Statistical look at the Daytona 500
Kevin Harvick is on a roll at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway heading into Sunday’s official season opener, the Daytona 500. He’s already made two trips to victory lane, claiming a win in the Sprint Unlimited last Saturday and a victory in the Budweiser Duel at Daytona on Thursday. Below, is a statistical look at how some notable drivers have fared in the Daytona 500 over the years (stats provided by NASCAR):
Clint Bowyer (No. 15 5-hour ENERGY Toyota)
· Two top fives, six top 10s
· Average finish of 15.8
· Average Running Position of 16.5, 11th-best
· Driver Rating of 85.3, eighth-best
· 65 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most
· 2,949 Green Flag Passes, 11th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 188.144 mph, seventh-fastest
Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet)
· One win, nine top fives, 11 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 17.1
· Average Running Position of 16.0, eighth-best
· Driver Rating of 85.5, seventh-best
· 63 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most
· 3,400 Green Flag Passes, third-most
· Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 188.312 mph
· 1,582 Laps in the Top 15 (55.0%), ninth-most
· 1,993 Quality Passes, seventh-most
Kurt Busch (No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet)
· 10 top fives, 12 top 10s
· Average finish of 18.0
· Average Running Position of 15.9, seventh-best
· Driver Rating of 89.7, fourth-best
· 59 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-most
· 2,973 Green Flag Passes, 10th-most
· 1,776 Laps in the Top 15 (61.8%), fifth-most
· 2,127 Quality Passes, fifth-most
Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M’s Toyota)
· One win, five top fives, six top 10s
· Average finish of 18.0
· Series-best Average Running Position of 12.1
· Series-best Driver Rating of 97.6
· 72 Fastest Laps Run, second-most
· 3,058 Green Flag Passes, seventh-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 188.184 mph, fourth-fastest
· Series-high 2,081 Laps in the Top 15 (72.4%)
· Series-high 2,300 Quality Passes
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 National Guard Chevrolet)
· Two wins, nine top fives, 14 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 14.5
· Average Running Position of 14.7, fourth-best
· Driver Rating of 88.3, fifth-best
· 69 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most
· 3,190 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 188.155 mph, fifth-fastest
· 1,798 Laps in the Top 15 (62.5%), fourth-most
· 2,142 Quality Passes, fourth-most
Carl Edwards (No. 99 Fastenal Ford)
· Four top fives, eight top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 16.6
· Average Running Position of 16.6, 12th-best
· Driver Rating of 84.7, 10th-best
· 3,232 Green Flag Passes, fifth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 188.091 mph, 11th-fastest
· 1,641 Laps in the Top 15 (57.1%), eighth-most
· 2,201 Quality Passes, second-most
Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet)
· Six wins, 12 top fives, 19 top 10s; three poles
· Average finish of 16.1
· Average Running Position of 14.9, fifth-best
· Driver Rating of 88.1, sixth-best
· 1,648 Laps in the Top 15 (57.3%), seventh-most
· 1,807 Quality Passes, 11th-most
Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota)
· Two top fives, two top 10s
· Average finish of 21.0
· Average Running Position of 16.8, 13th-best
· Driver Rating of 83.3, 11th-best
· 68 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 188.120 mph, eighth-fastest
Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet)
· Two wins, five top fives, 10 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 15.4
· Driver Rating of 84.7, ninth-best
· Series-high 80 Fastest Laps Run
· 3,056 Green Flag Passes, eighth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 188.195 mph, third-fastest
· 1,691 Quality Passes, 13th-most
Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet)
· Two top fives, seven top 10s
· Average finish of 17.3
· Average Running Position of 16.4, 10th-best
· Driver Rating of 83.0, 13th-best
· 68 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most
· Series-high 3,520 Green Flag Passes
· Average Green Flag Speed of 188.215 mph, second-fastest
· 1,489 Laps in the Top 15 (51.8%), 12th-most
· 1,997 Quality Passes, sixth-most
Matt Kenseth (No. 20 Dollar General Toyota)
· Two wins, six top fives, 13 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 16.2
· Average Running Position of 14.2, third-best
· Driver Rating of 92.5, third-best
· 71 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
· 2,775 Green Flag Passes, 12th-most
· 1,809 Laps in the Top 15 (62.9%), third-most
· 1,907 Quality Passes, eighth-most
Ryan Newman (No. 39 Quicken Loans Chevrolet)
· One win, three top fives, four top 10s
· Average finish of 21.2
· Driver Rating of 83.2, 12th-best
· 59 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-most
· 2,978 Green Flag Passes, ninth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 188.047 mph, 13th-fastest
· 1,524 Laps in the Top 15 (53.0%), 10th-most
· 1,729 Quality Passes, 12th-most
Tony Stewart (No. 14 Mobil 1/Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet)
· Four wins, eight top fives, 13 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 16.1
· Average Running Position of 13.9, second-best
· Driver Rating of 96.5, second-best
· 67 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 188.155 mph, sixth-fastest
· 1,825 Laps in the Top 15 (63.5%), second-most