At Talladega Superspeedway:

History

·         Construction began on what was then known as the Alabama International Motor Speedway on May 23, 1968.

·         The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was held on Sept. 14, 1969.

·         The name changed to Talladega Superspeedway in 1989.

·         Fourth repaving completed on Sept. 19, 2006.

Notebook

·         There have been 86 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Talladega Superspeedway since the track opened in 1969; two a year every year except the inaugural season, which had just one.

·         Richard Brickhouse won the first NASCAR Sprint Cup race.

·         Bobby Isaac won the first NASCAR Sprint Cup pole in September 1969. Isaac won the first three poles there.

·         35 different drivers have won poles. Bill Elliott leads all drivers with eight poles.

·         41 different drivers have posted victories, led by Dale Earnhardt Sr. (10). Twenty-one drivers have won more than once.

·         Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers in victories, with six. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is second among active drivers with five.

·         Richard Childress Racing has won more than any other organization at Talladega with 12 wins.

·         33 of 86 races have been won from a top-two starting positions, including 13 from the pole; 24 have been won from a starting position outside the top 10. The most recent driver to win from the pole was Jeff Gordon in 2007 (spring).

·         The furthest back in the field a race winner started was 36th, by Jeff Gordon in 2000.

·         Brad Keselowski leads the series among active drivers in average finishing position at Talladega with a 13.0. Trevor Bayne leads the series among active drivers in average starting position with an 8.6.

·         Mark Martin’s pace in the 1997 spring race set an all-time NASCAR Sprint Cup record for the fastest race ever. He won the caution-free race with an average speed of 188.354 mph and covered the 500-mile distance in two hours, 39 minutes and 18 seconds.

·         The 2010 spring race set the all-time and track records for lead changes (88) and lap leaders (29). Last season’s spring race tied the 2010 record for most lead changes with 88 (amongst 26 lap leaders). The previous highs were 75 lead changes (set on May 6, 1984) and 28 lap leaders (set on Oct. 5, 2008). Both previous records also were set at Talladega.

·         Dale Earnhardt Jr. had four consecutive victories (October 2001 through April 2003), the most ever by a driver at Talladega Superspeedway. Buddy Baker (three – May 1975 through May 1976) is the only other driver to win more than two consecutive races there.

·         Since the inception of electronic scoring in 1993, every race that has ended under green has had a margin of victory under half a second.

·         The 2011 spring race tied the 03/16/2003 Darlington race won by Ricky Craven for the all-time record of the closest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series finish (0.002 seconds) since the inception of electronic scoring.

·         Youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Talladega Superspeedway winner: Bobby Hillin Jr. (07/27/1986 – 22 years, 1 month, 22 days).

·         Oldest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Talladega Superspeedway winner: Harry Gant (05/06/1991 – 51 years, 3 months, 26 days)

 

Talladega Superspeedway Data

Chase Race #: 4 of 10

Season Race #: 30 of 36 (10-07-12)

Track Size: 2.66-mile

Banking/Turns: 33 degrees

Banking/Frontstretch: 16.5 degrees

Banking/Backstretch: 2 degrees

Frontstretch Length:  4,300 feet

Backstretch Length:  4,000 feet

Race Length: 188 laps / 500 miles

 

Top 12 Driver Rating at Talladega

Jeff Burton................................. 90.7

Dale Earnhardt Jr........................ 90.0

Denny Hamlin............................. 87.0

David Ragan............................... 87.0

Kurt Busch.................................. 86.8

Matt Kenseth.............................. 86.7

Brad Keselowski......................... 86.2

Joey Logano.............................. 84.8

Tony Stewart............................... 84.5

Jimmie Johnson.......................... 81.5

Jeff Gordon................................ 81.5

Juan Pablo Montoya................... 80.4

Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2012 races (15 total) among active drivers at Talladega Superspeedway.

 

Qualifying/Race Data

2011 pole winner:

Mark Martin, Chevrolet (181.367 mph, 52.799 sec., 10-21-11)

 

2011 race winner:

Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet (143.404 mph, 3:29:14, 10-23-11)

 

Track qualifying record:

Bill Elliott, Ford (212.809 mph, 44.998 sec., 4-30-87)

 

Track race record:

Mark Martin, Ford (188.354 mph, 2:39:18, 5-10-97)

 

NASCAR in Alabama

·         There have been 105 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in Alabama.

Track Name	City	NSCS
Talladega Superspeedway	Talladega	86
Birmingham International Raceway	Birmingham	8
Chisholm Speedway	Montgomery	1
Dixie Speedway	Birmingham	1
Huntsville Speedway	Huntsville	1
Lakeview Speedway	Mobile	2
Montgomery Motor Speedway	Montgomery	6

·         67 drivers in NASCAR’s three national series (all-time) have their home state recorded as Alabama.

