Statistically speaking: a look at Phoenix International Raceway
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series makes its home at Phoenix International Raceway this weekend for Sunday’s running of the CampingWorld.com 500, the second race of a three-race West Coast swing.
Kevin Harvick is undeniably the favorite heading into the race at PIR. Overall, he’s been on top of his game, riding a string of six-straight top-two finishes, dating back to the final three races of 2014, including last weekend’s race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Harvick’s also tops at Phoenix. He heads into the weekend as the winner of the three most recent Sprint Cup races at the track. In all, he has six-career Cup wins at PIR, including four wins in the last five races.
"“It’s just a place that I really enjoy,” Harvick said. “Last year was as good of a year as you can have here. I look forward to coming to this race track every year.”"
Harvick swept the two visits to Phoenix in 2014.
Here’s a look at how some of the top performers have fared in Sprint Cup action at Phoenix International Raceway over the course of their careers:
Greg Biffle (No. 16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford)
· Five top fives, eight top 10s
· Average finish of 13.8
· Driver Rating of 90.1, 10th-best
· 288 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most
· 873 Green Flag Passes, third-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 125.818 mph, 12th-fastest
· 3,508 Laps in the Top 15 (55.5%), 11th-most
· 432 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), 10th-most
Carl Edwards (No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· Two wins, seven top fives, 12 top 10s; three poles
· Average finish of 12.2
· Average Running Position of 12.7, eighth-best
· Driver Rating of 99.2, fourth-best
· 368 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 126.048 mph, sixth-fastest
· 4,325 Laps in the Top 15 (68.5%), seventh-most
· 462 Quality Passes, seventh-most
Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Two wins, 12 top fives, 22 top 10s; three poles
· Average finish of 11.0
· Average Running Position of 10.1, third-best
· Driver Rating of 100.5, third-best
· 250 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most
· 786 Green Flag Passes, 12th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 126.021 mph, seventh-fastest
· 5,173 Laps in the Top 15 (81.9%), second-most
· 476 Quality Passes, fourth-most
Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· One win, nine top fives, 10 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 11.0
· Average Running Position of 12.0, seventh-best
· Driver Rating of 96.6, sixth-best
· 241 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 125.959 mph, ninth-fastest
· 4,261 Laps in the Top 15 (70.9%), eighth-most
· 419 Quality Passes, 11th-most
Kevin Harvick (No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet)
· Six wins, nine top fives, 13 top 10s
· Average finish of 11.4
· Average Running Position of 9.8, second-best
· Driver Rating of 106.2, second-best
· 523 Fastest Laps Run, second-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 126.232 mph, third-fastest
· 4,958 Laps in the Top 15 (78.5%), fourth-most
· 452 Quality Passes, eighth-most
Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Four wins, 14 top fives, 18 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 7.7
· Series-best Average Running Position of 7.4
· Series-best Driver Rating of 114.0
· Series-high 609 Fastest Laps Run
· 796 Green Flag Passes, 11th-most
· Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 126.428 mph
· Series-high 5,403 Laps in the Top 15 (85.5%)
· 541 Quality Passes, third-most
Matt Kenseth (No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· One win, six top fives, 10 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 16.6
· Driver Rating of 87.9, 12th-best
· 178 Fastest Laps Run, 11th-most
· 857 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 125.837 mph, 11th-fastest
· 3,924 Laps in the Top 15 (62.1%), 10th-most
· 471 Quality Passes, fifth-most
Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Penske Racing Ford)
· Four top fives, five top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 14.6
· Average Running Position of 14.0, 10th-best
· Driver Rating of 91.5, ninth-best
· 169 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 126.089 mph, fourth-fastest
Ryan Newman (No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet)
· One win, eight top fives, 10 top 10s; four poles
· Average finish of 17.9
· Average Running Position of 15.0, 12th-best
· Driver Rating of 87.9, 11th-best
· 870 Green Flag Passes, fourth-most
· 4,258 Laps in the Top 15 (67.4%), ninth-most
· 569 Quality Passes, second-most
Tony Stewart (No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet)
· One win, eight top fives, 12 top 10s
· Average finish of 12.4
· Average Running Position of 11.1, fifth-best
· Driver Rating of 96.4, eighth-best
· 220 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most
· 818 Green Flag Passes, 10th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 126.052 mph, fifth-fastest
· 4,359 Laps in the Top 15 (72.6%), sixth-most
· 465 Quality Passes, sixth-most
Top-10 Driver Ratings at Phoenix
Jimmie Johnson…………………… 114.0
Kevin Harvick………………………. 106.2
Jeff Gordon………………………… 100.5
Carl Edwards………………………… 99.2
Denny Hamlin……………………….. 96.6
Tony Stewart…………………………. 96.4
Brad Keselowski……………………. 91.5
Greg Biffle……………………………. 90.1
Ryan Newman……………………….. 87.9
Matt Kenseth………………………… 87.9
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2014 races (20 total) among active drivers at Phoenix International Raceway.
2014 pole winner:
Brad Keselowski, Ford
139.384 mph, 25.828 secs. 02-28-14
2014 race winner:
Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet
109.229 mph, (02:51:23), 03-02-14
Track qualifying record:
Denny Hamlin, Toyota
142.113 mph, 25.332 secs. 11-07-14
Track race record:
Tony Stewart, Pontiac
118.132 mph, (2:38:28), 11-07-99
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