0
Drivers with top-10 finishes in all six races in the Chase. Carl Edwards had a string of eight straight top 10s before Talladega, but finished 11th Sunday (Oct. 23).
1
Top-five finishes for Tommy Baldwin Racing since Baldwin started the team in 2009. The third-place effort also tied for Dave Blaney’s career-best finish.
2
Non-Chase drivers to win Chase races in the last two seasons. Clint Bowyer became the second driver to do so Sunday. Jamie McMurray was the last non-Chaser to win in the playoffs at Charlotte in 2010.
2
Points separating the No. 38 and No. 71 teams in the Sprint Cup owner standings. The No. 38 team moved into the top 35 with Travis Kvapil’s 21st-place finish Sunday.
2nd
Bowyer’s worst finish in his last three starts at Talladega. He has been first, second and first in those races, respectively.
3
Finishes of 15th or worse in the Chase for Jimmie Johnson in 2011. He was 26th on Sunday. The last time Johnson had three finishes outside the top 15 in the final 10 races was 2005 — the last year he didn’t win the championship.
3
The number of Chase-eligible drivers to finish in the top 10 at Talladega, the fewest of any race in the Chase.
4
Chase-race victories for Bowyer after winning at Talladega on Sunday. Bowyer has five career wins with four coming in the final 10 races of the season.
4
Consecutive races at Talladega won on last-lap passes.
4
Consecutive top-10 finishes for Kasey Kahne – he placed sixth on Sunday.
4
Finishes outside the top 10 in the last fives races at Talladega for Dale Earnhardt Jr. – he placed 25th on Sunday.
6
Victories for Richard Childress Racing in 2011, the most of any team.
8
Top fives for Brad Keselowski in the last 12 races – he was fourth on Sunday.
16.8
Average finishing position of Sprint Cup drivers following a win in the
previous Sprint Cup race in 2011. After winning at Charlotte, Matt Kenseth finished 18th at Talladega. It marked the fourth straight week that the series’ most recent race winner finished outside the top 10 in the next race.
26
The number of different drivers to lead a lap Sunday at Talladega.
40
Starts between top-five finishes for Jeff Burton. Before placing second Sunday, Burton hadn’t recorded a top five since finishing in the runner-up spot at Dover in Sept. 2010.
100
Victories for Richard Childress Racing in the Sprint Cup Series after Bowyer’s victory at Talladega.
1,153
Laps completed this season by Joe Nemechek through 32 Sprint Cup races. He ran four laps at Talladega and finished 41st.
1,313
Laps led this season by Kyle Busch in the Sprint Cup Series, a number that leads all drivers. He paced the field for five laps and finished 33rd Sunday at Talladega, meaning Busch has led in 24 of the 32 races.
About the author
The Frontstretch Staff is made up of a group of talented men and women spread out all over the United States and Canada. Residing in 15 states throughout the country, plus Ontario, and widely ranging in age, the staff showcases a wide variety of diverse opinions that will keep you coming back for more week in and week out.
A daily email update (Monday through Friday) providing racing news, commentary, features, and information from Frontstretch.com
We hate spam. Your email address will not be sold or shared with anyone else.