texas Motor Speedway Data
Race #: 8 of 35 (4-18-10)
Track Size: 1.5 miles
Race Length: 501 miles
- Banking/corners: 24 degrees
- Banking/straights: 5 degrees
- Frontstretch: 2,250 feet
- Backstretch: 1,330 feet
Driver Rating at Texas
Tony Stewart 106.1
Matt Kenseth 105.0
Carl Edwards 99.7
Kyle Busch 98.6
Jimmie Johnson 96.1
Denny Hamlin 95.6
Greg Biffle 95.4
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 94.4
Kurt Busch 93.8
Jeff Gordon 91.4
Note: Driver Rating compiled from 2005-2009 races (10 total) at Texas.
Qualifying/Race Data
2009 pole winner: David Reutimann (190.517 mph, 28.344 secs.)
2009 race winner: Jeff Gordon, 146.372 mph, 4-5-09)
Track qualifying record: Brian Vickers (196.235 mph, 27.518 seconds, 11-3-06)
Track race record: Carl Edwards (151.055 mph, 11-6-05)
Pit Window: Every 50-55 laps, depending on fuel mileage.