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Wednesday, July 8, 2015

KENTUCKY - JULY 2015 PREVIEW

UNB! Network Staff Report

Well fans, we are heading to Sparta, Kentucky!

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will battle it out on Thursday, July 9th, 2015 in the UNOH 225. The NASCAR XFINITY Series will race on Friday, July 10th, 2015 in their race at Kentucky. Finally, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will battle it out in the Quaker State 400 on Saturday, July 11th 2015.

TRACK SPECIFICATIONS:
Length: 1.5 miles
Banking (Turns 1-4): 14 Degrees
Banking (Tri-Oval): 10 Degrees
Banking (Backstretch): 4 Degrees
Length (Frontstretch): 1,662 Feet
Length (Backstretch): 1,600 Feet
Grandstand Seating: 107,000 People

~ - ~ - ~
KENTUCKY-SPECIFIC STATISTICS
Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M's Crispy Toyota)
·         One win, three top fives, four top 10s
·         Average finish of 4.500, series-best
·         Average Running Position of 5.270, series-best
·         Driver Rating of 124.3, series-best
·         139 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-best
·         Average Green Flag Speed of 172.614, series-best
·         1003 Laps in the Top 15 (93.9), series-most
·         99 Quality Passes, 11th-most

Kurt Busch (No. 41 Haas Automation Chevrolet)
·         Two top 10s
·         Average finish of 11.500, eighth-best
·         Average Running Position of 13.430, 12th-best
·         Driver Rating of 89.4, 11th-best
·         21 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-best
·         Average Green Flag Speed of 171.179, 13th-fastest
·         603 Laps in the Top 15 (56.5), 12th-most
·         112 Quality Passes, seventh-most

Dale Earnhardt Jr (No. 88 NATIONWIDE Chevrolet)
·         Two top fives, two top 10s; one pole
·         Average finish of 12.750, 10th-best
·         Average Running Position of 12.607, eighth-best
·         Driver Rating of 90.7, ninth-best
·         32 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-best
·         Average Green Flag Speed of 171.518, 10th-fastest
·         633 Laps in the Top 15 (59.3), 11th-most
·         106 Quality Passes, ninth-most
 
Carl Edwards (No. 19 COMCAST MINIONS Toyota)
·         One top five, one top 10
·         Average finish of 15.750, 12th-best
·         Average Running Position of 12.755, ninth-best
·         Driver Rating of 87.2, 12th-best
·         20 Fastest Laps Run, second-best
·         Average Green Flag Speed of 171.201, 12th-fastest
·         662 Laps in the Top 15 (62.0), 10th-most
·         107 Quality Passes, eighth-most
 
Jeff Gordon (No. 24 AARP Member Advantages Chevrolet)
·         One top five, four top 10s
·         Average finish of 7.250, fourth-best
·         Average Running Position of 12.069, seventh-best
·         Driver Rating of 95.4, sixth-best
·         41 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-best
·         Average Green Flag Speed of 171.777, seventh-fastest
·         736 Laps in the Top 15 (68.9), seventh-most
·         140 Quality Passes, fourth-most
 
Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota)
·         One top five, one top 10
·         Average finish of 22.750, 13th-best
·         Average Running Position of 18.688, 13th-best
·         Driver Rating of 85.2, 13th-best
·         34 Fastest Laps Run, series-best
·         Average Green Flag Speed of 172.252, third-fastest
·         558 Laps in the Top 15 (52.2), 13th-most
·         87 Quality Passes, 13th-most

Kevin Harvick (No. 4 Budweiser/Jimmy John's Chevrolet)
·         Two top 10s
·         Average finish of 11.000, seventh-best
·         Average Running Position of 10.600, fifth-best
·         Driver Rating of 95.2, seventh-best
·         17 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-best
·         Average Green Flag Speed of 171.767, eighth-fastest
·         884 Laps in the Top 15 (82.8), fourth-most
·         133 Quality Passes, fifth-most
 
Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Pro Services Chevrolet)
·         One top five, four top 10s; one pole
·         Average finish of 7.000, third-best
·         Average Running Position of 6.292, second-best
·         Driver Rating of 116.6, second-best
·         127 Fastest Laps Run, 11th-best
·         Average Green Flag Speed of 172.573, second-fastest
·         963 Laps in the Top 15 (90.2), third-most
·         142 Quality Passes, third-most
 
Kasey Kahne (No. 5 LIFTMASTER Chevrolet)
·         One top five, two top 10s
·         Average finish of 8.500, fifth-best
·         Average Running Position of 12.879, 11th-best
·         Driver Rating of 98.9, fifth-best
·         64 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-best
·         Average Green Flag Speed of 172.039, fifth-fastest
·         709 Laps in the Top 15 (66.4), eighth-most
·         145 Quality Passes, second-most
 
Matt Kenseth (No. 20 Dollar General Toyota)
·         One win, two top fives, four top 10s
·         Average finish of 4.500, second-best
·         Average Running Position of 9.208, third-best
·         Driver Rating of 107.2, fourth-best
·         79 Fastest Laps Run, 13th-best
·         Average Green Flag Speed of 172.189, fourth-fastest
·         972 Laps in the Top 15 (91.0), second-most
·         181 Quality Passes, series-most
 
Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Miller Lite Ford)
·         Two wins, two top fives, three top 10s; one pole
·         Average finish of 10.500, sixth-best
·         Average Running Position of 10.234, fourth-best
·         Driver Rating of 116.1, third-best
·         171 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-best
·         Average Green Flag Speed of 171.863, sixth-fastest
·         840 Laps in the Top 15 (78.7), fifth-most
·         88 Quality Passes, 12th-most
 
Joey Logano (No. 22 Shell Pennzoil/AutoTrader Ford)
·         One top five, two top 10s
·         Average finish of 12.250, ninth-best
·         Average Running Position of 11.292, sixth-best
·         Driver Rating of 94.7, eighth-best
·         25 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-best
·         Average Green Flag Speed of 171.579, ninth-fastest
·         669 Laps in the Top 15 (62.6), ninth-most
·         101 Quality Passes, 10th-most
 
Ryan Newman (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet)
·         Two top fives, two top 10s
·         Average finish of 13.750, 11th-best
·         Average Running Position of 12.857, 10th-best
·         Driver Rating of 90.2, 10th-best
·         14 Fastest Laps Run, third-best
·         Average Green Flag Speed of 171.476, 11th-fastest
·         776 Laps in the Top 15 (72.7), sixth-most
·         113 Quality Passes, sixth-most
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 2015 Top 16 at Kentucky Speedway

Driver
Races
Poles
Wins
Top Fives
Top 10s
DNFs
Average Finish
Driver Rating
 
 
1
Kevin Harvick
4
0
0
0
2
0
11
95.2
 
2
Dale Earnhardt Jr
4
1
0
2
2
0
12.8
90.7
 
3
Jimmie Johnson
4
1
0
1
4
0
7
116.6
 
4
Joey Logano
4
0
0
1
2
0
12.2
94.7
 
5
Martin Truex Jr
4
0
0
0
2
0
13
84.0
 
6
Jamie McMurray
4
0
0
1
1
1
22.5
76.5
 
7
Brad Keselowski
4
1
2
2
3
0
10.5
116.1
 
8
Kurt Busch
4
0
0
0
2
0
11.5
89.4
 
9
Matt Kenseth
4
0
1
2
4
0
4.5
107.2
 
10
Jeff Gordon
4
0
0
1
4
0
7.2
95.4
 
11
Kasey Kahne
4
0
0
1
2
0
8.5
98.9
 
12
Denny Hamlin
4
0
0
1
1
2
22.8
85.2
 
13
Paul Menard
4
0
0
0
0
0
20.2
74.5
 
14
Ryan Newman
4
0
0
2
2
1
13.8
90.2
 
15
Clint Bowyer
4
0
0
1
1
1
19.2
83.3
 
16
Aric Almirola
3
0
0
0
0
1
26.7
67.4
 
* – Based on last four races at Kentucky Speedway.
Kentucky Speedway Data
Season Race #: 18 of 36 (07-11-15)
Track Size: 1.5-miles
Banking/Turn 1 & 2: 14 degrees
Banking/Turn 3 & 4: 14 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 8 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 8 degrees
Frontstretch Length:  1,662 feet
Backstretch Length:  1,600 feet
Race Length: 200 laps / 300 miles

