History

·         Construction on Texas Motor Speedway began in 1995.

·         The first NASCAR national series race at TMS was a NASCAR Nationwide Series event on April 5, 1997 – won by Mark Martin.

·         The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was on April 6, 1997 – won by Jeff Burton.

·         The track underwent a repave between the 2001 and 2002 seasons.

·         In 2011, the spring NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race was moved from Sunday to Saturday night under the lights at Texas Motor Speedway.

Notebook

·         There have been 24 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Texas Motor Speedway, one NSCS event from 1997 - 2004 and two races per year since 2005.

·         129 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Texas; 105 in more than one.

·         Four drivers have made all 24 NASCAR Sprint Cup starts at Texas Motor Speedway – Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte, Jeff Burton and Mark Martin.

·         Jeremy Mayfield was the first Coors Light pole winner, in 1998. The inaugural Coors Light pole at Texas Motor Speedway in 1997 was cancelled due to weather conditions.

·         17 drivers have Coors Light poles at Texas, led by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte, Ryan Newman and Martin Truex Jr. with two each.

·         Two drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles at Texas Motor Speedway: Bobby Labonte (2003 and 2004) and Ryan Newman (2005 sweep).

·         Youngest Texas pole winner: Brian Vickers (11/5/2006 – 23 years, 0 months, 12 days).

·         Oldest Texas pole winner: Bill Elliott (4/8/2002 – 46 years, 6 months, 0 days).

·         16 different drivers have won at Texas Motor Speedway, led by Carl Edwards (three).

·         Seven drivers have multiple wins at Texas Motor Speedway: Carl Edwards (three), Greg Biffle, Jeff Burton, Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth and Tony Stewart each have two.

·         Roush Fenway Racing leads the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in the most wins at Texas Motor Speedway (nine); followed by Hendrick Motorsports (four). 

·         Two of the 24 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Texas Motor Speedway have been won from the Coors Light pole; Kasey Kahne (2006) and Jimmie Johnson (2012).

·         The third-place starting position is the most proficient starting spot in the field at Texas Motor Speedway producing four wins - more wins than any other starting position in the field.

·         Five NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Texas Motor Speedway have been won from the front row: two from the pole and three from second-place.

·         18 of the 24 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Texas Motor Speedway have been won from a top 10 starting position.

·         Four of the 24 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Texas Motor Speedway have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.

·         The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Texas Motor Speedway was 31st, by Matt Kenseth in 2002.

·         Youngest Texas winner: Ryan Newman (3/30/2003 – 25 years, 3 months, 22 days).

·         Oldest Texas winner: Dale Jarrett (4/1/2001 – 44 years, 4 months, 6 days).

·         Jimmie Johnson leads the series in runner-up finishes at Texas Motor Speedway with five; followed by Matt Kenseth with four.

·         Matt Kenseth leads the series in top-five finishes at Texas Motor Speedway with 12; followed by Jimmie Johnson with nine.

·         Matt Kenseth leads the series in top-10 finishes at Texas Motor Speedway with 15; followed by Jimmie Johnson (14) and Mark Martin (13).

·         Jimmie Johnson leads active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Texas Motor Speedway with an 8.842. Jimmie Johnson is the only active driver with an average starting position at Texas in the top 10.

·         Two active drivers have a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series average finish in the top 10 at Texas: Matt Kenseth (8.333) and Jimmie Johnson (9.263).

·         There have been three NSCS green-white-checkered finishes at Texas Motor Speedway: fall 2006 (334/339), spring 2008 (334/339), and fall 2012 (334/335).

·         Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions twice in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Texas Motor Speedway; the inaugural event in 1997 and spring 2007. The race has never been rain shortened.

·         Kevin Harvick has participated in the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Texas Motor Speedway without posting a DNF (20).

·         Jeff Burton (4/06/1997) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (4/02/2000) won their first NASCAR Sprint Cup career race at Texas Motor Speedway.

·         David Ragan (4/09/2011) and Martin Truex Jr. (11/04/2007) posted their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Coors Light poles at Texas Motor Speedway.

