Chase race three: Dover
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Dover (Del.) International Speedway this weekend for Sunday’s AAA 400 — the third installment in the 10-race Chase for the Sprint Cup. Jimmie Johnson heads into Dover with a scant one-point lead over second-place Brad Keselowski. Denny Hamlin, winner of last weekend’s race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, sits in third, seven points behind leader Johnson.
Johnson was the driver celebrating in victory lane when the series visited Dover earlier this season.
Here’s a rundown of how the 12 Chase drivers compare, statistically speaking, at Dover (Information courtesy of NASCAR Media Group):
1 – Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s / Kobalt Tools Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 109.6
2012 Rundown
· Three wins, 14 top fives, 19 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 10.7
· Led 19 races for 1,207 laps
Dover International Speedway Outlook:
· Seven wins, 10 top fives, 15 top 10s; three poles
· Average finish of 8.9 in 21 races
· Series-best Average Running Position of 7.2
· Series-best Driver Rating of 120.6
· Series-high 840 Fastest Laps Run
· Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 143.862 mph
· Series-high 5,170 Laps in the Top 15 (86.1%)
· 300 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), 12th-most
2 – Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 97.3
2012 Rundown
· Four wins, 11 top fives, 17 top 10s
· Average finish of 11.0
· Led 16 races for 489 laps
Dover International Speedway Outlook:
· Average finish of 17.0 in five races
· Average Running Position of 16.4, 14th-best
· Driver Rating of 76.1, 21st-best
3 – Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 103.1
2012 Rundown
· Five wins, 12 top fives, 14 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 12.3
· Led 20 races for 1,093 laps
Dover International Speedway Outlook:
· Two top fives, four top 10s
· Average finish of 20.5 in 13 races
· Average Running Position of 18.3, 18th-best
· Driver Rating of 78.6, 15th-best
4 – Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot / Mobil 1 Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 89.1
2012 Rundown
· Three wins, 10 top fives, 14 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 12.9
· Led 13 races for 419 laps
Dover International Speedway Outlook:
· Two wins, 10 top fives, 15 top 10s
· Average finish of 13.4 in 27 races
· Average Running Position of 22.4, 27th-best
· Driver Rating of 68.6, 26th-best
· 596 Green Flag Passes, ninth-most
5 – Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 94.7
2012 Rundown
· Two wins, nine top fives, 15 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 13.6
· Led 8 races for 253 laps
Dover International Speedway Outlook:
· One top five, five top 10s
· Average finish of 21.8 in 17 races
· Average Running Position of 17.9, 17th-best
· Driver Rating of 78.2, 16th-best
· 223 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most
· 611 Green Flag Passes, seventh-most
6 – Clint Bowyer (No. 15 5-hour Energy Toyota)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 93.5
2012 Rundown
· Two wins, seven top fives, 17 top 10s
· Average finish of 11.2
· Led 8 races for 191 laps
Dover International Speedway Outlook:
· One top five, six top 10s
· Average finish of 13.5 in 13 races
· Average Running Position of 13.4, 11th-best
· Driver Rating of 89.7, 11th-best
· 145 Fastest Laps Run, 13th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 143.119 mph, ninth-fastest
· 3,571 Laps in the Top 15 (68.7%), 11th-most
· 309 Quality Passes, ninth-most
7 – Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 National Guard / Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 98.6
2012 Rundown
· One win, 10 top fives, 18 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 10.0
· Led 12 races for 340 laps
Dover International Speedway Outlook:
· One win, five top fives, eight top 10s
· Average finish of 17.5 in 25 races
· Average Running Position of 19.7, 21st-best
· Driver Rating of 77.6, 18th-best
· 155 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-most
· 601 Green Flag Passes, eighth-most
8 – Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 91.9
2012 Rundown
· Four top fives, 11 top 10s
· Average finish of 11.9
· Led 7 races for 229 laps
Dover International Speedway Outlook:
· Three top fives, 10 top 10s
· Average finish of 16.0 in 23 races
· Average Running Position of 16.7, 15th-best
· Driver Rating of 82.0, 14th-best
· 646 Green Flag Passes, third-most
· 3,372 Laps in the Top 15 (56.2%), 12th-most
· 299 Quality Passes, 13th-most
9 – Greg Biffle (No. 16 Scotch-Brite Ford)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 101.1
2012 Rundown
· Two wins, 10 top fives, 15 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 10.1
· Led 14 races for 634 laps
Dover International Speedway Outlook:
· Two wins, six top fives, 10 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 12.2 in 20 races
· Average Running Position of 9.7, third-best
· Driver Rating of 104.2, fourth-best
· 419 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
· 643 Green Flag Passes, fourth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 143.512 mph, third-fastest
· 4,902 Laps in the Top 15 (81.6%), third-most
· Series-high 445 Quality Passes
10 – Martin Truex Jr. (No. 56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 97.5
2012 Rundown
· Six top fives, 15 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 11.4
· Led 11 races for 423 laps
Dover International Speedway Outlook:
· One win, one top five, five top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 16.4 in 13 races
· Average Running Position of 15.2, 13th-best
· Driver Rating of 88.5, 13th-best
· 202 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most
· 308 Quality Passes, 10th-most
11 – Matt Kenseth (No. 17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 101.2
2012 Rundown
· One win, 10 top fives, 16 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 10.7
· Led 18 races for 365 laps
Dover International Speedway Outlook:
· Two wins, 13 top fives, 18 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 11.8 in 27 races
· Average Running Position of 7.7, second-best
· Driver Rating of 110.5, second-best
· 376 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most
· 617 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 143.630 mph, second-fastest
· 5,146 Laps in the Top 15 (85.7%), second-most
· 439 Quality Passes, second-most
12 – Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 96.4
2012 Rundown
· One win, eight top fives, 13 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 15.2
· Led 17 races for 450 laps
Dover International Speedway Outlook:
· Four wins, 14 top fives, 21 top 10s; four poles
· Average finish of 12.3 in 39 races
· Average Running Position of 13.4, 10th-best
· Driver Rating of 91.1, ninth-best
· 196 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most
· 643 Green Flag Passes, fourth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 143.287 mph, seventh-fastest
· 4,276 Laps in the Top 15 (71.2%), seventh-most
· 408 Quality Passes, fourth-most
— Photo courtesy of Getty Images for NASCAR