Four drivers gone. 12 drivers still standing. And one clean slate.
That’s the state of the Chase for the Sprint Cup following the Challenger Round.
The heavy favorites have done what they’ve had to do to advance. And outside of perhaps Kurt Busch, there were no major surprises regarding who got eliminated on Sunday at Dover.
Now comes the Contender Round, which starts Sunday afternoon at the 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway. All 12 drivers still in the hunt have had their points reset to 3,000. And as New Hampshire winner Joey Logano said, it all begins again.
Obviously, the momentum is on Jeff Gordon’s side following his victory Sunday at the “Monster Mile.” Gordon earned his first win of the season this past spring at Kansas, so you think he’s especially looking forward to the return.
But if you recall, Kevin Harvick probably could have taken that first Kansas race from Gordon if he had one more lap to spare. Despite running out of gas late, Harvick still mounted a furious charge that ended with him losing by just .112 of a second.
We’ll see if the fourth race of the Chase ends with a similar outcome. Courtesy of NASCAR’s public relations and statistics teams, here’s everything you need to know…
KANSAS-SPECIFIC STATISTICS
1 – Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Miller Lite Ford)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 105.0
2014 Rundown
· Five wins, 13 top fives, 16 top 10s; five poles
· Average finish of 12.4
· Led 23 races for 1,496 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· One win, two top fives, four top 10s
· Average finish of 10.6 in nine races
· Average Running Position of 13.8, 10th-best
· Driver Rating of 89.2, 11th-best
2 – Joey Logano (No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 106.5
2014 Rundown
· Four wins, 13 top fives, 18 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 12.2
· Led 19 races for 794 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· Two top fives, two top 10s
· Average finish of 21.7 in 10 races
· Average Running Position of 20.3, 24th-best
· Driver Rating of 73.2, 21st-best
3 – Kevin Harvick (No. 4 Budweiser Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 108.8
2014 Rundown
· Two wins, 10 top fives, 15 top 10s; seven poles
· Average finish of 14.0
· Led 21 races for 1,592 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· One win, three top fives, eight top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 11.5 in 17 races
· Average Running Position of 11.8, seventh-best
· Driver Rating of 99.1, fifth-best
· 202 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most
· Series-high 969 Green Flag Passes
· 468 Quality Passes, fifth-most
4 – Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 100.8
2014 Rundown
· Three wins, 10 top fives, 18 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 13.4
· Led 15 races for 1,035 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· Two wins, six top fives, 14 top 10s; three poles
· Average finish of 7.6 in 16 races
· Series-best Average Running Position of 7.5
· Series-best Driver Rating of 117.4
· Series-high 478 Fastest Laps Run
· Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 167.549 mph
· Series-high 3,042 Laps in the Top 15 (89.0%)
· Series-high 614 Quality Passes
5 – Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 110.4
2014 Rundown
· Four wins, 11 top fives, 19 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 10.0
· Led 20 races for 665 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· Three wins, 10 top fives, 12 top 10s
· Average finish of 10.1 in 17 races
· Average Running Position of 9.7, third-best
· Driver Rating of 101.1, fourth-best
· 147 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most
· 2,878 Laps in the Top 15 (84.2%), second-most
· 536 Quality Passes, second-most
6 – Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M’s Toyota)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 90.6
2014 Rundown
· One win, six top fives, 12 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 17.1
· Led 13 races for 411 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· Two top 10s
· Average finish of 22.7 in 14 races
· Average Running Position of 18.7, 19th-best
· Driver Rating of 76.8, 19th-best
· 864 Green Flag Passes, eighth-most
· 404 Quality Passes, 11th-most
7 – Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 97.2
2014 Rundown
· Three wins, 11 top fives, 17 top 10s
· Average finish of 11.0
· Led 12 races for 220 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· Two top fives, eight top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 15.2 in 16 races
· Average Running Position of 14.5, 12th-best
· Driver Rating of 91.5, ninth-best
· 108 Fastest Laps Run, 11th-most
· 855 Green Flag Passes, ninth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 166.627 mph, eighth-fastest
· 1,981 Laps in the Top 15 (62.8%), 10th-most
· 424 Quality Passes, eighth-most
8 – Matt Kenseth (No. 20 Dollar General Toyota)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 93.5
2014 Rundown
· 11 top fives, 18 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 13.8
· Led 17 races for 467 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· Two wins, six top fives, 10 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 14.3 in 17 races
· Average Running Position of 10.4, fourth-best
· Driver Rating of 107.4, second-best
· 235 Fastest Laps Run, second-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 166.855 mph, third-fastest