·         There have been seven race winners from Alabama in NASCAR’s three national series:

Driver	NSCS	NNS	NCWTS
Bobby Allison	84	2	0
Davey Allison	19	0	0
Neil Bonnett	18	1	0
Donnie Allison	10	0	0
Red Byron	2	0	0
Steve Grissom	0	11	0
Rick Crawford	0	0	5

 

 

DRIVER-SPECIFIC STATISTICS

 

1 - Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)

·         Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 98.0

2012 Rundown

·         Five wins, 12 top fives, 18 top 10s

·         Average finish of 10.6

·         Led 17 races for 503 laps

Talladega Superspeedway Outlook:

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

·         Average finish of 13.0 in seven races

·         Average Running Position of 17.5, 12th-best

·         Driver Rating of 86.2, eighth-best

 

2 - Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet)

·         Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 109.9

2012 Rundown

·         Three wins, 15 top fives, 20 top 10s; two poles

·         Average finish of 10.4

·         Led 20 races for 1,250 laps

Talladega Superspeedway Outlook:

·         Two wins, five top fives, nine top 10s; one pole

·         Average finish of 17.7 in 21 races

·         Average Running Position of 18.2, 14th-best

·         Driver Rating of 81.5, 11th-best

·         1,339 Laps in the Top 15 (46.9%), seventh-most

·         2,735 Quality Passes, seventh-most

 

3 - Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Freight Toyota)

·         Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 103.7

2012 Rundown

·         Five wins, 12 top fives, 15 top 10s; three poles

·         Average finish of 12.2

·         Led 21 races for 1,132 laps

Talladega Superspeedway Outlook:

·         Three top fives, five top 10s

·         Average finish of 18.2 in 13 races

·         Average Running Position of 16.0, eighth-best

·         Driver Rating of 87.0, fourth-best

·         2,736 Quality Passes, sixth-most

 

4 - Clint Bowyer (No. 15 5-hour Energy Benefiting Avon Foundation For Women Toyota)

·         Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 94.1

2012 Rundown

·         Two wins, seven top fives, 18 top 10s

·         Average finish of 11.1

·         Led 9 races for 192 laps

Talladega Superspeedway Outlook:

·         Two wins, four top fives, seven top 10s

·         Average finish of 15.6 in 13 races

·         Average Running Position of 21.8, 30th-best

·         Driver Rating of 79.5, 18th-best

·         61 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most

 

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

·         Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 88.4

2012 Rundown

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

·         Average finish of 13.2

·         Led 13 races for 419 laps

Talladega Superspeedway Outlook:

·         One win, nine top fives, 13 top 10s

·         Average finish of 15.5 in 27 races

·         Average Running Position of 16.4, ninth-best

·         Driver Rating of 84.5, 10th-best

·         66 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most

·         4,584 Green Flag Passes, seventh-most

·         1,406 Laps in the Top 15 (49.2%), sixth-most

 

6 - Kasey Kahne (No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet)

·         Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 94.8

2012 Rundown

·         Two wins, nine top fives, 15 top 10s; two poles

·         Average finish of 13.7

·         Led 8 races for 253 laps

Talladega Superspeedway Outlook:

·         Three top fives, four top 10s

·         Average finish of 20.8 in 17 races

·         Average Running Position of 20.7, 23rd-best

·         Driver Rating of 70.1, 27th-best

·         4,862 Green Flag Passes, fifth-most

·         2,594 Quality Passes, eighth-most

 

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

·         Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 98.1

2012 Rundown

·         One win, 10 top fives, 18 top 10s; one pole

·         Average finish of 10.0

·         Led 12 races for 340 laps

Talladega Superspeedway Outlook:

·         Five wins, nine top fives, 13 top 10s

·         Average finish of 14.8 in 25 races

·         Series-best Average Running Position of 14.8

·         Driver Rating of 90.0, second-best

·         66 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most

·         4,926 Green Flag Passes, fourth-most

 

8 - Martin Truex Jr. (No. 56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota)

·         Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 97.6

2012 Rundown

·         Six top fives, 16 top 10s; one pole

·         Average finish of 11.2

·         Led 11 races for 423 laps

Talladega Superspeedway Outlook:

·         One top five, four top 10s

·         Average finish of 23.5 in 15 races

·         Average Running Position of 19.5, 19th-best

·         Driver Rating of 75.1, 21st-best

·         4,941 Green Flag Passes, third-most

·         2,409 Quality Passes, 13th-most

 

9 - Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet)

·         Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 91.4

2012 Rundown

·         Four top fives, 11 top 10s

·         Average finish of 12.0

·         Led 7 races for 229 laps

Talladega Superspeedway Outlook:

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

·         Average finish of 15.6 in 23 races

·         Average Running Position of 18.7, 17th-best

·         Driver Rating of 76.5, 20th-best

·         69 Fastest Laps Run, third-most

·         4,788 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most

·         1,234 Laps in the Top 15 (43.2%), 13th-most

·         2,553 Quality Passes, 10th-most

 

10 - Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet)

·         Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 97.0

2012 Rundown

·         One win, nine top fives, 14 top 10s; two poles

·         Average finish of 14.7

·         Led 18 races for 451 laps

Talladega Superspeedway Outlook:

