Sprint Cup driver statistics – Las Vegas Motor Speedway

By Chris EstradaMar 3, 2015, 12:28 PM EST

NASCAR heads west for the next three weeks, starting this Sunday with a trip to the Diamond in the Desert, the 1.5-mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

It’s the second consecutive 1.5-mile track for the series, but because it isn’t as abrasive as Atlanta Motor Speedway, Las Vegas’ surface will present a much different challenge for drivers.

“[At Atlanta,] we have, I don’t know, maybe a 3- or 4-second fall-off in tire,” Atlanta winner Jimmie Johnson said after his victory Sunday at Atlanta. “In Vegas, it will probably be just a second. Just a different dynamic in how the car works.”

Here’s a look at how top Sprint Cup drivers have fared over the years at Las Vegas, which was reconfigured in 2006 with progressive banking in the turns.

Greg Biffle (No. 16 Cheez-It Ford)
· Two top fives, six top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 14.5
· Average Running Position of 12.3, sixth-best
· Driver Rating of 97.9, fifth-best
· 150 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most
· 568 Green Flag Passes, eighth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 170.725 mph, fifth-fastest
· 1,759 Laps in the Top 15 (65.4%), eighth-most
· 281 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), 11th-most

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet)
· Three top fives, eight top 10s
· Average finish of 14.7
· Average Running Position of 14.0, eighth-best
· Driver Rating of 91.5, ninth-best
· 108 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most
· 584 Green Flag Passes, fifth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 170.610 mph, sixth-fastest
· 1,857 Laps in the Top 15 (69.0%), sixth-most
· 336 Quality Passes, fifth-most

Carl Edwards (No. 19 Comcast Toyota)
· Two wins, five top fives, six top 10s
· Average finish of 9.2
· Average Running Position of 12.0, fifth-best
· Driver Rating of 97.8, sixth-best
· 159 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most
· 636 Green Flag Passes, second-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 170.568 mph, seventh-fastest
· 1,879 Laps in the Top 15 (69.8%), fourth-most
· 390 Quality Passes, second-most

Jeff Gordon (No. 24 3M Chevrolet)
· One win, six top fives, eight top 10s
· Average finish of 15.0
· Average Running Position of 9.7, second-best
· Driver Rating of 103.7, second-best
· 181 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most
· 548 Green Flag Passes, 11th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 170.927 mph, third-fastest
· Series-high 2,130 Laps in the Top 15 (79.2%)
· 385 Quality Passes, third-most

Kevin Harvick (No. 4 Jimmy John’s/Budweiser Chevrolet)
· Three top fives, five top 10s
· Average finish of 14.7
· Average Running Position of 11.6, fourth-best
· Driver Rating of 94.5, eighth-best
· 89 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most
· 571 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 170.564 mph, eighth-fastest
· 1,870 Laps in the Top 15 (69.5%), fifth-most
· 316 Quality Passes, sixth-most

Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 KOBALT Tools Chevrolet)
· Four wins, five top fives, eight top 10s
· Average finish of 9.2
· Series-best Average Running Position of 8.9
· Series-best Driver Rating of 113.6
· Series-high 346 Fastest Laps Run
· 553 Green Flag Passes, 10th-most
· Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 171.233 mph
· 2,090 Laps in the Top 15 (77.7%), third-most
· 365 Quality Passes, fourth-most

Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Time Warner Cable Chevrolet)
· Three top fives, six top 10s; three poles
· Average finish of 13.5
· Average Running Position of 14.3, 11th-best
· Driver Rating of 88.1, 10th-best
· 94 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most
· 609 Green Flag Passes, third-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 170.170 mph, 11th-fastest
· 1,735 Laps in the Top 15 (64.5%), ninth-most
· 290 Quality Passes, 10th-most

