October 5, 2006

By Rebecca Gladden

Rebecca Gladden

They say you can find just about anything on the internet, and when it comes to NASCAR facts and statistics, that is certainly true.

Anyone who can do a Google search can locate basic racing data, like the current point standings or the finishing order of the latest race.

But there are lots of other interesting facts and figures on the internet that - while unofficial - make following the sport a little more fun.

Here are a few of my current favorites:

Driver Box Score: Uses a formula that combines each driver's wins, finishes, top-15 finishes, average running position while on the lead lap, average speed under green, fastest lap, laps led, and lead-lap finishes, with a maximum of 150 points per race. Matt Kenseth current leads all drivers in the box score data, while Jeff Gordon, Jeff Burton, Jimmie Johnson, and Greg Biffle round out the top 5. (www.NASCAR.com)

Most Improved Driver: Compares where drivers stand in the points from this year to last. The five most improved drivers at present are Jeff Burton (+19), Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (+11), Kasey Kahne (+11), Jeff Gordon (+10) and Kyle Busch (+10). All five drivers are competing in this year's Chase. (www.NASCAR.com)

Old Points vs. New Points: Yes, there still are some websites that keep track of where the drivers would rank under the old (pre-Chase) points format. While the statistic may be irrelevant, it satisfies the curiosity of fans who still wish the Chase would just go away. Below are the current standings under the old points format:

 1. Matt Kenseth
 2. Jimmie Johnson         (-133)
 3. Kevin Harvick          (-306)
 4. Jeff Burton            (-344)
 5. Denny Hamlin           (-402)
 6. Mark Martin            (-405)
 7. Tony Stewart           (-440)
 8. Jeff Gordon            (-460)
 9. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.    (-461)
10. Kyle Busch             (-495) 

Driver Bonus Points: NASCAR drivers earn bonus points for various accomplishments during each race, such as leading a single lap and leading the most laps. When the difference between making the Chase or winning the championship comes down to a just a few points, bonus points can be critical. However, as this year's stats point out, drivers who earn a lot of bonus points are still not guaranteed a spot in the Chase. The current top-5 bonus points leaders are Matt Kenseth, Jeff Gordon, Greg Biffle, Tony Stewart, and Kyle Busch. (www.TheInsideGroove.com)

"Lucky Dog" Stats: Every wonder which driver has received the most Lucky Dog passes (gaining a lap back under caution)? Have you heard all the conspiracy theories about certain drivers receiving more free passes than others? All your Lucky Dog questions can be answered at Jayski's Unofficial Lucky Dog page. The driver with the most Lucky Dog awards this season is Kyle Busch with nine - including the five he received at Watkins Glen, also a single race record. Another interesting fact: Only two drivers this season have competed full-time in every race and not used a Lucky Dog pass: Tony Stewart and Jeff Burton. (www.Jayski.com).

TV Commercial Statistics: Many fans feel that the TV broadcasts have become little more than a long series of commercials, interrupted by a few minutes of racing action. Here's a site that breaks down the advertising details of each race. During Sunday's race in Kansas, for example, there was a total of 141 commercials, accounting for 66 minutes of the 216-minute broadcast. (www.CawsandJaws.com)

Readers: Please email me your favorite stat categories or sites for possible inclusion in a future Insider Racing News article!

You can contact Rebecca at.. Insider Racing News

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.

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