Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, going into the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 on Sunday, April 14 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FS1, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Texas Motor Speedway Stats & Tidbits
TRACK / EVENT SPECIFICS
Season Race #: 9 of 36 (04-14-24)
The Purse: $9,397,736
Track Size: 1.5-mile
Banking/Turn 1 & 2: 20 degrees
Banking/Turn 3 & 4: 24 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 5 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 5 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 2,250 feet
Backstretch Length: 1,330 feet
Race Length: 267 laps / 400.5 miles
Stage 1 Length: 80 laps (ends on Lap 80)
Stage 2 Length: 85 laps (ends on Lap 165)
Final Stage Length: 102 laps (ends on Lap 267
QUALIFYING RECORD
Track Qualifying Record:
Kurt Busch, Stewart-Haas Racing Ford, 200.915 mph, 26.877 secs., November 3, 2017
RACE RECORD
Track Race Record:
Greg Biffle, RFK Racing Ford, 160.577 mph, (3:07:12), November 14, 2012
HISTORY
Construction on Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) began in 1995 just outside the Dallas/Fort-Worth area of Texas.The first NASCAR national series race at Texas Motor Speedway was a NASCAR Xfinity Series event on April 5, 1997. The race was won by NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin driving an RFK Racing Ford (122.993 mph).The first NASCAR Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway was on April 6, 1997, and the race was won by Jeff Burton in a RFK Racing Ford (125.111 mph).Texas Motor Speedway underwent a repave between the 2001 and 2002 NASCAR Cup Series seasons.In 2011, the spring NASCAR Cup Series race was moved from Sunday to Saturday night under the lights at Texas Motor Speedway. The 2017 season marked the first year it was moved back to a Sunday afternoon race.Texas Motor Speedway hosted its first NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race on November 6, 2005 — the postseason race won by RFK Racing driver Carl Edwards (151.055 mph).Texas Motor Speedway underwent its second repave between the 2016 and 2017 NASCAR Cup Series seasons. The renovation added a new layer of asphalt over the existing pavement, an expansive French drainage system on the frontstretch and backstretch and reduced the banking in Turns 1 and 2 by four degrees (now 20 degrees).The 2021 season marked the first time the track hosted the NASCAR All-Star Race instead of the points-paying spring event. Texas Motor Speedway hosted the NASCAR All-Star Race in 2021 and in 2022 instead of spring race.There have been 43 NASCAR Cup Series points-paying races at Texas Motor Speedway total, one event from 1997 – 2004 and two races per year from 2005 – 2020.In 2021 and 2022, the track hosted the NASCAR All-Star Race and one points-paying Playoff race. In 2023, the NASCAR Cup Series only competed at Texas Motor Speedway once during the season.The 2024 season is the first season since 2020 that Texas Motor Speedway will host two points-paying events in a single year.
STARTS
A total of 186 different drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway; a 151 drivers have competed in more than one Cup race at Texas.Kevin Harvick leads the NASCAR Cup Series in starts at Texas Motor Speedway with 39 appearances.Jimmie Johnson leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in starts at Texas Motor Speedway with 35.Top five in Cup Series Texas Motor Speedway starts: Kevin Harvick (39), Kurt Busch (37), Ryan Newman (36), Jimmie Johnson (35) and Martin Truex Jr. (34).Seven drivers have made their first NASCAR Cup Series career start at Texas Motor Speedway; the most recent was John Hunter Nemechek in 2019.First Time Starters at TexasDateJohn H. NemechekSunday, November 3, 2019Parker KligermanSunday, November 3, 2013David StarrSaturday, April 9, 2011Trevor BayneSunday, November 7, 2010Brad KeselowskiSunday, November 2, 2008Jay SauterMonday, April 8, 2002Adam PettySunday, April 2, 2000Of the seven drivers that made their first career NASCAR Cup Series start at Texas Motor Speedway, Trevor Bayne posted the best finish in his series debut, with a 17th-place finish on November 7, 2010.Steve Park leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Texas Motor Speedway with an 8.0 in five starts.Ryan Blaney (13 starts) leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Texas Motor Speedway with an 9.0; followed by Joey Logano with a 11.6 in 27 starts.
