Statistically speaking: a look at Richmond International Raceway

Sep 7, 2013; Richmond, VA, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Carl Edwards (99) celebrates after winning the Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

After its first weekend off of the 2014 season, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to action Saturday night with the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway. Two weeks earlier at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, Kevin Harvick became the first two-time winner, eight races into the season. The seven different winners, so far, include Harvick, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Brad Keselowski, Carl Edwards, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch and Joey Logano. Drivers still winless on the season include Jeff Gordon, Clint Bowyer and Denny Hamlin, all three two-time winners at RIR, and Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart, both three-time winners at Richmond. Harvick won this race a year ago, while Edwards is the most recent victor in Sprint Cup competition at the track, winning the fall race at RIR last year.

Here’s a look at how some of NASCAR’s finest have fared at Richmond (stats provided by NASCAR Media Group):

Clint Bowyer (No. 15 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota)

· Two wins, three top fives, nine top 10s

· Average finish of 10.1

· Average Running Position of 9.5, fourth-best

· Driver Rating of 100.7, fourth-best

· 183 Fastest Laps Run, 11th-most

· 851 Green Flag Passes, 12th-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 116.414 mph, fifth-fastest

· 5,140 Laps in the Top 15 (80.1%), fifth-most

· 485 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), fourth-most

Kurt Busch (No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet)

· One win, five top fives, nine top 10s

· Average finish of 17.3

· Average Running Position of 14.4, eighth-best

· Driver Rating of 92.2, seventh-best

· 364 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 116.386 mph, sixth-fastest

· 4,338 Laps in the Top 15 (60.1%), ninth-most

· 428 Quality Passes, 10th-most

Kyle Busch (No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)

· Four wins, 12 top fives, 13 top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 7.2

· Average Running Position of 7.8, second-best

· Driver Rating of 111.9, second-best

· 529 Fastest Laps Run, second-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 116.749 mph, second-fastest

· 6,271 Laps in the Top 15 (86.9%), second-most

· 533 Quality Passes, third-most

Carl Edwards (No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford)

· One win, four top fives, 10 top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 13.7

· Average Running Position of 14.9, ninth-best

· Driver Rating of 90.1, ninth-best

· 291 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most

· 957 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 116.290 mph, ninth-fastest

· 4,276 Laps in the Top 15 (59.3%), 10th-most

· 429 Quality Passes, ninth-most

Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)

· Two wins, 16 top fives, 26 top 10s; six poles

· Average finish of 14.1

· Average Running Position of 13.8, seventh-best

· Driver Rating of 96.0, sixth-best

· 343 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 116.375 mph, seventh-fastest

· 4,518 Laps in the Top 15 (62.6%), eighth-most

· 436 Quality Passes, seventh-most

Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)

· Two wins, seven top fives, nine top 10s; two poles

· Average finish of 8.9

· Series-best Average Running Position of 6.6

· Series-best Driver Rating of 114.8

· Series-high 584 Fastest Laps Run

· Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 116.782 mph

· 5,361 Laps in the Top 15 (89.2%), fourth-most

Kevin Harvick (No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet)

· Three wins, seven top fives, 16 top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 11.3

· Average Running Position of 7.9, third-best

· Driver Rating of 110.0, third-best

· 458 Fastest Laps Run, third-most

· 854 Green Flag Passes, 11th-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 116.658 mph, third-fastest

· Series-high 6,617 Laps in the Top 15 (91.7%)

· Series-high 613 Quality Passes

Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)

· Three wins, five top fives, eight top 10s; two poles

· Average finish of 17.3

· Average Running Position of 16.2, 12th-best

· Driver Rating of 88.5, 10th-best

· 274 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 116.232 mph, 11th-fastest

Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)

· One win, four top fives, seven top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 18.0

· Driver Rating of 86.8, 11th-best

· 341 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most

· 923 Green Flag Passes, eighth-most

· 4,088 Laps in the Top 15 (56.7%), 12th-most

· 433 Quality Passes, eighth-most

Ryan Newman (No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet)

· One win, six top fives, 14 top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 11.4

· Average Running Position of 11.7, fifth-best

· Driver Rating of 91.6, eighth-best

· 921 Green Flag Passes, ninth-most

· 5,419 Laps in the Top 15 (75.1%), third-most

· 550 Quality Passes, second-most

Tony Stewart (No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet)

· Three wins, 11 top fives, 19 top 10s

· Average finish of 10.6

· Average Running Position of 12.1, sixth-best

· Driver Rating of 96.5, fifth-best

· 276 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most

· 875 Green Flag Passes, 10th-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 116.498 mph, fourth-fastest

· 4,755 Laps in the Top 15 (69.8%), sixth-most

· 462 Quality Passes, fifth-most

Richmond International Raceway Data

Season Race #: 9 of 36 (04-26-14)

Track Size: 0.75-miles

Banking/Turns 1 & 2: 14 degrees

Banking/Turns 3 & 4: 14 degrees

Banking/Frontstretch: 8 degrees

Banking/Backstretch: 2 degrees

Frontstretch Length: 1,290 feet

Backstretch Length: 860 feet

Race Length: 400 laps / 300 miles

Top 10 Driver Ratings at Richmond

Denny Hamlin………………………. 114.8

Kyle Busch…………………………. 111.9

Kevin Harvick………………………. 110.0

Clint Bowyer………………………… 100.7

Tony Stewart…………………………. 96.5

Jeff Gordon………………………….. 96.0

Kurt Busch……………………………. 92.2

Ryan Newman……………………….. 91.6

Carl Edwards………………………… 90.1

Jimmie Johnson…………………….. 88.5

Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2013 races (18 total) among active drivers at Richmond International Raceway

Qualifying/Race Data

2013 Coors Light pole winner: Matt Kenseth, Toyota, 130.334 mph, 20.716 secs. 04-25-13

2013 race winner: Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 92.141 mph, (03:18:17), 04-27-13

Track qualifying record: Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 130.599 mph, 20.674 secs. 09-04-13

Track race record: Dale Jarrett, Ford, 109.047 mph, (02:45:04), 09-06-97

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