·         2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Brad Keselowski (11/02/2008) and Trevor Bayne (11/07/2010) made their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career starts at Texas Motor Speedway.

·         Two NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers have posted consecutive wins at Texas Motor Speedway: Carl Edwards (2008 sweep) and Denny Hamlin (2010 sweep).

·         Nine of the 14 active NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers who have won at Texas Motor Speedway participated in at least two or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Jeff Burton and Dale Earnhardt Jr. won at Texas in their first appearance; Carl Edwards, Mark Martin and Ryan Newman all won in their second appearance at TMS.

·         Jeff Gordon competed at Texas Motor Speedway 16 times before winning in the spring of 2009; the longest span of any the 14 active NASCAR Sprint Cup winners.

·         Only two of the 14 winning drivers have made 10 or more attempts before their first win at Texas: Jeff Gordon (16) and Kurt Busch (13).

·         Bobby Labonte leads the series with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup starts at Texas Motor Speedway without visiting Victory Lane at 24.

·         Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory in NASCAR Sprint Cup racing at Texas was the (4/4/2004) race won by Elliott Sadler with a MOV of 0.028 second.

·         Two female drivers have made starts at Texas Motor Speedway (each only making one start): Shawna Robinson (4/08/2002) – starting 16th and finishing 36th; Danica Patrick (11/4/2012) – starting 32nd and finishing 24th.

·         Only one car number has produced three or more Texas Motor Speedway NSCS wins:

Car Number – Drivers – (Years)

o    No. 99  – Jeff Burton (1997); Carl Edwards (2005 and 2008 sweep)

·         Matt Kenseth leads the NASCAR Sprint Cup in laps led at Texas with 772 laps led in 21 starts.

·         One NASCAR Sprint Cup driver has won at Texas Motor Speedway in two different manufacturers: Jeff Burton (1997 – Ford; 2007 – Chevrolet).

 

Texas Motor Speedway Data

Season Race #: 7 of 36 (04-13-13)

Track Size: 1.5-miles

Banking/Turns 1 & 2: 24 degrees

Banking/Turns 3 & 4: 24 degrees

Banking/Frontstretch: 5 degrees

Banking/Backstretch: 5 degrees

Frontstretch Length:  2,250 feet

Backstretch Length:  1,330 feet

Race Length: 334 laps / 500 miles

 

Top 12 Driver Rating at Texas

Matt Kenseth............................. 106.6

Jimmie Johnson........................ 103.5

Greg Biffle................................ 103.4

Tony Stewart............................. 101.4

Kyle Busch................................. 98.7

Carl Edwards.............................. 98.3

Denny Hamlin............................. 93.3

Dale Earnhardt Jr........................ 92.7

Clint Bowyer............................... 92.5

Jeff Gordon................................ 91.9

Kurt Busch.................................. 89.0

Mark Martin................................. 88.6

Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2012 races (16 total) among active drivers at Texas Motor Speedway

 

Qualifying/Race Data

2012 pole winner: Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 190.369 mph, 28.366 secs. 4-12-12

2012 race winner: Greg Biffle, Ford, 160.577 mph, (03:07:12), 4-14-12

Track qualifying record: Brian Vickers, Chevrolet, 196.235 mph, 27.518 secs. 11-3-06

Track race record: Greg Biffle, Ford, 160.577 mph, (03:07:12), 4-14-12

 

NASCAR in Texas

·         There have been 33 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in Texas.

Track Name	City	NSCS
Texas Motor Speedway	Fort Worth	24
Meyer Speedway	Houston	1
Texas World Speedway	College Station	8

·         79 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Texas.