Top 10 in Average Starting Position in the NASCAR Cup Series at Texas (All-Time & Active)
RankAll-Time DriversAvg StartRacesRankActive DriversAvg StartRaces1Steve Park8.00051Ryan Blaney9.933152Ryan Blaney9.933152Ty Gibbs10.00023Ty Gibbs10.00023Jimmie Johnson10.714354Kenny Irwin Jr10.66734Daniel Hemric11.50025Jimmie Johnson10.714355Joey Logano11.929286Daniel Hemric11.50026Denny Hamlin12.667337Daniel Suarez11.66767Brad Keselowski13.179288Joey Logano11.929288Kyle Busch13.394339Jeff Gordon12.033309William Byron13.778910Carl Edwards12.3332410Martin Truex Jr14.17634
POLES
A total of 26 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won the pole at Texas Motor Speedway; 11 of the 25 drivers have won multiple poles at the 1.5-mile speedway.Seven of the 26 NASCAR Cup Series Texas Motor Speedway pole winners are active this weekend.Active Texas Pole WinnersPolesSeasonsBrad Keselowski22022, 2015Jimmie Johnson22019, 2012Martin Truex Jr22012, 2007Bubba Wallace12023Ryan Blaney12018Austin Dillon12016Kyle Busch12013Kurt Busch leads the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Texas Motor Speedway with three (Spring 2015, Playoffs 2017, Spring 2018).Brad Keselowski (2015, 2022), Jimmie Johnson (2012, 2019) and Martin Truex Jr. (2007, 2012) lead all active drivers in NASCAR Cup Series poles at Texas Motor Speedway with two each.The inaugural Pole Qualifying at Texas Motor Speedway in 1997 was cancelled due to weather conditions — NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett started the race from the first starting position. He finished the race runner-up.Jeremy Mayfield was the first NASCAR Cup Series pole winner at Texas Motor Speedway in 1998 with a speed of 185.906 mph, driving the Team Penske 12 Ford.Three drivers have won consecutive poles at Texas Motor Speedway: Bobby Labonte (2003 and 2004), Ryan Newman (2005 sweep) and Kurt Busch (2017 and 2018).Youngest Texas Cup Series pole winner: Brian Vickers (Nov. 5, 2006 — 23 years, 0 months, 12 days).Oldest Texas Cup Series pole winner: Bill Elliott (April 8, 2002 — 46 years, 6 months, 0 days).David Ragan (April 9, 2011) and Martin Truex Jr. (November 4, 2007) are the only two drivers who have posted their first career NASCAR Cup Series pole at Texas Motor Speedway.In total 12 different organizations have won a NASCAR Cup Series pole at Texas Motor Speedway.RankOrganizationsPolesSeasons1Stewart-Haas Racing72019, ’18, ’17 sweep, ’15, ’14, ’102Hendrick Motorsports72019, ’12, ’09, ’08 sweep, ’06, ’003Team Penske52018, ’15, ’05 sweep, ’984Joe Gibbs Racing52016, ’14, ’13, ’04, ’035RFK Racing42022, ’13, ’11 sweep6Michael Waltrip Racing22012, ’097Dale Earnhardt Inc.22007, ’018Evernham Motorsports22006, ’02923XI Racing1202310Richard Childress Racing1201611Richard Petty Motorsports1201012Robert Yates Racing11999Hendrick Motorsports and Stewart-Haas Racing are tied for the NASCAR Cup Series most poles at Texas Motor Speedway with seven poles each:Hendrick Motorsports (seven poles among five drivers) — Terry Labonte (2000), Brian Vickers (2006), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2008), Jeff Gordon (2008, 2009), Jimmie Johnson (2012, 2019).Stewart-Haas Racing (seven poles among three drivers) — Tony Stewart (2010, 2014), Kurt Busch (2015, 2017, 2018), Kevin Harvick (2017, 2019).Four different manufacturers have won a NASCAR Cup Series pole at Texas Motor Speedway; led by Chevrolet with 15 poles, and followed by Ford (13), Toyota (six) and Dodge (four).