· 2,623 Laps in the Top 15 (76.7%), fourth-most
· 418 Quality Passes, ninth-most
9 – Ryan Newman (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 85.1
2014 Rundown
· Two top fives, 11 top 10s
· Average finish of 14.0
· Led 4 races for 24 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· One win, three top fives, four top 10s
· Average finish of 18.7 in 17 races
· Average Running Position of 20.6, 25th-best
· Driver Rating of 69.6, 25th-best
· 908 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most
10 – Carl Edwards (No. 99 Fastenal Ford)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 82.5
2014 Rundown
· Two wins, six top fives, 11 top 10s
· Average finish of 14.8
· Led 10 races for 134 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· Five top fives, 10 top 10s
· Average finish of 10.5 in 14 races
· Average Running Position of 12.1, eighth-best
· Driver Rating of 97.1, seventh-best
· 131 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most
· 877 Green Flag Passes, seventh-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 166.689 mph, seventh-fastest
· 2,352 Laps in the Top 15 (68.8%), sixth-most
· 493 Quality Passes, fourth-most
11 – Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 90.8
2014 Rundown
· One win, six top fives, 12 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 15.5
· Led 12 races for 195 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· One win, three top fives, three top 10s
· Average finish of 15.1 in 12 races
· Average Running Position of 14.3, 11th-best
· Driver Rating of 87.7, 14th-best
· 69 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-most
· 2,002 Laps in the Top 15 (63.5%), ninth-most
· 399 Quality Passes, 12th-most
12 – Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Farmer’s Insurance Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 88.7
2014 Rundown
· One win, three top fives, 10 top 10s
· Average finish of 16.5
· Led 10 races for 204 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· Four top fives, seven top 10s; three poles
· Average finish of 13.2 in 14 races
· Average Running Position of 13.6, ninth-best
· Driver Rating of 93.0, eighth-best
· 147 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most
· 939 Green Flag Passes, second-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 166.619 mph, ninth-fastest
· 2,208 Laps in the Top 15 (64.6%), seventh-most
· 436 Quality Passes, sixth-most
13 – AJ Allmendinger (No. 47 Clorox Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 70.1
2014 Rundown
· One win, two top fives, four top 10s
· Average finish of 20.7
· Led 5 races for 68 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· Two top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 22.8 in nine races
· Average Running Position of 22.7, 27th-best
· Driver Rating of 68.2, 26th-best
14 – Kurt Busch (No. 41 Haas Automation Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 86.5
2014 Rundown
· One win, six top fives, eight top 10s
· Average finish of 19.3
· Led 11 races for 181 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· One top five, four top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 17.6 in 17 races
· Average Running Position of 14.9, 14th-best
· Driver Rating of 87.3, 16th-best
· 121 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most
· 923 Green Flag Passes, fourth-most
· 1,980 Laps in the Top 15 (57.9%), 11th-most
· 405 Quality Passes, 10th-most
15 – Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Filtrete Ford)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 79.4
2014 Rundown
· Three top fives, 10 top 10s
· Average finish of 15.8
· Led 6 races for 109 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· Two wins, seven top fives, nine top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 10.7 in 16 races
· Average Running Position of 9.5, second-best
· Driver Rating of 104.7, third-best
· 205 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
· 837 Green Flag Passes, 11th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 166.836 mph, fourth-fastest
· 2,755 Laps in the Top 15 (80.6%), third-most
· 506 Quality Passes, third-most
16 – Aric Almirola (No. 43 Farmland Ford)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 73.5
2014 Rundown
· One win, two top fives, seven top 10s
· Average finish of 20.6
· Led 5 races for 23 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· Three top 10s
· Average finish of 15.6 in five races
· Average Running Position of 15.3, 15th-best
· Driver Rating of 88.1, 13th-best
· Average Green Flag Speed of 166.561 mph, 11th-fastest
Kansas Speedway Track Data:
Race 30 of 36
1.5 mile oval
17-20 degrees of banking, turns
10 degrees of banking, frontstretch
5 degrees of banking, backstretch
Frontstretch length – 2,685 feet
Backstretch length – 2,207 feet
267 laps/400 miles
Top 10 Driver Ratings at Kansas
Jimmie Johnson, 117.4
Matt Kenseth, 107.4
Greg Biffle, 104.7
Jeff Gordon, 101.1
Kevin Harvick, 99.1
Tony Stewart, 97.3
Carl Edwards, 97.1
Kasey Kahne, 93.0
Dale Earnhardt Jr., 91.5
Kyle Larson, 89.4
*Ratings compiled by 2005-2014 races among active drivers at Kansas
Kansas Speedway Qualifying/Race Data
2013 pole winner: Kevin Harvick, 187.526 mph/28.796 seconds, 10.04.2013
2013 race winner: Kevin Harvick, 114.884 mph (3 hours, 29 minutes, 10 seconds), 10.06.2013
Track qualifying record: Kevin Harvick, 194.252 mph (27.799 seconds), 05.10.2014
Track race record: Denny Hamlin, 144.122 mph (2 hours, 59 minutes, 51 seconds), 4.22.2012
Kansas Speedway History:
· Groundbreaking was held on May 25, 1999.