·         Nine drivers from Texas have won at least one race in NASCAR’s three national series. Six of the nine Texas native NASCAR winners have won in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

 

Driver	NSCS	NNS	NCWTS
Terry Labonte	22	11	1
Bobby Labonte	21	10	1
A.J. Foyt	7	0	0
Billy Wade	4	0	0
Bobby Hillin Jr.	1	2	0
Johnny Rutherford	1	0	0
James Buescher	0	1	4
David Starr	0	0	4
Colin Braun	0	0	1

 

 

TEXAS-SPECIFIC STATISTICS

 

Greg Biffle (No. 16 Filtrete Ford)

·         Two wins, seven top fives, 11 top 10s; one pole

·         Average finish of 15.9

·         Average Running Position of 12.2, seventh-best

·         Driver Rating of 103.4, third-best

·         Series-high 455 Fastest Laps Run

·         Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 173.056 mph

·         3,976 Laps in the Top 15 (74.2%), sixth-most

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

 

Clint Bowyer (No. 15 Gander Mountain Toyota)

·         Three top fives, eight top 10s

·         Average finish of 12.8

·         Average Running Position of 12.8, ninth-best

·         Driver Rating of 92.5, ninth-best

·         118 Fastest Laps Run, 13th-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 172.688 mph, seventh-fastest

 

Kurt Busch (No. 78 Furniture Row Racing/ Serta Chevrolet)

·         One win, three top fives, 12 top 10s

·         Average finish of 14.1

·         Average Running Position of 14.2, 12th-best

·         Driver Rating of 89.0, 11th-best

·         182 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most

·         1,225 Green Flag Passes, third-most

·         3,206 Laps in the Top 15 (59.9%), 11th-most

·         546 Quality Passes, 11th-most

 

Kyle Busch (No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota)

·         Five top fives, six top 10s

·         Average finish of 14.9

·         Average Running Position of 11.8, fifth-best

·         Driver Rating of 98.7, fifth-best

·         242 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 172.930 mph, third-fastest

·         3,529 Laps in the Top 15 (70.3%), seventh-most

·         557 Quality Passes, 10th-most

 

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 National Guard Chevrolet)

·         One win, three top fives, 12 top 10s; two poles

·         Average finish of 13.6

·         Average Running Position of 11.5, fourth-best

·         Driver Rating of 92.7, eighth-best

·         172 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most

·         1,192 Green Flag Passes, fifth-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 172.669 mph, eighth-fastest

·         4,106 Laps in the Top 15 (76.7%), second-most

·         Series-high 677 Quality Passes

 

Carl Edwards (No. 99 Fastenal Ford)

·         Three wins, five top fives, seven top 10s

·         Average finish of 15.1

·         Average Running Position of 11.8, sixth-best

·         Driver Rating of 98.3, sixth-best

·         342 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most

·         1,043 Green Flag Passes, 13th-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 172.919 mph, fourth-fastest

·         4,043 Laps in the Top 15 (75.5%), third-most

·         652 Quality Passes, third-most

 

Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Cromax Pro Chevrolet)

·         One win, eight top fives, 11 top 10s; two poles

·         Average finish of 16.1

·         Average Running Position of 13.7, 10th-best

·         Driver Rating of 91.9, 10th-best

·         273 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most

·         1,056 Green Flag Passes, 12th-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 172.542 mph, 10th-fastest

·         3,362 Laps in the Top 15 (62.8%), eighth-most

·         585 Quality Passes, eighth-most

 

Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Dover White Chevrolet)

·         Two wins, nine top fives, 14 top 10s; one pole

·         Average finish of 9.3

·         Average Running Position of 11.1, third-best

·         Driver Rating of 103.5, second-best

·         370 Fastest Laps Run, second-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 172.787 mph, sixth-fastest

·         3,997 Laps in the Top 15 (74.6%), fourth-most

·         608 Quality Passes, sixth-most

 

Matt Kenseth (No. 20 Dollar General Toyota)

·         Two wins, 12 top fives, 15 top 10s

·         Average finish of 8.3

·         Series-best Average Running Position of 9.4

·         Series-best Driver Rating of 106.6

·         301 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most

·         1,183 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 173.019 mph, second-fastest

·         Series-high 4,174 Laps in the Top 15 (77.9%)

·         634 Quality Passes, fifth-most

 

Mark Martin (No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota)