WINS
A total of 23 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won at Texas Motor Speedway, and nine of the 23 have won multiple times at the 1.5-mile track.Eight of the 23 NASCAR Cup Series Texas Motor Speedway race winners are active this weekend.Active Texas Race WinnersWinsSeasonsJimmie Johnson72017, ’15 sweep, ’14, ’13, ’12, ’07Kyle Busch42020, ’18, ’16, ’13Denny Hamlin32019, ’10 sweepWilliam Byron12023Tyler Reddick12022Kyle Larson12021Austin Dillon12020Joey Logano12014The first NASCAR Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway was on April 6, 1997, and the race was won by Jeff Burton in a RFK Racing Ford (125.111 mph).Jimmie Johnson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Texas Motor Speedway with seven victories (2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 sweep and 2017) in 35 starts — winning percentage of 20%.Three NASCAR Cup Series drivers have posted consecutive wins at Texas Motor Speedway: Jimmie Johnson (2014 Playoff race and 2015 sweep), Carl Edwards (2008 sweep) and Denny Hamlin (2010 sweep).Jeff Burton (April 6, 1997) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (April 2, 2000) are the only two drivers to win in their first career NASCAR Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway.Youngest Cup Series Texas winner: Joey Logano (April 7, 2014 — 23 years, 10 months, 14 days).Oldest Cup Series Texas winner: Dale Jarrett (April 1, 2001 — 44 years, 4 months, 6 days).Martin Truex Jr. leads the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Cup Series starts at Texas Motor Speedway without visiting Victory Lane at 34 starts; followed by Brad Keselowski (28 starts) and Michael McDowell (25 starts).A total of 19 different starting positions on the grid have led to victories in the NASCAR Cup Series at Texas Motor Speedway.The third starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field at Texas Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series, producing more wins (eight) than any other starting position (18.60%) — most recently: Kevin Harvick‘s win in the 2018 Playoff race.Five of the 43 NASCAR Cup Series races (11.63%) at Texas Motor Speedway have been won from the pole or first starting position.Five different drivers have won a NASCAR Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway from the pole or first starting position: Kasey Kahne (2006), Jimmie Johnson (2012), Kyle Busch (2013), Kevin Harvick (2019) and Kyle Larson (2021).Eight of the 43 NASCAR Cup Series races (19.05%) at Texas Motor Speedway have been won from the front row: five from first starting position (11.63%) and three from the second starting position (6.98%).
NASCAR Cup Series Wins by Starting Positions at Texas Motor Speedway
Starting PositionWinsWinning %Starting PositionWinsWinning %1511.63%1512.33%236.98%1612.33%3818.60%1812.33%449.30%1912.33%549.30%2112.33%612.33%2412.33%712.33%2912.33%849.30%3024.65%924.65%3112.33%1012.33% StatsWinning %WinsWinning from the First Starting Position:11.63%5Winning from the Front Row:18.60%8Winning from a Top-Five Starting Position:55.81%24Winning After Starting Inside the Top 10:76.74%33Winning After Starting Outside the Top 20:13.95%6The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Texas Motor Speedway is 31st, by Matt Kenseth in 2002.A total of nine different organizations have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Texas Motor Speedway.OrganizationsWinsSeasonsHendrick Motorsports112023, ‘21, ’17, ’15 sweep, ’14, ’13, ’12, ’09, ’07, 1999Joe Gibbs Racing92020, ’19, ’18, ’16 sweep, ’13, ’10 sweep, ’06RFK Racing92012, ’11, ’08 sweep, ’05 sweep, ’02, 1998, ’97Stewart-Haas Racing42019, ’18, ’17, ’11Richard Childress Racing32022, ’20, ’07Team Penske32014, ’09, ’03Robert Yates Racing22004, ’01Evernham Motorsports12006Dale Earnhardt Inc.12000Hendrick Motorsports leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Texas Motor Speedway with 11 victories among five drivers: Terry Labonte (Spring 1999), Jeff Gordon (Spring 2009), Jimmie Johnson (Playoffs 2007, Playoffs 2012, Playoffs 2013, Playoffs 2014, Spring 2015, Playoffs 2015, Spring 2017), Kyle Larson (2021) and William Byron (2023).Four different manufacturers have won a NASCAR Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway, led by Chevrolet with 17 wins; followed by Ford (15), Toyota (eight) and Dodge (three).Two NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won at Texas Motor Speedway in two different manufacturers: Jeff Burton (1997 — Ford; 2007 — Chevrolet) and Carl Edwards (2005, 2008 sweep — Ford; 2016 — Toyota)
ADDITIONAL FINISHING POSITIONS
Runner-Up Finishes:
A total of 24 different drivers have finished runner-up in the NASCAR Cup Series at Texas Motor Speedway.Jimmie Johnson leads the series in runner-up finishes at Texas Motor Speedway with five second-place finishes.