·         Six wins, 14 top fives, 18 top 10s; three poles

·         Average finish of 16.8 in 39 races

·         Average Running Position of 18.7, 16th-best

·         Driver Rating of 81.5, 12th-best

·         1,302 Laps in the Top 15 (45.6%), ninth-most

 

11 - Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford)

·         Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 100.7

2012 Rundown

·         Two wins, 10 top fives, 15 top 10s; two poles

·         Average finish of 10.3

·         Led 14 races for 634 laps

Talladega Superspeedway Outlook:

·         Two top fives, four top 10s

·         Average finish of 19.7 in 19 races

·         Average Running Position of 21.4, 28th-best

·         Driver Rating of 72.9, 24th-best

·         58 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most

 

12 - Matt Kenseth (No. 17 Ford EcoBoost/National Breast Cancer Foundation Ford)

·         Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 100.0

2012 Rundown

·         One win, 10 top fives, 16 top 10s; one pole

·         Average finish of 11.6

·         Led 18 races for 365 laps

Talladega Superspeedway Outlook:

·         Four top fives, seven top 10s

·         Average finish of 18.6 in 25 races

·         Average Running Position of 15.3, fourth-best

·         Driver Rating of 86.7, seventh-best

·         4,575 Green Flag Passes, eighth-most

·         1,749 Laps in the Top 15 (61.3%), second-most

·         3,513 Quality Passes, third-most

 

Chase Contenders

The Top 12

Following Race 29 of 36

                                                                                Rank        Season

                                                                                Last          Driver

Driver                             Points   Wins      Poles        Week        Rating

1. Brad Keselowski     2,142       5           0              2             98.0

2. Jimmie Johnson    2,137       3           2              1           109.9

3. Denny Hamlin         2,126       5           3              3           103.7

4. Clint Bowyer           2,117       2           0               6             94.1

5. Tony Stewart           2,110       3           1               4             88.4

6. Kasey Kahne           2,110       2           2               5             94.8

7. Dale Earnhardt Jr.  2,103       1           1               7             98.1

8. Martin Truex Jr.      2,100       0           1            10             97.6

9. Kevin Harvick         2,096       0           0              8             91.4

10. Jeff Gordon            2,094       1           2             12             97.0

11. Greg Biffle               2,091       2           2               9           101.2

12. Matt Kenseth           2,070       1           1             11           100.0

_____________________________________________________

 

ADDITIONAL DRIVERS

13. Kyle Busch                     870         36. David Stremme          198

14. Carl Edwards                  836         37. J.J. Yeley                  151

15. Ryan Newman                830         38. Michael McDowell      140

16. Paul Menard                   814         39. Josh Wise                 122

17. Marcos Ambrose             798         40. Ken Schrader             111

18. Joey Logano                   785         41. Stephen Leicht           107

19. Jeff Burton                     713         42. Scott Speed                89

20. Jamie McMurray             702         43. Michael Waltrip            75

21. Juan Pablo Montoya        669         44. Tony Raines               71

22. Aric Almirola                   661         45. Terry Labonte             66

23. Regan Smith                   631         46. Scott Riggs                52

24. Bobby Labonte                629         47. Brendan Gaughan         50

25. Mark Martin                    563         48. Boris Said                   34

26. Kurt Busch                     551         49. Bill Elliott                     14

27. Casey Mears                  492         50. Hermie Sadler III          13

28. David Gilliland                 491         51. Mike Olsen                  11

29. David Ragan                   489         52. Robby Gordon             11

30. Travis Kvapil                   475         53. Mike Skinner               10

31. Landon Cassill                461         54. Tomy Drissi                  6

32. AJ Allmendinger              400         55. Stacy Compton             5

33. Dave Blaney                   352         56. David Mayhew              4

34. David Reutimann             330         57. Kelly Bires                    3

35. Brian Vickers                  213         58. Patrick Long                  2

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 Talladega Superspeedway

	Driver	Races	Poles	Wins	Top Fives	Top 10s	DNFs	Average Finish	Driver Rating
1	Brad Keselowski	7	0	2	3	5	1	13.0	86.2
2	Jimmie Johnson	21	1	2	5	9	8	17.7	81.5
3	Denny Hamlin	13	0	0	3	5	2	18.2	87.0
4	Clint Bowyer	13	0	2	4	7	2	15.6	79.5
5	Tony Stewart	27	0	1	9	13	5	15.5	84.5
6	Kasey Kahne	17	0	0	3	4	2	20.8	70.1
7	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	25	0	5	9	13	5	14.8	90.0
8	Martin Truex Jr.	15	0	0	1	4	9	23.5	75.1
9	Kevin Harvick	23	1	1	6	10	1	15.6	76.5
10	Jeff Gordon	39	3	6	14	18	9	16.8	81.5
11	Greg Biffle	19	0	0	2	4	5	19.7	72.9
12	Matt Kenseth	25	0	0	4	7	4	18.6	86.7

* – Based on last 15 races at Talladega Superspeedway