Top 10 Driver Ratings at Kentucky
Kyle Busch............................... 124.3
Jimmie Johnson........................ 116.6
Brad Keselowski....................... 116.1
Matt Kenseth............................. 107.2
Kasey Kahne.............................. 98.9
Jeff Gordon................................ 95.4
Kevin Harvick.............................. 95.2
Joey Logano.............................. 94.7
Dale Earnhardt Jr........................ 90.7
Ryan Newman............................. 90.2
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2014 races (four total) among active drivers at Kentucky Speedway.
Qualifying/Race Data
2014 pole winner:
Brad Keselowski, Ford
188.791 mph, 28.603 secs. 06-28-14
2014 race winner:
Brad Keselowski, Ford
139.723 mph, (02:51:59), 06-29-14
Track qualifying record:
Brad Keselowski, Ford
188.791 mph, 28.603 secs. 06-28-14
Track race record:
Brad Keselowski., Dodge
145.607 mph, (02:45:02), 06-30-12
At Kentucky Speedway:
History
·         In 1998, the track broke ground in Sparta, Kentucky, and opened as a 1.5-mile speedway in 2000.
·         The original owners, Jerry Carroll and four other investors owned the track until 2008, when current owners, Speedway Motorsports Inc. purchased the facility.
·         The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race was held in 2011 – won by Kyle Busch.
Starts
·       There have been four NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Kentucky Speedway since the first race in 2011 – one race per season.
·         60 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway; 45 in more than one.
·         28 different drivers have made all four series starts at Kentucky Speedway.
·       Brad Keselowski leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in Average Starting Position at Kentucky with a 5.75; followed by Kyle Busch with a 6.25.
Poles
·         The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Qualifying at Kentucky was cancelled due to weather. The starting line-up was set per the Rule Book – Kyle Busch started from first.
·         Brad Keselowski (2014), Dale Earnhardt Jr(2013) and Jimmie Johnson (2012) are the three drivers that have won Coors Light poles at Kentucky.
·         Youngest Kentucky pole winner: Brad Keselowski (06/28/2014 – 30 years, 4 months, 16 days).
·         Oldest Kentucky pole winner: Dale Earnhardt Jr(06/30/2013 – 38 years, 8 months, 20 days).
Wins
·      Three different NSCS drivers have won at Kentucky Speedway: Kyle Busch (07/09/2011), Brad Keselowski (06/30/2012 and 6/28/2014) and Matt Kenseth (6/30/2013).
·         Brad Keselowski leads the series in wins at Kentucky with two.  
·         Youngest Kentucky winner: Kyle Busch (07/09/2011 – 26 years, 2 months, 7 days).
·         Oldest Kentucky winner: Matt Kenseth (06/30/2013 – 41 years, 3 months, 20 days).
·         Joe Gibbs Racing and Team Penske are tied for the series lead in wins at Kentucky with two each: Joe Gibbs Racing (2011, 2013); Team Penske (2012, 2014).
·        Three different manufacturers have won in the NSCS at Kentucky: Toyota (2011, 2013), Dodge (2012) and Ford (2014).
·       Brad Keselowski is the only driver to win a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kentucky from the Coors Light poles (2014).
·        Kyle Busch won the inaugural NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kentucky from the first starting position. Due to the qualifying session being cancelled for the 2011 race, it was not from the Coors Light pole.
·        Two of the four (50.0%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kentucky have been won from the front row – both from the first starting position (2011, 2014).
·        Three of the four (75%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Kentucky have been won from a top-10 starting position. 

·  The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Kentucky is 16th, by Matt Kenseth in 2013.

