Loop Data: Colin Braun Stacked With Strong Stats
Colin Braun (No. 6 Con-Way Freight Ford) dropped two positions after a 17th-place finish last Saturday night at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, falling out of the top five. But though his finishes may not always be strong, the performances usually are.
So say the statistics.
In the telling Driver Rating statistical category, Braun is ranked fourth with a 96.0 rating. The Driver Rating takes into account a number of performance-based stats. In other words, Braun is running better than his seventh-place points position would suggest.
Prior to Las Vegas, Braun had enjoyed a steady climb up the series standings, going from 12th to fifth in just seven races. During that time, he scored a Driver Rating over 100.0 in five races (a perfect rating is 150.0).
Additionally this season, Braun has an Average Running Position of 9.0 (fourth-best), 139 Fastest Laps Run (seventh) and a Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 8.5% (fourth).
Two statistics in particular may explain the problem. One is Pass Differential, which is passes minus times passed. Braun has a Pass Differential of negative 80, which is worst in the series. Braun also has a series-worst “Closer” statistic. The Closer stat measures positions gained and lost in the last 10% of each race. Braun’s number is negative 78, which is 47 more positions lost than second-lowest Todd Bodine’s negative 31.
Up Next: Martinsville Speedway
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series has the opportunity for a quick break in the schedule before heading to the final short track of the season. The series will compete next in the Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday, Oct. 24.
Martinsville is one of two tracks on the current schedule which hosts the series twice in the same season. Kevin Harvick drove his own KHI No. 2 Chevrolet to Victory Lane back in March. Harvick’s win kept both Dennis Setzer and Mike Skinner from breaking the tie for most wins (3) at the track. Skinner, in 2007, became the only driver to sweep both races in the series.
Fast Facts
Next Race: Kroger 200
The Place: Martinsville Speedway
The Date: Sat., October 24, 2009
The Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
Race Distance: 200 laps / 105.2 miles
Track Layout: .526-mile oval
2008 Winner: Johnny Benson
2008 Polesitter: Ron Hornaday Jr.
Schedule: Friday: Practice, 10-11:20 a.m. and 1:10-2:00 p.m.; Qualifying, 4:40 p.m.
2009 Standings
Rk Driver Points 1 Ron Hornaday Jr. 3,210 2 Matt Crafton 3,013 3 Mike Skinner 2,955 4 Brian Scott 2,714 5 Johnny Sauter 2,647 6 Todd Bodine 2,645 7 Colin Braun 2,632 8 Rick Crawford 2,576 9 Timothy Peters 2,573 10 David Starr 2,552
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