Matt Kenseth (No. 20 DEWALT Toyota)
· Three wins, six top fives, eight top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 11.5
· Average Running Position of 14.0, 10th-best
· Driver Rating of 98.1, fourth-best
· 197 Fastest Laps Run, second-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 170.972 mph, second-fastest
· 1,774 Laps in the Top 15 (65.9%), seventh-most
· 295 Quality Passes, ninth-most

Joey Logano (No. 22 Pennzoil Ford)
· One top five, two top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 12.3
· Average Running Position of 13.8, seventh-best
· Driver Rating of 87.5, 11th-best
· Average Green Flag Speed of 170.111 mph, 12th-fastest

Ryan Newman (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet)
· Three top fives, seven top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 17.3
· Driver Rating of 81.9, 12th-best
· 37 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-most
· 1,667 Laps in the Top 15 (61.9%), 11th-most
· 298 Quality Passes, seventh-most

Tony Stewart (No. 14 Mobil 1/ Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet)
· One win, six top fives, nine top 10s
· Average finish of 14.0
· Average Running Position of 14.0, ninth-best
· Driver Rating of 97.1, seventh-best
· 188 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
· 538 Green Flag Passes, 12th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 170.498 mph, ninth-fastest
· 1,733 Laps in the Top 15 (64.4%), 10th-most
· 298 Quality Passes, seventh-most

Track Data
Season Race #: 3 of 36 (3-8-15)
Track Size: 1.5-miles
Banking/Turns 1 & 2: 20 degrees
Banking/Turns 3 & 4: 20 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 9 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 9 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 2,275 feet
Backstretch Length: 1,572 feet
Race Length: 267 laps / 400.5 Kilometers

Qualifying/Race Data
2014 pole winner: Joey Logano, Ford, 193.278 mph, 27.939 secs. 03-07-14
2014 race winner: Brad Keselowski, Ford, 154.633 mph, (2:35:24), 03-09-14
Track qualifying record: Joey Logano, Ford, 193.278 mph, 27.939 secs., 03-07-14
Track race record: Brad Keselowski, Ford, 154.633 mph, (2:35:24), 03-09-14

NASCAR suspends Chase Elliott one race for incident with Denny Hamlin

By Dustin LongMay 30, 2023, 5:39 PM EDT

NASCAR suspended Chase Elliott one Cup race for wrecking Denny Hamlin in Monday’s Coca-Cola 600, the sanctioning body announced Tuesday.

“We take this very seriously,” Elton Sawyer, senior vice president of competition, said on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. “The incident that happened off Turn 4, again after looking at all the available resources — in-car camera, data, SMT, which basically gives us (a car’s) steering, throttle, gives us braking — it was an intentional act by Chase in our opinion.”

Hendrick Motorsports stated that it would not appeal the penalty. Corey LaJoie will drive the No. 9 car for Hendrick Motorsports this weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway. Carson Hocevar will drive LaJoie’s car this weekend.

Hendrick Motorsports also stated that it would submit a waiver request for Elliott to remain eligible for the playoffs. Sawyer said on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio that “I don’t see any reason at this point in time why wouldn’t (grant the waiver) when that request comes across our desk.”

This weekend will mark the seventh race in the first 15 that Elliott will have missed. He missed six races after breaking his leg in a snowboarding accident in early March. Elliott, who is winless this season, is 29th in points.

Elliott and Hamlin got together shortly before the halfway mark in Monday’s race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

As they ran together, Hamlin forced Elliott toward the wall. Elliott’s car slapped the wall. Elliott then made contact with the right rear of Hamlin’s car, sending Hamlin into the wall.

“I got right-rear hooked in the middle of the straightway,” Hamlin said after the incident. “Yes, it was a tantrum. He shouldn’t be racing next week. Right-rear hooks are absolutely unacceptable. He shouldn’t be racing.”

Said Sawyer on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio: “In the heat of the battle, things happen, but they have to learn to react in a different way. … Our drivers need to understand that you have to handle that in a completely different way than hooking someone in the right rear and putting them in harm’s way, not only with just a major head-on collision like Denny had, but also other competitors.”