·  The fewest laps led in a single race by an eventual NSCS winner at Kentucky is 38 laps by Matt Kenseth in 2013.

·  The most laps led in a single race by an eventual NSCS winner at Kentucky is 199 laps by Brad Keselowski in 2014.

Additional Finishing Position Stats
·         Four different drivers have posted NSCS runner-up finishes at Kentucky:  David Reutimann (2011), Kasey Kahne (2012), Jamie McMurray (2013) and Kyle Busch (2014).
·         14 different drivers have posted top-five finishes at Kentucky led by Kyle Busch with three; followed by Brad KeselowskiDale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kensethand Ryan Newman with two each.    
·         Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch are tied for the series among active drivers in Average Finishing Position at Kentucky with a 4.5 each. Jimmie Johnson (7.0), Jeff Gordon (7.2), and Kasey Kahne(8.5) are the other active drivers with an average finish in the top 10.

Track Event Stats
·       Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory (MOV) in the NASCAR Sprint CupSeries at Kentucky Speedway was the July 9, 2011 race won by Kyle Busch over David Reutimannwith a MOV of 0.179 second.
·      None of the four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kentucky Speedway have resulted with a green-white-checkered finish.
·    None of the four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kentucky Speedway have been shortened due to weather conditions.     
·      Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Kentucky Speedway once; the 2011 race.
·       The 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kentucky produced the most lead changes (20) at the 1.5-mile track. The fewest lead changes were in the 2013 race at Kentucky (11).  
·     The 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kentucky produced the most different leaders (12) at the 1.5-mile speedway. The fewest leaders in a NSCS event at Kentucky were last season’s race with three.   
·         Brad Keselowski leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in laps led at Kentucky with 346 laps led in four starts.
Female Competitor Stats
·         Danica Patrick is the only female driver to compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Kentucky Speedway.

Driver
Starting Position
Finishing Position
Date
Danica Patrick
29
23
6/30/2013
Danica Patrick
10
21
6/28/2014
Averages
19.5
22.0

NASCAR in Kentucky
·         There have been five NASCAR Sprint Cup races among two tracks in Kentucky.
Track Name
City
NSCS
Kentucky Speedway
Sparta
4
Corbin Speedway
Corbin
1
·         42 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Kentucky; three have posted wins in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
Driver
NSCS
NNS
NCWTS
Jeremy Mayfield
5
0
0
Michael Waltrip
4
11
1
Tommy Thompson
1
0
0
Jeff Green
0
16
0
David Green
0
9
0

Milestones – Kentucky Speedway
 
HAS
NEEDS
MILESTONE
DESCRIPTION
DRIVER
Michael McDowell
174
1
175th NASCAR Sprint CupSeries Career Start
McDowell is 145th on the all-time NSCS career starts list, two starts behind Walter Ballard and Regan Smith (176 each) in 143rd. 
Danica Patrick
99
1
100th NASCAR Sprint CupSeries Career Start
Patrick is 191st on the all-time NSCS career starts list, one start behind Bruce Hill (100) in 190th. 
Jimmie Johnson
74
2
76th NASCAR Sprint CupSeries Win
Jimmie Johnson is eighth on the all-time NSCS wins list, two wins behind NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt in seventh (76 wins). 
Tony Stewart
48
2
50th NASCAR Sprint CupSeries Win
Stewart is 13th on the all-time NSCS wins list, two wins behind NASCAR Hall of Famer Ned Jarrett in 12th (50 wins). 
Matt Kenseth
32
1
33rd NASCAR Sprint CupSeries Win
Kenseth is tied with Dale Jarrett for 22nd on the all-time NSCS wins list, one win behind Fireball Roberts in 21st (33 wins). 
Carl Edwards
24
1
25th NASCAR Sprint CupSeries Win
Edwards is 31st on the all-time NSCS wins list, one win behind Dale Earnhardt Jr., Joe Weatherly and Denny Hamlin tied for 28th (25 wins). 
Jeff Gordon
24,826
174
25,000 NASCAR Sprint CupSeries Laps Led
Gordon can become the sixth driver in NSCS history to lead 25,000 laps; joining Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Cale Yarborough, David Pearson and Bobby Allison. 
Matt Kenseth
9,598
402
10,000 NASCAR Sprint CupSeries Laps Led
Kenseth can become the 16th driver in series history to lead 10,000 or more laps.  
Kevin Harvick
7,788
212
8,000 NASCAR Sprint CupSeries Laps Led
Kevin Harvick can become the 24th driver in series history to lead 8,000 or more laps.  
#43 car
199
1
200 NASCAR Sprint CupSeries Wins
The No. 43 car is second on the all-time NSCS wins list, five wins behind the No. 11 car in first (204). The last win for the No. 43 car came at Daytona last season.

