Statistical Advance: Analyzing the Goodyear 400

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Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina going into the Goodyear 400 on Sunday, April 6 at 3 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).

Darlington Raceway Stats & Tidbits:

QUALIFYING & RACE RECORDS

Track Qualifying Record: Aric Almirola, Ford, 184.145 MPH, 26.705 secs. (Round 1 of 2), April 11, 2014

Track Race Record (500 miles): Matt Kenseth, Toyota, 141.383 MPH, (03:32:45), May 11, 2013

Track Race Record (400 miles): David Pearson, Ford, 132.703 MPH, (03:00:54), May 11, 1968

2024 Darlington Pole Winner: Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota, 170.124 MPH, 28.906 secs. May 11, 2024

2024 Darlington Race Winner: Brad Keselowski, RFK Racing Ford, 124.750 MPH, (03:12:30), May 12, 2024

HISTORY

• Darlington Raceway was originally built as a 1.25-mile paved superspeedway in 1949-1950.
• In 1949, Darlington, South Carolina native Harold Brasington leased cotton and peanut farmland on the west side of town from his poker playing buddy Sherman Ramsey. On that property Brasington created an egg-shaped oval with one corner tighter, narrower, and more steeply banked because he promised Ramsey that the new track wouldn’t disturb his minnow pond at the west end. He broke ground on December 13, 1949 and almost single handedly built the track in spite of continually having to find necessary funding.
• Known as NASCAR‘s oldest superspeedway, Darlington Raceway also has earned the nicknames — 'Lady In Black‘ and 'The Track Too Tough To Tame.‘
• Darlington Raceway hosted the first 500-mile race in NASCAR history, the first on an oval-track longer than a mile and the first on asphalt on September 4, 1950 — 75 cars competed in the inaugural event.
• Qualifying for the first race at Darlington was held 'Indianapolis style‘ over 15 days from August 19th-Sept 2nd. The five fastest cars each day qualified for the race. Curtis Turner was the fastest on the first day and won the pole. The fastest qualifier was Wally Campbell. Many competitors drove their racecars to the track.
• For the first NASCAR cup Series race at Darlington, Curtis Turner won the pole at 82.034 MPH, and the race was won by Johnny Mantz (Plymouth, 75.250 MPH). The race took 6 hours, 38 minutes, and 40 seconds to complete.
• In 1953 the track was expanded to 1.375 miles by rebuilding turns one and two (now three and four) and raising the banking to 25 degrees. In the early years there was a pedestrian crossover that spanned the backstretch (now front).
• In 1970 the track was measured at 1.366 miles (like it is today) after retaining walls were added around the track and turns three and four (now one and two) banked at 23 degrees.
• The track was repaved in 1995.
• Prior to the 1997 Southern 500 the track was 'reversed‘ switching the front and back stretches.
• Lights were added in the fall of 2004.
• The 2005 race was the first Saturday night race at Darlington Raceway.
• The track was again repaved prior to the 2008 season.
• The Throwback theme started in 2015.
• In 2020, multiple races were run at the track in the same week without fans in attendance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was the first live major sporting event back up and running during the pandemic.
• In total, there have been 127 NASCAR Cup Series races held at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina.
• From 1960 — 2004 the track hosted two Cup Series races per year and from 2005 — 2019 it was just one race per season. The series returned to multiple races per season in 2020.
• Darlington has hosted a race in all but the first season of the NASCAR Cup series (1950-present).

STARTS

• A total of 756 different drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway.
• A total of 477 drivers have competed in more than one Cup race at Darlington Raceway.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the NASCAR Cup Series in starts at Darlington Raceway with 65.
• Top five in starts at Darlington (all-time): Richard Petty (65), Buddy Baker (58), Dave Marcis (58), Ricky Rudd (58), Darrell Waltrip (55).
• Kyle Busch leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in starts at Darlington Raceway with 26.
• Top five in starts at Darlington (active): Kyle Busch (26), Denny Hamlin (25), Joey Logano (22), Brad Keselowski (22), Michael McDowell (19).
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Fred Lorenzen leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Darlington Raceway with a 3.688 in 16 starts; including six poles.
• Kyle Larson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Darlington Raceway with an 8.714 in 14 starts.

