History

·-- Groundbreaking for New Hampshire International Speedway, as New Hampshire Motor Speedway was originally named, was Aug. 13, 1989.

·-- The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was on July 11, 1993.

·-- Renamed New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2008.

Notebook

·-- There have been 34 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway; one per year from 1993 through 1996 and two per year since.

·-- Four drivers have competed in all 34 races: Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte and Joe Nemechek.

·-- Mark Martin won the first NASCAR Sprint Cup pole.

·-- Rusty Wallace won the first NASCAR Sprint Cup race.

·-- There have been 17 different pole winners, led by Ryan Newman (six).

·-- 20 different drivers have won, led by Jeff Burton (four).

·-- Jimmie Johnson (2003) and Kurt Busch (2004) are the only drivers that have posted season sweeps. Those are also the only back-to-back winners.

·-- Hendrick Motorsports has won eight races, more than any other organization.

·-- The deepest in the field that a New Hampshire race winner started was 38th, by Jeff Burton in 1999.

·-- There have been five winners who started from the pole. The last race winner to win from the pole was Ryan Newman last season.

·-- Jeff Burton led all 300 laps raced in the 2000 fall race.

·-- Five drivers got their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win at New Hampshire: Joe Nemechek (1999), Robby Gordon (2001), Ryan Newman (2002), Clint Bowyer (2007) and Joey Logano (2009).

·-- Two drivers got their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole at New Hampshire: Patrick Carpentier (2008) and Brad Keselowski (2010).

·-- Denny Hamlin (9.0) is the only active driver with an average finish at NHMS in the top 10.

·-- Jeff Gordon has led the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series laps all-time at New Hampshire at 1,304.

·-- Last fall’s event (9/25/11) at NHMS tied the records for most all-time leaders (15), and fewest laps led by the winner (2).

·-- Youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series New Hampshire Motor Speedway winner: Joey Logano (06/28/2009 – 19 years, 1 month, 4 days).

·-- Oldest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series New Hampshire Motor Speedway winner: Mark Martin (09/20/2009 – 50 years, 8 months, 11 days).

New Hampshire Motor Speedway Data

Race #: 19 of 36 (07-15-12)

Track Size: 1.058-miles

Race Length: 301 laps / 318.46 miles

· Banking/Turns: Variable 2-7 degrees

· Banking/Straights: 1 degree

· Frontstretch: 1,500 feet

· Backstretch: 1,500 feet

Top 12 Driver Rating at NHMS

Tony Stewart............................. 114.1

Jeff Gordon.............................. 109.0

Jimmie Johnson........................ 104.6

Denny Hamlin............................. 98.1

Dale Earnhardt Jr........................ 96.5

Clint Bowyer............................... 95.1

Ryan Newman............................. 95.1

Jeff Burton................................. 94.1

Kurt Busch.................................. 93.3

Kevin Harvick.............................. 91.7

Mark Martin................................. 88.9

Kyle Busch................................. 88.5

Note: Driver Rating compiled from 2005-2011 races (14 total) at New Hampshire.

Qualifying/Race Data

2011 pole winner:

Ryan Newman, Chevrolet (135.232 mph, 28.165 sec., 07-15-11)

2011 race winner:

Ryan Newman, Chevrolet (104.100 mph, 3:03:33, 07-17-11)

Track qualifying record:

Ryan Newman, Chevrolet (135.232 mph, 28.165 sec., 07-15-11)

Track race record:

Jeff Burton, Ford (117.134 mph, 2:42:35, 06-13-97)

NASCAR in New Hampshire

· -- There have been 34 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in New Hampshire, all at NHMS.

Track Name	City	NSCS	Years
New Hampshire Motor Speedway	Loudon	34	1993-2011

· -- 14 drivers in NASCAR’s three national series (all-time) are listed as New Hampshire natives.

· -- There has been one race winner from New Hampshire in NASCAR’s three national series: Jamie Aube. Aube, from Manchester, won a NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Oxford Plains Speedway in 1987.

