Statistical Advance: Analyzing The Sprint Unlimited

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 10, 2014) – Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. going into the Sprint Unlimited on Feb. 15. A total of 20 drivers are eligible to participate in the annual preseason, non-points race.

2014 Sprint Unlimited at Daytona Entry List

Denny Hamlin (5 poles), Kyle Busch (3), Jimmie Johnson (3), Matt Kenseth (3), Joey Logano (2), Ryan Newman (2), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2), Jeff Gordon (2), Carl Edwards (2), Marcos Ambrose (1),Kurt Busch (1), Kevin Harvick (1), Brad Keselowski (1), Jamie McMurray (1), Danica Patrick (1), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (1), Tony Stewart (Winner: 2001, ’02, ’07), Terry Labonte (Winner: 1985)

Eligible Drivers Performance

Marcos Ambrose – No. 9 Stanley Ford

                                                            Times  Laps

Year     Fin       St         Car      Laps    Led      Led      Status

2012     3          21        9          82        1          1          Running

2013     11        10        9          75                                Running

 

 

Kurt Busch – No. 41 Haas Automation Chevrolet

                                                            Times  Laps

Year     Fin       St         Car      Laps    Led      Led      Status

2002     14        1          97        70        1          3          Running

2003     11        3          97        70        1          11        Running

2005     6          6          97        70                                Running

2007     3          19        2          70        2          6          Running

2008     18        1          2          70                               Running

2009     9          12        2          78                                Running

2010     23        22        2          32                                Accident

2011     1          17        22        75        3          3          Running

2012     17        6          51        82                                Accident

2013     13        18        78        15                                Accident

 

 

Kyle Busch – No. 18 M&M’s Toyota

                                                            Times  Laps

Year     Fin       St         Car      Laps    Led      Led      Status

2006     15        14        5          72        2          4          Running

2007     7          6          5          70        3          39        Running

2009     10        10        18        78        2          6          Running

2010     4          17        18        76                                Running

2011     16        21        18        41        2          2          Accident

2012     1          2          18        82        2          3          Running

2013     16        13        18        14                                Accident

 

 

Dale Earnhardt Jr. – No. 88 National Guard Chevrolet           

                                                            Times  Laps

Year     Fin       St         Car      Laps    Led      Led      Status

2001     6          10        8          70                                Running

2002     2          16        8          70        1          20        Running

2003     1          19        8          70        4          13        Running

2004     2          19        8          70                                Running

2005     7          12        8          70                                Running

2006     2          19        8          72        1          1          Running

2007     14        17        8          70                                Running

2008     1          7          88        70        7          47        Running

2009     18        9          88        64        4          23        Accident

2010     11        11        88        76                                Running

2011     19        1          88        27        3          4          Accident

2012     20        8          88        54        2          12        Accident

2013     8          16        88        75        0          0          Running

 

 

Carl Edwards – No. 99 Fastenal Ford

                                                            Times  Laps

Year     Fin       St         Car      Laps    Led      Led      Status

2006     16        11        99        71                                Running

2008     12        20        99        70        1          1          Running

2009     7          11        99        78        2          11        Running

2010     17        1          99        74        2          42        Accident

2011     21        3          99        33                                Accident

2012     9          11        99        82                                Running

2013     12        1          99        75                                Running

 

 

Jeff Gordon – No. 24 Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet

                                                            Times  Laps

Year     Fin       St         Car      Laps    Led      Led      Status             

1994     1          6          24        20        1          2          Running

1995     4          5          24        20                                Running

1996     9          7          24        20                                Running

1997     1          3          24        20                                Running

1998     14        5          24        25                                Engine

1999     15        8          24        25                                Running

2000     2          6          24        25                                Running

2001     11        6          24        70                                Running

2002     3          22        24        70                                Running

2003     2          18        24        70        2          31        Running

2004     5          2          24        70        2          16        Running

2005     3          11        24        70                                Running

2006     19        10        24        23                                Accident

2007     21        11        24        31                                Electrical

2008     4          22        24        70        1          1          Running

2009     4          28        24        78        2          2          Running

2010     6          23        24        76                                Running

2011     6          12        24        75        1          1          Running

2012     15        14        24        73        3          16        Accident

2013     17        7          24        14                                Accident

 

 

Denny Hamlin – No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota                                                                                  

                                                            Times  Laps

Year     Fin       St         Car      Laps    Led      Led      Status

2006     1          15        11        72        3          16        Running

2007     17        21        11        70                                Running

2008     9          12        11        70                               Running

2009     13        5          11        78        2          4          Running

2010     5          24        11        76                                Running

2011     12        4          11        75                                Running

2012     5          16        11        82                                Running

2013     15        5          11        14                                Accident

 

 

Kevin Harvick – No. 4 Jimmy John’s Chevrolet

                                                            Times  Laps

Year     Fin       St         Car      Laps    Led      Led      Status

2003     9          16        29        70                                Running

2004     3          5          29        70        2          10        Running

2006     20        18        29        15                                Engine

2007     5          20        29        70        2          11        Running

2009     1          27        29        78        1          1          Running

2010     1          2          29        76        5          21        Running

2011     7          18        29        75                                Running