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

·         Average finish of 13.9

·         Average Running Position of 14.0, 11th-best

·         Driver Rating of 88.6, 12th-best

·         133 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-most

·         1,124 Green Flag Passes, 10th-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 172.480 mph, 12th-fastest

·         3,253 Laps in the Top 15 (60.7%), 10th-most

·         521 Quality Passes, 13th-most

 

Tony Stewart (No. 14 Mobil 1/Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet)

·         Two wins, six top fives, 12 top 10s; one pole

·         Average finish of 12.7

·         Average Running Position of 10.0, second-best

·         Driver Rating of 101.4, fourth-best

·         344 Fastest Laps Run, third-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 172.917 mph, fifth-fastest

·         3,990 Laps in the Top 15 (74.5%), fifth-most

·         590 Quality Passes, seventh-most

 

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

·         One top five, seven top 10s; two poles

·         Average finish of 15.9

·         Driver Rating of 86.1, 13th-best

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 172.507 mph, 11th-fastest

 

Chase Contenders

The Top 12

Following Race 6 of 36

                                                                                Rank        Season

                                                                                Last          Driver

Driver                             Points   Wins      Poles        Week        Rating

1. Jimmie Johnson       231       2           1              3           116.5

2. Brad Keselowski        225       0           0              2           103.7

3. Dale Earnhardt Jr.     219       0           0              1             98.9

4. Kyle Busch                 203       1           1               6           107.9

5. Kasey Kahne              199       1           0               7           105.1

6. Greg Biffle                  199       0           0               5             89.6

7. Carl Edwards             193       1           0               4             87.4

8. Clint Bowyer              179       0           0            14             91.9

9. Paul Menard               179       0           0               8             80.2

10. Matt Kenseth              172       1           0            11           110.4

11. Joey Logano             167       0           0               9             90.3

12. Jeff Gordon               164       0           0             18             92.1

______________________________________________________

ADDITIONAL DRIVERS

13. Jamie McMurray             162         30. Juan Pablo Montoya   101

14. Kevin Harvick                 161         31. AJ Allmendinger           92

15. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.        158         32. David Ragan               88

16. Aric Almirola                   149         33. David Reutimann         80

17. Casey Mears                  146         34. David Gilliland              80

18. Denny Hamlin                 145         35. David Stremme            71

19. Kurt Busch                     144         36. Travis Kvapil                63

20. Marcos Ambrose             144         37. Landon Cassill             50

21. Mark Martin                    136         38. Michael McDowell        41

22. Tony Stewart                  135         39. Terry Labonte              37

23. Ryan Newman                134         40. Scott Speed                35

24. Jeff Burton                     131         41. Ken Schrader               29

25. Martin Truex Jr.               126         42. Michael Waltrip            23

26. Danica Patrick                119         43. Scott Riggs                   6

27. JJ Yeley                         109         44. Timmy Hill                    5

28. Bobby Labonte                105

29. Dave Blaney                   104

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 Texas Motor Speedway

	Driver	Races	Poles	Wins	Top Fives	Top 10s	DNFs	Average Finish	Driver Rating
1	Jimmie Johnson	19	1	2	9	14	1	9.3	103.5
2	Brad Keselowski	9	0	0	1	1	0	22.7	70.1
3	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	21	2	1	3	12	2	13.6	92.7
4	Kyle Busch	15	0	0	5	6	0	14.9	98.7
5	Kasey Kahne	17	1	1	4	5	3	19.2	83.2
6	Greg Biffle	18	1	2	7	11	4	15.9	103.4
7	Carl Edwards	16	0	3	5	7	3	15.1	98.3
8	Clint Bowyer	14	0	0	3	8	1	12.8	92.5
9	Paul Menard	13	0	0	1	2	2	21.3	68.2
10	Matt Kenseth	21	0	2	12	15	0	8.3	106.6
11	Joey Logano	9	0	0	1	1	1	23.6	65.5
12	Jeff Gordon	24	2	1	8	11	5	16.1	91.9

* – Based on last 16 races at Texas Motor Speedway.