NEW HAMPSHIRE STATISTICS BY DRIVER

Clint Bowyer (No. 15 5-hour Energy Toyota)

· -- Two wins, two top fives, four top 10s; one pole

· --Average finish of 17

· --Average Running Position of 12.9, eighth-best

·V-- Driver Rating of 95.1, sixth-best

· -- 216 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most

· -- Average Green Flag Speed of 124.231 mph, sixth-fastest

· -- 2,435 Laps in the Top 15 (68.3%), 11th-most

· -- 348 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), 12th-most

Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet)

· -- Four wins, eight top fives, 13 top 10s

· -- Average finish of 13.6

· -- Average Running Position of 11.9, fifth-best

· -- Driver Rating of 94.1, eighth-best

· -- 137 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most

· -- 746 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most

· -- Average Green Flag Speed of 124.111 mph, eighth-fastest

· -- 2,914 Laps in the Top 15 (69.9%), sixth-most

· -- 361 Quality Passes, 10th-most

Kurt Busch (No. 51 Phoenix Construction Services Inc. Chevrolet)

· -- Three wins, seven top fives, 11 top 10s

· -- Average finish of 13.9

· -- Average Running Position of 12.6, seventh-best

· -- Driver Rating of 93.3, ninth-best

· -- Average Green Flag Speed of 124.176 mph, seventh-fastest

· -- 2,909 Laps in the Top 15 (69.8%), seventh-most

· -- 449 Quality Passes, fifth-most

Kyle Busch (No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota)

· -- One win, four top fives, six top 10s

· -- Average finish of 15.9

· -- Driver Rating of 88.5, 12th-best

· -- 709 Green Flag Passes, eighth-most

· -- 2,486 Laps in the Top 15 (59.7%), 10th-most

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 National Guard/Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet)

· -- Six top fives, 10 top 10s

· -- Average finish of 16.7

· -- Average Running Position of 12.0, sixth-best

· -- Driver Rating of 96.5, fifth-best

· -- 205 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most

· -- 796 Green Flag Passes, second-most

· -- Average Green Flag Speed of 124.398 mph, third-fastest

· -- 3,103 Laps in the Top 15 (74.5%), fourth-most

· -- 474 Quality Passes, second-most

Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)

· -- Three wins, 15 top fives, 19 top 10s; three poles

· -- Average finish of 10.8

· -- Series-best Average Running Position of 7.5

· -- Driver Rating of 109.0, second-best

· -- 367 Fastest Laps Run, second-most

· -- Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 124.574 mph

· -- Series-high 3,741 Laps in the Top 15 (89.8%)

· -- Series-high 503 Quality Passes

Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Freight Toyota)

· -- One win, five top fives, eight top 10s

· -- Average finish of 9.0

· -- Average Running Position of 11.4, fourth-best

· -- Driver Rating of 98.1, fourth-best

· -- Average Green Flag Speed of 124.266 mph, fifth-fastest

· -- 2,556 Laps in the Top 15 (71.7%), ninth-most

· -- 420 Quality Passes, sixth-most

Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Rheem Chevrolet)

· -- One win, five top fives, 11 top 10s; one pole

· -- Average finish of 14.1

· -- Average Running Position of 13.3, 10th-best

· -- Driver Rating of 91.7, 10th-best

· -- 140 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most

· -- 709 Green Flag Passes, eighth-most

· -- Average Green Flag Speed of 124.079 mph, 11th-fastest

· -- 2,574 Laps in the Top 15 (61.8%), eighth-most

Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet)

· -- Three wins, seven top fives, 13 top 10s

· -- Average finish of 10.1

· -- Average Running Position of 10.3, third-best

· -- Driver Rating of 104.6, third-best

· -- 326 Fastest Laps Run, third-most

· -- 706 Green Flag Passes, 11th-most

· -- Average Green Flag Speed of 124.302 mph, fourth-fastest

· -- 3,365 Laps in the Top 15 (80.8%), third-most

· -- 464 Quality Passes, fourth-most

Ryan Newman (No. 39 Army ROTC Chevrolet)

· -- Three wins, six top fives, 13 top 10s; six poles

· -- Average finish of 13.0

· -- Average Running Position of 12.9, ninth-best

· -- Driver Rating of 95.1, seventh-best

· -- 153 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most

· -- 3,060 Laps in the Top 15 (73.4%), fifth-most

· -- 375 Quality Passes, ninth-most

Tony Stewart (No. 14 Mobil 1/Office Depot Chevrolet)