2012     22        22        29        54        3          4          Accident

2013     1          17        29        75        3          37        Running

 

 

Jimmie Johnson – No. 48 KOBALT TOOLS Chevrolet

                                                            Times  Laps

Year     Fin       St         Car      Laps    Led      Led      Status

2003     7          2          48        70        1          4          Running

2004     9          17        48        70                                Running

2005     1          17        48        70        1          16        Running

2006     5          2          48        72        3          12        Running

2007     4          8          48        70                                Running

2008     3          18        48        70                               Running

2009     14        21        48        77        1          2          Accident

2010     13        16        48        76                                Running

2011     4          23        48        75        2          7          Running

2012     14        18        48        74        1          1          Accident

2013     14        11        48        14                                Accident

 

 

Matt Kenseth – No. 20 Dollar General Toyota

                                                            Times  Laps

Year     Fin       St         Car      Laps    Led      Led      Status

2003     3          5          17        70        3          6          Running

2006     6          16        17        72                                Running

2009     8          25        17        78        1          1          Running

2010     16        8          17        74                                Accident

2011     13        19        17        74                                Running

2012     21        23        17        54                                Accident

2013     5          12        20        75        2          25        Running

 

 

Brad Keselowski – No. 2 Miller Lite Ford

                                                            Times  Laps

Year     Fin       St         Car      Laps    Led      Led      Status

2012     4          3          2          82                                Running

 

 

Terry Labonte – No. 32 C&J Energy Services Ford

                                                            Times  Laps

Year     Fin       St         Car      Laps    Led      Led      Status

1982     2          1          44        20                                Running

1983     10        11        44        19                                Accident

1984     9          11        44        20                                Running

1985     1          11        44        20        1          16        Running

1986     5          8          11        20                                Running

1987     9          5          11        0                                  Accident

1988     9          5          11        20                                Running

1989     3          4          11        20                                Running

1992     13        7          94        20                                Running

1996     4          11        5          20                                Running

1997     11        1          5          20        1          10        Running

2001     15        12        5          69                                Running

2002     7          7          5          70                                Running

2003     14        17        5          70                                Running

2004     8          6          5          70        3          17        Running

2013     19        19        32        2                                  Accident

 

 

Joey Logano – No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford

                                                            Times  Laps

Year     Fin       St         Car      Laps    Led      Led      Status

2009     28        19        20        3                                  Accident

2010     7          21        20        76                                Running

2011     18        22        20        27                                Accident

2012     18        10        20        54        1          1          Accident

2013     3          9          22        75                                Running

 

 

Jamie McMurray – No. 1 Cessna Chevrolet

                                                            Times  Laps

Year     Fin       St         Car      Laps    Led      Led      Status

2004     17        3          42        69        2          8          Accident

2006     8          17        26        72        1          1          Running

2008     22        4          26        24                                Accident

2009     2          15        26        78        4          16        Running

2010     3          9          1          76        2          2          Running

2011     2          14        1          75                                Running

2012     16        4          1          73        5          11        Accident

 

 

Ryan Newman – No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet

                                                            Times  Laps

Year     Fin       St         Car      Laps    Led      Led      Status

2002     15        8          12        70                                Running

2003     4          15        12        70                                Running

2004     16        16        12        69        1          4          Accident

2005     2          7          12        70        1          4          Running

2006     17        7          12        68                                Accident

2007     20        9          12        46                                Engine

2008     23        17        12        70                                Running

2010     19        4          39        74                                Accident

2011     3          8          39        75        3          18        Running

2012     7          13        39        82                                Running

 

 

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

                                                            Times  Laps

Year     Fin       St         Car      Laps    Led      Led      Status

2000     4          3          20        25                                Running

2001     1          7          20        70                                Running

2002     1          3          20        70        2          31        Running

2003     15        12        20        70                                Running

2004     7          18        20        70                                Running

2005     4          8          20        70                                Running

2006     3          3          20        72        3          7          Running

2007     1          14        20        70        2          11        Running

2008     2          10        20        70        2          9          Running

2009     3          6          14        78        1          4          Running

2010     9          13        14        76        2          6          Running

2011     11        2          14        75        3          4          Running

2012     2          15        14        82        1          7          Running

2013     4          15        14        75        2          5          Running

 

NOTE: Danica Patrick (No. 10 GoDaddy Chevrolet) and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (No. 17 Nationwide Insurance Ford) will make their Sprint Unlimited debuts on Saturday night.

