Tony Stewart currently tops the Sprint Cup standings by 175 points, but a number of other drivers lead some interesting statistical categories (with one for Stewart as well), including:
1. Best Closer: In terms of NASCAR loop data, a 'closer' is defined as the driver who gains the most positions in the last 10% of each race. The best closer to date is … Reed Sorenson (28th in points)
2. Quality Passes - Another loop data statistic, quality passes are considered passes made while running in the top 15 under green- flag racing conditions. The current leader in quality passes is … Kurt Busch (4th in points)
3. Laps Run on the Lead Lap - This statistic only takes into consideration drivers who've raced in at least 75% of scheduled point-paying races. This is another statistical category currently led by … Kurt Busch.
4. Overall Driver Rating - This is a complex cumulative formula that combines wins, finishes, top-15 finishes, average running position on the lead lap, average speed under green, fastest lap, laps led and lead-lap finishes. Although Tony Stewart is currently the overall series points leader, the person leading the driver rating category is … Jimmie Johnson (3rd in points)
5. Laps Led - Perhaps not surprisingly, Johnson also leads this category with 945 laps led. Kyle Busch is in second with 809 laps out front. Denny Hamlin, Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin round out the top five.
6. Most Wins - Tony Stewart has the points lead based on overall performance and consistency, but Mark Martin has surprised many people this season by winning four of the first 19 races. Martin will carry ten bonus points per win into the Chase. (11th in points)
7. Lead Lap Finishes - It's interesting to note that of the 19 races run this year, only one driver has finished on the lead lap in 17 of them, with everyone else at 16 or fewer. That driver is … Tony Stewart. (1st in points)
8. Current Consecutive Cup Starts - I mention this statistic because it's just too impressive to ignore. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers in consecutive Cup starts with 564. Since his first Cup race in November of 1992, Gordon has never missed a single race. (2nd in points)
9. Current Races Without a DNF - Quick! Can you name the 2008 Rookie of the Year? It was Regan Smith, who holds the current record in this category: 51 races without a DNF. In fact, Smith has never had a DNF in his Cup career, although he is only racing part-time this season. Tony Stewart and Elliott Sadler are tied with 42 non-DNF finishes among full-time drivers. Smith is currently 38th in the point standings.
10. 2008 versus 2009 Chase Drivers: It's worth noting that five drivers who made last year's Chase for the Championship are currently outside the top-12 in points: Greg Biffle ( currently 13th in points), Clint Bowyer (15th), Jeff Burton (17th), Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (21st), and Kevin Harvick (25th). Realistically, Biffle is the only one of the five likely to make the Chase this year.
While statistics like these are fun to look at, there's only one number that will matter when the Cup series season comes to a close in November, and that's the points total among drivers in the Chase. But, with the resetting of points that occurs after race number 26 in September, the Chase itself could be a whole new ball game.
The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN.
