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News & Notes
DALE AT DAYTONA: In 23 points-paying NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Daytona International Speedway, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has recorded two wins, one pole position, eight top-five finishes, 13 top-10s and has led 395 laps. In February, Earnhardt earned his first Sprint Cup pole position at Daytona. He has an average starting position of 10.7 at Daytona, which is a personal best for Earnhardt.
IN THE 400: Earnhardt has scored one win, four top-five finishes and seven top-10s during 11 appearances in the annual July event at Daytona. Earnhardt, who will drive the No. 88 National Guard Heritage/AMP Energy Chevrolet this weekend, led 116 laps during his emotional July 7, 2001, win. He has led a combined 242 laps during the summer classic.
A DAYTONA DOZEN: Earnhardt has 12 NASCAR wins at Daytona International Speedway. Notably, he won the 2004 Daytona 500, the 2001 Pepsi 400, two Budweiser Shootouts (2003 and 2008) and five Nationwide Series events. Earnhardt also won his Gatorade Duel qualifying races in 2003, 2004 and 2008.
DRIVER RATING: According to NASCAR’s loop data statistics, Earnhardt ranks eighth in the driver rating category at Daytona with a score of 87.3. The driver rating is a formula that combines wins, top-15 finishes, average running position while on the lead lap, average speed under green, fastest lap, most laps led and lead-lap finishes. The maximum a driver can earn in each race is 150 points. The driver rating number is used pre-race as a prediction tool and post-race as a performance evaluator.
DAYTONA CHASSIS: Crew chief Steve Letarte will unload Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 88-629. Earnhardt last raced this chassis to a fourth-place finish after pushing his teammate Jimmie Johnson to the win at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in April.
SUPERSPEEDWAY STATS: In 46 Cup starts on restrictor-plate tracks (Daytona and Talladega), Earnhardt has recorded seven wins, one pole position, 17 top-five finishes and 25 top-10s. He has a 13.4 average starting position and an average finishing position of 14.7.
POINT STANDINGS: Earnhardt finished 41st last week at Infineon Raceway after being collected in an incident on Lap 38. Earnhardt is now seventh in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship standings. He sits 65 points behind leader Carl Edwards after 16 races in the 2011 season.
HENDRICK AT DAYTONA: In 55 Cup events (175 starts) at Daytona, Hendrick Motorsports has 10 wins, 43 top-five finishes and 77 top-10s. The organization also has recorded 12 pole positions at the 2.5-mile superspeedway.
APPROACHING 200: With Jeff Gordon’s win at Pocono Raceway on June 12, Hendrick Motorsports has earned 197 Cup victories. The organization ranks first in NASCAR’s modern era for wins and second all-time behind Petty Enterprises, which has 268 victories.
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