Top Five in Runner-Up Finishes at Texas Motor Speedway (All-Time & Active)
RankAll-Time DriversRunner-UpsRankActive DriversRunner-Ups1Jimmie Johnson51Jimmie Johnson52Matt Kenseth42Martin Truex Jr33Dale Earnhardt Jr33Brad Keselowski24Jeff Gordon34Joey Logano25Kevin Harvick35Denny Hamlin1Martin Truex Jr3 Kyle Larson1 Ross Chastain1 Ryan Blaney1 Tyler Reddick1 William Byron1
Top-Five Finishes:
A total of 53 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have finished in the top-five at Texas Motor Speedway.Jimmie Johnson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in top-five finishes at Texas Motor Speedway with 16 top fives.
Top Five in Top-Five Finishes at Texas Motor Speedway (All-Time & Active)
RankAll-Time DriversTop FivesRankActive DriversTop Fives1Jimmie Johnson161Jimmie Johnson162Kyle Busch142Kyle Busch143Matt Kenseth143Joey Logano124Kevin Harvick134Denny Hamlin85Joey Logano125Brad Keselowski6
Top-10 Finishes:
A total of 70 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have finished in the top-10 at Texas Motor Speedway.Kevin Harvick leads the NASCAR Cup Series in top-10 finishes at Texas Motor Speedway with 24 top 10s.Jimmie Johnson leads all active Cup Series drivers in top-10 finishes at Texas with 22.
Top Five in Top-10 Finishes at Texas Motor Speedway (All-Time & Active)
RankAll-Time DriversTop 10sRankActive DriversTop 10s1Kevin Harvick251Jimmie Johnson222Kurt Busch232Kyle Busch183Jimmie Johnson223Martin Truex Jr174Matt Kenseth194Denny Hamlin165Dale Earnhardt Jr185Joey Logano15Kyle Busch18
Average Finish:
Chase Briscoe (three starts) and Steve Grissom (five starts) lead the NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Texas Motor Speedway with a 10.0 each.