Sprint Unlimited Tidbits

  • The number of participants has ranged from a low of seven in 1981 to a high of 28 in 2009 (18 are entered in this year’s event).
  • The drivers with the most Sprint Unlimited appearances:

o   Mark Martin (24)

o   Bill Elliott (23)

o   Jeff Gordon (20)

o   Ken Schrader (19)

o   Rusty Wallace (19)

  • Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon have appeared in the most consecutive Sprint Unlimited races, competing in 20 consecutive events. Martin from 1989-2008 and Gordon from 1994-2013.
  • There have been eight multiple winners in the Sprint Unlimited:

o   Dale Earnhardt won six events, most all-time (1980, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1995).

o   Dale Jarrett won in 1996, 2000 and 2004.

o   Kevin Harvick won in 2009, 2010 and 2013.

o   Tony Stewart won in 2001, 2002 and 2007.

o   Other multiple winners: Neil Bonnett (1983-1984), Ken Schrader, (1989-1990), Jeff Gordon (1994 and 1997) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2003 and 2008).

o   Bonnett, Schrader, Stewart and Harvick are the only drivers to win back-to-back Sprint Unlimited races. No driver has won three consecutive Sprint Unlimited events.

  • Buddy Baker (1979), Dale Earnhardt (1980), Jeff Gordon (1994), Dale Jarrett (1996) and Denny Hamlin (2006) all won the first Sprint Unlimited in which they competed.
  • Only five times in the 32-year history of the race has the winner gone on to win the Daytona 500:

Bobby Allison (1982)

Bill Elliott (1987)

Dale Jarrett (1996 and 2000)

Jeff Gordon (1997)

  • There have been three winners from the pole: Darrell Waltrip (1981), Bill Elliott (1987) and Ken Schrader (1989).
  • Two drivers have swept the Sprint Unlimited, Daytona 500 pole and Daytona 500 from 1979-2013: Dale Jarrett (2000) and Bill Elliott (1987).
  • One driver has swept the Sprint Unlimited, Daytona 500 and the Coke Zero 400 from 1979-2013: Bobby Allison (1982).
  • Seven drivers have won the Sprint Unlimited (1979-2013) and the same season’s championship. Dale Earnhardt is the only one to have accomplished it multiple times – four times.

Tony Stewart (2002)

Jeff Gordon (1997)

Dale Earnhardt (1993)

Dale Earnhardt (1991)

Dale Earnhardt (1986)

Darrell Waltrip (1981)

Dale Earnhardt (1980)

  • Four drivers have won consecutive Sprint Unlimited races (1979-2013). None went on to win that year’s Daytona 500.

Kevin Harvick (2009-10)

Tony Stewart (2000-01)

Ken Schrader (1990-91)

Neil Bonnett (1983-84)

  • The format for the Sprint Unlimited has changed 12 times since its inception into the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 1979.
  • The second starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field resulting in five wins over the 35 races.

 

Sprint Unlimited Manufacturer Recap

 

Manufacturer         Victories          Last Victory – Driver

Chevrolet                20                    2013 – Kevin Harvick

Ford                       7                      2004 – Dale Jarrett

Buick                      2                      1982 – Bobby Allison

Oldsmobile             2                      1980 – Dale Earnhardt

Pontiac                   2                      2002 – Tony Stewart

Dodge                    1                      2011 – Kurt Busch

Toyota                    1                      2012 – Kyle Busch

 

By the Numbers: Sprint Unlimited

.013 – Margin of victory in seconds by Kyle Busch over Tony Stewart in 2012, the closest margin in Sprint Unlimited history.

.058 – Margin of victory in seconds by Kurt Busch over Jamie McMurray in 2011, the second closest margin in Sprint Unlimited history.

.08 – Margin of victory in seconds by Dale Earnhardt over Sterling Marlin in 1995, the third closest margin in Sprint Unlimited history.

1 – Laps led by Rusty Wallace (1998), Neil Bonnett (1983-84), Dale Earnhardt (1980), Dale Jarrett (2000 and 2004) and Kevin Harvick (2009) in the Sprint Unlimited races they won.

2 – The starting position that has produced the most Sprint Unlimited wins (five).

2.75 – Average finish by Dale Earnhardt, best by any driver with multiple starts.

5 – Drivers who have won the event in their first appearance (Buddy Baker, 1979; Dale Earnhardt, 1980; Jeff Gordon, 1994; Dale Jarrett, 1996; Denny Hamlin, 2006).

6 – Number of Sprint Unlimited wins by Dale Earnhardt, the series leader.

7 – Number of fewest starters in the field for the Sprint Unlimited (1981).

9 – Number of races led, most since race began in 1979 (Dale Earnhardt Jr.)

11 – Number of starts before winning, most since race began in 1979 (Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin).

14 – Number of different leaders in the 2009 event, most since race began in 1979.

20 – Number of wins by Chevrolet in the Sprint Unlimited, leads all manufacturers.

20 – Most consecutive starts in the Sprint Unlimited by Mark Martin (1989-2008) and Jeff Gordon (1994-2013).

27 – Kevin Harvick’s starting position in 2009, the lowest by a race winner in the event’s history.

28 – Number of lead changes in the 2011 event, highest number since race began in 1979.

44 – Laps led by Greg Biffle in 2005, the most by a driver who did not win the event.

47 – Laps led by Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2008, the most in a single Sprint Unlimited.

124.095 mph – The slowest average speed of the race for the Sprint Unlimited was last season’s event won by Kyle Busch.

197.802 mph – The fastest average speed of the race for the Sprint Unlimited was in 1987 won by Bill Elliott.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SpeedwayMedia.com

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