The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway this weekend for a Saturday night race — the Coke Zero 400. Jimmie Johnson was the victory the last time the circuit visited the track back in February for the 2013 season-opening Daytona 500. His Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Dale Earnhardt Jr., finished second.
The last time Sprint Cup drivers raced at a restrictor plate track was in early May at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. On that day, David Ragan, who just happens to be a former Coke Zero 400 winner, gave Front Row Motorsports its first win. Tony Stewart heads into this weekend as the defending Coke Zero 400 race winner.
Here’s a look, statistically speaking, at how some of the circuit’s top drivers have fared at Daytona (stats provided by NASCAR Media Group):
Clint Bowyer (No. 15 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota)
· Two top fives, six top 10s
· Average finish of 15.5
· Average Running Position of 15.9, seventh-best
· Driver Rating of 86.6, seventh-best
· 68 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most
· 3,123 Green Flag Passes, ninth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 188.593 mph, fourth-fastest
· 1,747 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), 13th-most
Jeff Burton (No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet)
· One win, nine top fives, 11 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 17.4
· Average Running Position of 15.9, eighth-best
· Driver Rating of 84.9, ninth-best
· 68 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most
· Series-high 3,588 Green Flag Passes
· Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 188.739 mph
· 1,685 Laps in the Top 15 (54.8%), eighth-most
· 2,069 Quality Passes, sixth-most
Kurt Busch (No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet)
· 10 top fives, 12 top 10s
· Average finish of 18.4
· Average Running Position of 16.7, 11th-best
· Driver Rating of 88.0, sixth-best
· 64 Fastest Laps Run, 11th-most
· 3,026 Green Flag Passes, 11th-most
· 1,808 Laps in the Top 15 (58.8%), sixth-most
· 2,171 Quality Passes, fifth-most
Kyle Busch (No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· One win, five top fives, six top 10s
· Average finish of 18.9
· Series-best Average Running Position of 12.4
· Series-best Driver Rating of 97.0
· 75 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
· 3,173 Green Flag Passes, eighth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 188.625 mph, second-fastest
· Series-high 2,172 Laps in the Top 15 (70.6%)
· Series-high 2,334 Quality Passes
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Two wins, 10 top fives, 15 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 14.0
· Average Running Position of 14.6, fourth-best
· Driver Rating of 89.3, fourth-best
· 79 Fastest Laps Run, second-most
· 3,435 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 188.596 mph, third-fastest
· 1,958 Laps in the Top 15 (63.7%), second-most
· 2,297 Quality Passes, second-most
Carl Edwards (No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford)
· Four top fives, eight top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 17.5
· Driver Rating of 82.7, 12th-best
· 59 Fastest Laps Run, 13th-most
· 3,438 Green Flag Passes, fifth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 188.485 mph, 13th-fastest
· 1,647 Laps in the Top 15 (53.5%), ninth-most
· 2,230 Quality Passes, third-most
Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Six wins, 12 top fives, 19 top 10s; three poles
· Average finish of 16.1
· Average Running Position of 14.6, fifth-best
· Driver Rating of 88.3, fifth-best
· 2,974 Green Flag Passes, 12th-most
· 1,804 Laps in the Top 15 (58.6%), seventh-most
· 1,913 Quality Passes, 11th-most
Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· Two top fives, two top 10s
· Average finish of 20.5
· Average Running Position of 16.3, 10th-best
· Driver Rating of 84.5, 10th-best
· 72 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 188.568 mph, sixth-fastest
Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet)
· Two wins, five top fives, 10 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 16.5
· Driver Rating of 82.6, 13th-best
· Series-high 82 Fastest Laps Run
· 3,081 Green Flag Passes, 10th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 188.583 mph, fifth-fastest
Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Two wins, seven top fives, 10 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 18.2
· Average Running Position of 14.5, third-best
· Driver Rating of 85.3, eighth-best
· 1,919 Laps in the Top 15 (62.4%), fourth-most
· 2,040 Quality Passes, seventh-most
Matt Kenseth (No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· Two wins, six top fives, 13 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 17.0
· Average Running Position of 14.1, second-best
· Driver Rating of 93.2, second-best
· 73 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most
· 1,952 Laps in the Top 15 (63.5%), third-most
· 1,983 Quality Passes, ninth-most
Ryan Newman (No. 39 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet)
· One win, four top fives, five top 10s
· Average finish of 20.5
· Average Running Position of 17.3, 12th-best
· Driver Rating of 82.8, 11th-best
· 62 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-most
· 3,191 Green Flag Passes, seventh-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 188.488 mph, 12th-fastest
· 1,561 Laps in the Top 15 (50.7%), 11th-most
· 1,780 Quality Passes, 12th-most
Tony Stewart (No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet)
· Four wins, eight top fives, 13 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 17.0
· Average Running Position of 15.3, sixth-best
· Driver Rating of 93.1, third-best
· 68 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most
· 1,836 Laps in the Top 15 (59.7%), fifth-most
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