Top 10 in Average Finishing Position at Texas Motor Speedway (All-Time & Active)
RankAll-Time DriversAvg FinishRacesRankActive DriversAvg FinishRaces1Chase Briscoe10.00031Chase Briscoe10.00032Steve Grissom10.00022Tyler Reddick10.40053Kevin Harvick10.359393Jimmie Johnson11.571354Tyler Reddick10.40054Erik Jones11.750125Matt Kenseth10.656325William Byron12.11196Jimmie Johnson11.571356Kyle Busch12.333337Erik Jones11.750127Christopher Bell13.00058William Byron12.11198Chase Elliott13.077139Kyle Busch12.333339Denny Hamlin13.3333310Christopher Bell13.000510Joey Logano13.85728
LAP LEADERS
A total of 93 different drivers have led at least one lap at Texas Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series.Jimmie Johnson (35 starts) leads the NASCAR Cup Series in laps led at Texas Motor Speedway with 1,152 laps led.Kyle Busch (33 starts) has the second-most laps led all-time at Texas Motor Speedway with 1,069 laps led.The most laps led in a single NASCAR Cup Series race at Texas by the race winner is 278 of the scheduled 339 laps (82%) by Tony Stewart on November 5, 2006 — he started eighth and won.The most laps led by a driver that did not win in a single NASCAR Cup Series race at Texas is 312 of the scheduled 334 laps (93.4%) by Brad Keselowski on November 8, 2015; he started from the pole and finished second.The fewest laps led in a single NASCAR Cup Series race at Texas by the race winner is one lap, the final lap of the scheduled 334 by Jeff Burton on April 15, 2007 — he started second and won.Last season‘s NASCAR Cup Series race winner at Texas Motor Speedway, William Byron, led just six laps en route to the victory (September 24, 2023).
Top 20 Laps Leaders in the NASCAR Cup Series at Texas (All-Time & Active)
RankAll-Time DriversLedCompleted% LedRankActive DriversLedCompleted% Led1Jimmie Johnson1,15211,10610.4%1Jimmie Johnson1,15211,10610.4%2Kyle Busch1,06910,37410.3%2Kyle Busch1,06910,37410.3%3Matt Kenseth88310,3448.5%3Martin Truex Jr68910,6476.5%4Tony Stewart8018,9439.0%4Brad Keselowski6858,6637.9%5Greg Biffle7338,2628.9%5Joey Logano4809,0605.3%6Carl Edwards6917,5949.1%6Kyle Larson4484,7539.4%7Jeff Gordon6918,9987.7%7Ryan Blaney4324,21210.3%8Kevin Harvick69112,6185.5%8Denny Hamlin29210,7272.7%9Martin Truex Jr68910,6476.5%9William Byron1272,8594.4%10Brad Keselowski6858,6637.9%10Erik Jones1163,9303.0%11Joey Logano4809,0605.3%11Bubba Wallace1132,3644.8%12Dale Earnhardt Jr4519,4864.8%12Tyler Reddick1111,6036.9%13Kyle Larson4484,7539.4%13Chase Elliott894,0632.2%14Ryan Blaney4324,21210.3%14Alex Bowman584,0221.4%15Dale Jarrett4074,5029.0%15Austin Dillon375,9400.6%16Kurt Busch33612,1842.8%16Daniel Suarez351,9581.8%17Denny Hamlin29210,7272.7%17Ricky Stenhouse Jr335,4860.6%18Terry Labonte2313,6396.3%18Michael McDowell186,1570.3%19Kasey Kahne2278,9982.5%19Harrison Burton156012.5%20Clint Bowyer2139,8992.2%20Christopher Bell51,4020.4%
FEMALE COMPETITORS
Two female drivers have made NASCAR Cup Series starts at Texas Motor Speedway: Shawna Robinson and Danica PatrickDanica Patrick holds the series record for best finish at Texas Motor Speedway by a female competitor with a 16th-place finish (twice: Spring 2015, Playoffs 2015).DateDriverStarting PositionFinishing PositionDriver RatingSunday, November 5, 2017Danica Patrick141767.3Sunday, April 9, 2017Danica Patrick192459.5Sunday, November 6, 2016Danica Patrick222455.1Monday, April 11, 2016Danica Patrick262157.7Sunday, November 8, 2015Danica Patrick111669.6Saturday, April 11, 2015Danica Patrick211674.9Sunday, November 2, 2014Danica Patrick273642.4Monday, April 7, 2014Danica Patrick242753.2Sunday, November 3, 2013Danica Patrick302549.2Saturday, April 13, 2013Danica Patrick422842.9Sunday, November 4, 2012Danica Patrick322461.4Averages24.423.557.6DateDriverStarting PositionFinishing Position Monday, April 8, 2002Shawna Robinson1636
TRACK / EVENT STATS
Since the advent of electronic scoring in 1993, the closest Margin of Victory in the NASCAR Cup Series at Texas Motor Speedway was the April 4, 2004 race won by Elliott Sadler with a Margin of Victory of 0.028-second over second-place Kasey Kahne.