~ - ~ - ~

TRACK FACTS (CUP SERIES):
June 2014 Cup Series Winner: #2-Brad Keselowski (Started 1st)
Track Race Record: #2-Brad Keselowski - 145.607 MPH (6/30/2012)
Slowest Race Record: #20-Matt Kensetg - 131.948 MPH (6/30/2015)
Oldest Race Winner: #20-Matt Kenseth at 41 years, 3 months, and 20 days (6/30/2015)
Youngest Race Winner: #18-Kyle Busch at 26 years, 2 months, and 7 days.
Worst Starting Spot To Win: #20-Matt Kenseth from 26th (6/30/2013)
Oldest Pole Winner: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. at 38 years, 8 months, and 18 days (6/28/2013)
Youngest Pole Winner: #2-Brad Keselowski at 30 years, 4 months, and 14 days (6/27/2914)
Most Wins: #2-Brad Keselowski - 2 wins.
Most Poles: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., #48-Jimmie Johnson, and #2-Brad Keselowski (1 pole each).
Most Top-5's: Kyle Busch - 3 Top-5's
Most Top-10's: #20-Matt Kenseth, #48-Jimmie Johnson, #18-Kyle Busch, and #24-Jeff Gordon (4 Top-10's each).
Most Laps Led By Race Winner: #2-Brad Keselowski - 199 laps (6/28/2014)
Most Laps Led (Didn't Win): #48-Jimmie Johnson - 182 laps (6/30/2013).
Fewest Laps Led By A Race Winner: #20-Matt Kenseth - 38 laps (6/30/2013).

SPRINT CUP NOTES
NEW AERO PACKAGE: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will be running. New aero package for this weekend's sleaze at Kentucky Speesway. The package will feature the following:

--Spoiler height being lowered from 6 inches to 3-1/2 inches.

--Splitter EXTENTION panel being lowered from 38 inches. To 25 inches. 1-3/4 over have will be on the spoiler, unlike what we have seen earlier in this season.

GORDON CHASING HISTORY: Jeff Gordon is hoping to win this weekend at Kentucky so that he can be the first driver to win at all tracks on the NASCAR circuit.

JR. AND DILLON: Dale Earnhardt Jr. is coming off of a win in this past weekend's Coke Zero 400, while Austin Dillon is trying to bounce back from the horrific crash he was involved in on the last lap of that race, where he slammed into the catch fence, injuring some fans.

Ryan Newman had these comments to USA Today Sports: "NASCAR got what they wanted, that's the end of it. Cars getting airborne, unsafe drivers, same old stuff. They just don't listen."

XFINITY SERIES NOTES:
DILLON'S VICTORY: The night before his horrific crash, DILLON won the NASCAR XFINITY Series event which was the Subway Furecracker 250.

SCOTT: Brian Scott showed speed at DAYTONA this past weekend, until he was wrecked in one of two big ones at the end of the race. The big one was caused because SCOTT was trying to hold off Elliott Sadler.

TRUCK SERIES NOTES:
JONES: Erik Jones is the most recent winner in the NASCAR Canping World Truck Series, having won the most recent race at Iowa Speedway.

KYLE BUSCH: Kyle Busch won the UNOH 225 last year at Kentucky Speedway.

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