· -- Three wins, 14 top fives, 16 top 10s; one pole

· -- Average finish of 11.5

· -- Average Running Position of 9.0, second-best

· -- Series-best Driver Rating of 114.1

· -- Series-high 386 Fastest Laps Run

· -- Average Green Flag Speed of 124.546 mph, second-fastest

· -- 3,437 Laps in the Top 15 (82.5%), second-most

· -- 473 Quality Passes, third-most

Chase Contenders

The Top 10

Following Race 18 of 36

Rank Season

Last Driver

Driver Points Wins Poles Week Rating

1. Matt Kenseth 676 1 1 1 106.2

2. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 651 1 0 2 101.0

3. Greg Biffle 632 1 2 4 104.9

4. Jimmie Johnson 618 2 1 3 106.7

5. Tony Stewart 592 3 0 9 91.4

6. Kevin Harvick 586 0 0 6 92.1

7. Denny Hamlin 584 2 1 5 97.5

8. Martin Truex Jr. 584 0 1 8 96.1

9. Brad Keselowski 573 3 0 10 92.9

10. Clint Bowyer 572 1 0 7 90.3

___________________________________________________________

ADDITIONAL DRIVERS

11. Carl Edwards 541 34. Dave Blaney 250

12. Kyle Busch (1 win) 516 35. J.J. Yeley 121

13. Paul Menard 507 36. David Stremme 116

14. Joey Logano (1 win) 503 37. Brian Vickers 106

15. Ryan Newman (1 win) 502 38. Michael McDowell 90

16. Kasey Kahne (1 win) 500 39. Michael Waltrip 75

17. Jeff Gordon 485 40. Ken Schrader 73

18. Jeff Burton 470 41. Josh Wise 73

19. Marcos Ambrose 470 42. Terry Labonte 66

20. Jamie McMurray 462 43. Tony Raines 61

21. Juan Pablo Montoya 433 44. Brendan Gaughan 50

22. Aric Almirola 431 45. Stephen Leicht 42

23. AJ Allmendinger 400 46. Scott Speed 36

24. Bobby Labonte 387 47. Scott Riggs 28

25. Kurt Busch 365 48. Boris Said 15

26. Regan Smith 359 49. Bill Elliott 14

27. Casey Mears 350 50. Hermie Sadler III 13

28. Mark Martin 341 51. Robby Gordon 11

29. David Ragan 312 52. Tomy Drissi 6

30. David Gilliland 294 53. Stacy Compton 5

31. Travis Kvapil 284 54. David Mayhew 4

32. Landon Cassill 258 55. Chris Cook 2

33. David Reutimann 252

Note: The first 26 races of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season determine which 12 drivers qualify for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, contested over the final 10 races of the season. After race No. 26, the top 10 earn a berth in the Chase. Spots 11 and 12 – the Wild Cards – will go to those drivers outside the top 10 with the most wins, provided they are in the top 20.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 2012 Top 12 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway

	Driver	Races	Poles	Wins	Top Fives	Top 10s	DNFs	Average Finish	Driver Rating
1	Matt Kenseth	24	0	0	5	12	1	14.0	77.3
2	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	25	0	0	6	10	4	16.7	96.5
3	Greg Biffle	19	0	1	5	7	2	16.6	87.7
4	Jimmie Johnson	20	0	3	7	13	0	10.1	104.6
5	Tony Stewart	26	1	3	14	16	2	11.5	114.1
6	Kevin Harvick	22	1	1	5	11	0	14.1	91.7
7	Denny Hamlin	12	0	1	5	8	0	9.0	98.1
8	Martin Truex Jr.	12	0	0	3	5	1	15.1	85.8
9	Brad Keselowski	5	1	0	1	2	0	17.4	73.8
10	Clint Bowyer	12	1	2	2	4	1	17.0	95.1
11	Carl Edwards	15	0	0	2	3	0	13.9	88.0
12	Kyle Busch	14	0	1	4	6	0	15.9	88.5

* – Based on last 14 races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

The Wild Card Standings Following: Daytona International Speedway

Pos.	Driver	Wins	Pts. Pos.	Points	Pts. From 10th
1	Kyle Busch	1	12	516	-56
2	Joey Logano	1	14	503	-69
3	Ryan Newman	1	15	502	-70
4	Kasey Kahne	1	16	500	-72
5	Carl Edwards	0	11	541	-31
6	Paul Menard	0	13	507	-65
7	Jeff Gordon	0	17	485	-87
8	Jeff Burton	0	18	470	-102
9	Marcos Ambrose	0	19	470	-102
10	Jamie McMurray	0	20	462	-110
The top-10 drivers will make the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Positions 11 and 12 in the 12-driver Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup are Wild Cards, and will go to drivers outside the top 10 with the most wins, as long as they are ranked in the top 20 in points. If multiple drivers outside the top 10 tie for wins, the tie-breaker will go to the race winner with the highest points position. Become a fan of the Facebook page NASCARBeyond Follow Matt Myftiu on Twitter @MattMyftiu