Top Five Closest Margin of Victories in the NASCAR Cup Series at Texas:
Margin of VictoryWinnerRunner-UpDate0.028Elliott SadlerKasey KahneSunday, April 4, 20040.149Austin DillonTyler ReddickSunday, July 19, 20200.152Denny HamlinJimmie JohnsonMonday, April 19, 20100.272Tony StewartJimmie JohnsonSunday, November 5, 20060.300Kyle BuschKevin HarvickSunday, April 8, 2018
Top Five Largest Margin of Victories in the NASCAR Cup Series at Texas:
Margin of VictoryRace WinnerRunner-UpDate25.686Kurt BuschDenny HamlinSunday, November 8, 20098.315Matt KensethClint BowyerSaturday, April 9, 20118.310Carl EdwardsJeff GordonSunday, November 2, 20085.920Dale Earnhardt JrJeff BurtonSunday, April 2, 20005.229Kasey KahneMatt KensethSunday, April 9, 2006Six NASCAR Cup Series races at Texas Motor Speedway have resulted with NASCAR Overtime:DateScheduledActualOvertimeWinner Runner-UpSunday, November 4, 20183343373Kevin HarvickRyan BlaneySunday, November 2, 20143343417Jimmie JohnsonKevin HarvickMonday, April 7, 20143343406Joey LoganoJeff GordonSunday, November 4, 20123343351Jimmie JohnsonBrad KeselowskiSunday, April 6, 20083343395Carl EdwardsJimmie JohnsonSunday, November 5, 20063343395Tony StewartJimmie JohnsonOf the 43 NASCAR Cup Series races at Texas Motor Speedway, only one has been shortened from its originally scheduled distance due to weather:DateScheduledActualFewer LapsWinner Runner-UpSunday, November 6, 2016334293-41Carl EdwardsJoey LoganoWeather has postponed the NASCAR Cup Series Texas race to another date three times:Scheduled DateActual DateRace WinnerSunday, October 25, 2020Wednesday, October 28, 2020Kyle BuschSunday, April 6, 2014Monday, April 7, 2014Joey LoganoSunday, April 18, 2010Monday, April 19, 2010Denny HamlinQualifying has been cancelled five times in the NASCAR Cup Series at Texas for the reasons indicated:Race DateDriver That Started FirstReasonsSunday, April 6, 1997Dale JarrettWeatherSunday, April 15, 2007Jeff GordonWeatherSunday, July 19, 2020Aric AlmirolaPandemicWednesday, October 28, 2020Kevin HarvickPandemicSunday, October 17, 2021Kyle LarsonPandemic
NASCAR IN TEXAS
There have been 158 NASCAR national series points-paying races among four tracks in the state of Texas.NASCAR Tracks in TexasCityCupXfinityTruckCombinedYearsTexas Motor SpeedwayFort Worth4345491371995Circuit of The AmericasAustin444122021Texas World SpeedwayCollege Station80081969Meyer SpeedwayHouston10011971Totals564953158The first NASCAR national series race held in the state of Texas was a NASCAR Cup Series race at Texas World Speedway in College Station, Texas. The event was held on December 7, 1969 and it was won by Bobby Isaac (Dodge).
TEXANS IN NASCAR
A total of 97 different drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Texas.A total of 10 different drivers from Texas have won at least one race in NASCAR‘s three national series.NASCAR Hall of Famer Terry Labonte leads all Texas drivers with 34 NASCAR national series wins.
Winners from Texas:
Winners from TexasCupXfinityTruckCombinedTerry Labonte2211134Bobby Labonte2110132A.J. Foyt7007Chris Buescher5308Billy Wade4004Bobby Hillin Jr1203Johnny Rutherford1001James Buescher0167David Starr0044Colin Braun0011Totals612713101
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