Sawyer also said on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio that “nothing gave us the indication that on that particular contact with the fourth-turn wall … that anything was broke” on Elliott’s car and could have caused him to come down and hit Hamlin’s car in the right rear.

NASCAR also announced that Scott Brzozowski and Adam Lewis, crew members on Michael McDowell‘s team, had each been suspended two races after McDowell’s car lost a tire in Monday’s race.

Winners and losers at Charlotte Motor Speedway

By Mike HembreeMay 30, 2023, 7:00 AM EDT

A look at winners and losers from Monday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway:

WINNERS

Ryan Blaney — Blaney stopped his winless streak at 59 races and gave team owner Roger Penske his second major race victory in two days. Blaney had the best car but had to fight through restarts late in the race to win.

William Byron — Byron, the winningest driver this season, barely missed getting victory No. 4. He finished second and scored his fifth straight top 10.

Martin Truex Jr. — Truex logged his third top five of the season.

23XI Racing — Bubba Wallace was fourth and Tyler Reddick fifth, giving 23XI Racing a pair of top-five finishes for the first time in a points race.

LOSERS

Jimmie Johnson — The seven-time champion admitted having problems adjusting to the Next Gen car on a 1.5-mile track. He crashed early and finished last.

Legacy Motor Club — It was a bad night for Jimmie Johnson and his team’s drivers. Johnson finished last in the 37-car field. Noah Gragson was 36th. Erik Jones placed 32nd.

Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin — Two drivers who had strong cars didn’t make it to the finish after crashing near the halfway point. Hamlin said Elliott “shouldn’t be racing next week. Right-rear hooks are absolutely unacceptable. He shouldn’t be racing.”

NASCAR Xfinity Series results: Justin Allgaier wins at Charlotte

By Mike HembreeMay 29, 2023, 11:56 PM EDT

CONCORD, N.C. — Justin Allgaier finally broke through for his first win of the NASCAR Xfinity Series season Monday night.

Allgaier stretched his last fuel load over the final laps to finish in front of John Hunter Nemechek. Cole Custer was third, Austin Hill fourth and Ty Gibbs fifth. Gibbs ran both races Monday, completing 900 miles.

The win also was the first of the season for JR Motorsports.

Charlotte Xfinity results

Xfinity points after Charlotte

Justin Allgaier wins NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway

By Mike HembreeMay 29, 2023, 11:38 PM EDT

CONCORD, N.C. — Justin Allgaier won a fuel-mileage gamble to win Monday night’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Allgaier stretched his fuel to outlast second-place John Hunter Nemechek. Following in the top five were Cole Custer, Austin Hill and Ty Gibbs.

The victory was Allgaier’s first of the year and the first of the season for JR Motorsports. He has 20 career wins.

MORE: Charlotte Xfinity results

After a long day at CMS, the race ended at 11:25 p.m. The race started Monday morning but was stopped twice because of weather before it was halted with 48 of 200 laps completed so that the Coca-Cola 600 Cup Series race could be run.

When the race was stopped, Gibbs, Nemechek and Allgaier were in the top three positions.

Gibbs won the first two stages.

Stage 1 winner: Ty Gibbs

Stage 2 winner: Ty Gibbs

Who had a good race: Justin Allgaier has had good cars in previous races but finally cashed in with a win Monday. He led 83 laps. … John Hunter Nemechek, in second, scored his fifth top-two run of the season. … Cole Custer scored his sixth straight top-10 finish. … Ty Gibbs lasted 900 miles for the day and led 52 laps in the Xfinity race.

Who had a bad race: Sam Mayer was running 10th when he spun off Turn 2. He finished 35th. … Sheldon Creed finished three laps down in 28th.

Next: The series moves on to Portland International Raceway in Oregon for a 4:30 p.m. ET race June 3.

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WINNERS

LOSERS

Read more about NASCAR

Charlotte Xfinity results

Xfinity points after Charlotte

Read more about NASCAR

MORE: Charlotte Xfinity results

Read more about NASCAR