· The official opening of Kansas Speedway was in 2001, with the first events being an ARCA race and a NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race on the same day – June 2.
· The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race was on Sept. 30, 2001 – won by Jeff Gordon.
· During the 2012 season, between the April and October events the 1.5-mile track underwent a repave adding variable banking in the corners.
Kansas Speedway Notebook:
· There have been 17 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway, one NSCS event from 2001 – 2010 and two races per year since 2011.
· 116 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas; 86 in more than one.
· Five drivers have started all 17 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway – Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth and Ryan Newman.
· Jason Leffler won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Kansas Speedway in 2001 with a speed of 176.499 mph.
· 11 drivers have Coors Light poles at Kansas, led by Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne with three each.
· Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick are the only two drivers to win consecutive Coors Light poles at Kansas Speedway (Johnson – 2007, 2008 and Harvick – fall 2013, spring 2014).
· Youngest Kansas pole winner: Jason Leffler (09/30/2001 – 26 years, 0 months, 14 days).
· Oldest Kansas pole winner: Mark Martin (10/04/2009 – 50 years, 8 months, 25 days).
· 11 different drivers have won at Kansas Speedway, led by Jeff Gordon with three.
· Hendrick Motorsports leads the series in wins at Kansas with five: Jeff Gordon (three) and Jimmie Johnson (two).
· Chevrolet leads the series in wins at Kansas with nine victories; followed by Ford with four wins.
· Four of the 17 (23.5%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway have been won from the Coors Light pole; Joe Nemechek (2004), Jimmie Johnson (2008), Matt Kenseth (spring 2013) and Kevin Harvick (fall 2013).
· Five of the 17 (29.4%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway have been won from the front row: four from the pole and one from second-place.
· 10 of the 17 (58.8%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Kansas Speedway have been won from a top-10 starting position.
· Two of the 17 (11.7%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
· The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Kansas Speedway was 25th, by Brad Keselowski in the spring of 2011.
· Youngest Kansas winner: Ryan Newman (10/05/2003 – 25 years, 9 months, 27 days).
· Oldest Kansas winner: Mark Martin (10/09/2005 – 46 years, 9 months, 0 days).
· Martin Truex Jr., Kasey Kahne and Ryan Newman are tied for the series most runner-up finishes at Kansas Speedway with two each.
· Jeff Gordon leads the series in top-five finishes at Kansas Speedway with 10; followed by Greg Biffle with seven.
· Jimmie Johnson leads the series in top-10 finishes at Kansas Speedway with 14; followed by Jeff Gordon (12), Edwards, Kenseth each have 10.
· Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Kansas Speedway with an 11.000.
· Jimmie Johnson (7.625) leads the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average finishing position at Kansas Speedway – he is the only driver with an average finish in the top-10 at Kansas.
· There has been one NSCS race resulting with a green-white-checkered finish at Kansas Speedway: fall of 2011 (267/272).
· Only one of the 16 races at Kansas Speedway has been shortened due to weather conditions: fall of 2007.
· Qualifying has never been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Kansas Speedway.
· Denny Hamlin has participated in the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway without posting a DNF (12).
· 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion and 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Austin Dillon (10/09/2011) and Denny Hamlin (10/09/2005) made their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career starts at Kansas Speedway.
· Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth are the only two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers that have posted consecutive wins at Kansas Speedway: Gordon (2001 and 2002 – the first two NSCS events at Kansas) and Kenseth (fall of 2012, spring of 2013).
· Nine of the 10 active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners at Kansas Speedway participated in at least two or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Jeff Gordon won at Kansas in his first appearance.
· Kevin Harvick competed at Kansas Speedway 15 times before winning last fall; the longest span of any the 10 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners at Kansas.
· Kevin Harvick (15) and Matt Kenseth (13) have made 10 or more attempts before their first win at Kansas Speedway.
· Kurt Busch leads the series with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Kansas Speedway without visiting Victory Lane at 17.
· Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Kansas Speedway was the (10/10/2004) race won by Joe Nemechek with a MOV of 0.081 second.
· Jimmie Johnson leads the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in laps led at Kansas Speedway with 586 laps led in 16 starts.
· Danica Patrick is the only female driver that has competed at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
NASCAR in Kansas
· There have been 17 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in Kansas, all at Kansas Speedway. 17 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded at Kansas, and two drivers from Kansas have won at least one national series race: Clint Bowyer (8 Sprint Cup, 8 Nationwide, 3 Truck Series) and Jim Roper (1 Sprint Cup).