Top 10 in Average Starting Position at Darlington Raceway (All-Time and Active)

• Dave Marcis has made the most NASCAR Cup Series starts at Darlington Raceway without a win at 58 appearances.
• Michael McDowell has made the most starts among active NASCAR Cup Series drivers at Darlington Raceway without a win at 19 appearances.
• A total of 124 different drivers have made their NASCAR Cup Series career debut at Darlington Raceway.
• The most recent driver to make their Cup Series career debut at Darlington Raceway was J. Bell on May 7, 2011.
• The best starting position by a driver making their Cup Series debut at Darlington Raceway, was fifth-place by Lee Morgan on September 4, 1950. Morgan would go on to finish 31st in the 1950 race.
• The best finish by a driver making their Cup Series debut at Darlington Raceway, was fourth-place by NASCAR Hall of Famer Terry Labonte on September 4, 1978.

Drivers that made their NASCAR Cup Series career debuts at Darlington Raceway (124 total)

 POLES

• A total of 56 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won at least one pole at Darlington Raceway.
• A total of 27 different drivers have won multiple Cup Series poles at the 1.366-mile track.
• Curtis Turner won the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series pole at Darlington Raceway in 1950 in an Oldsmobile with a speed of 82.034 MPH.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Darlington Raceway with 12 – (1967, ‘70, ‘72, ‘73 sweep, ‘75 sweep, ‘76 sweep, ‘77, ‘78 and ‘82)
• Pearson‘s 12 Darlington poles are tied with NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough (12 poles at Daytona) for the second-most poles all-time at a single track in the NASCAR Cup Series. Pearson also holds the series‘ record for most poles at a single track with 14 poles at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
• Of the 56 NASCAR Cup Series Darlington Raceway pole winners all-time, seven are active this weekend.

• Joey Logano leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in poles at Darlington Raceway with two (2022 sweep).
• In total, 10 drivers have won consecutive NASCAR Cup Series poles at Darlington Raceway — Joey Logano (2022 sweep), Kasey Kahne (2004, 2005-2006), Dale Jarrett (1996-1997), Sterling Marlin (1992 sweep), Bill Elliott (1985 sweep), David Pearson (1975-1977 and 1973 sweep), Cale Yarborough (1969 sweep), Fred Lorenzen (1963 sweep and 1964), Fireball Roberts (1959, 1960 sweep) and Fonty Flock (1952-1953).
• David Pearson holds the record for most consecutive NASCAR Cup Series poles at Darlington Raceway with five straight from 1975 – 1977.
• Eight drivers have posted their first career NASCAR Cup Series pole at Darlington Raceway.

• Youngest Cup Series Darlington pole winner: William Byron (Sept. 1, 2019 — 21 years, 8 months, 3 days).
• Oldest Cup Series Darlington pole winner: David Pearson (Sept. 6, 1982 — 47 years, 8 months, 15 days).
• A total of 46 different organizations have won a pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway.
• Wood Brothers Racing lead all organizations in the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Darlington Raceway with 12 among three different drivers: David Pearson (1978, 1977, 1976 sweep, 1975 sweep, 1973 sweep, 1972), Donnie Allison (1971) and Cale Yarborough (1969 sweep).
• This weekend, seven organizations that have previously won a pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway will be active.

• Wood Brothers Racing holds the Cup Series record for the most consecutive poles at Darlington Raceway with five straight from 1975-1977 with driver David Pearson.
• A total of 12 different manufacturers have won at least one pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway — most different OEMs to win a pole at a single track in the series.
• Ford leads the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Darlington Raceway with 45 poles; followed by Chevrolet (22), Mercury (13), Pontiac (10), Dodge (8), Toyota (6), Buick (3), Oldsmobile (3), Plymouth (3), Chrysler (1), Hudson (1) and Studebaker (1).
• Mercury holds the NASCAR Cup Series record for the most consecutive poles at Darlington Raceway with five straight from 1975-1977.
• Toyota is currently riding a streak of four consecutive NASCAR Cup Series poles at Darlington Raceway — 2023 sweep and 2024 sweep. Toyota is looking for its record-tying fifth straight pole this weekend.

WINS

• A total of 55 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won at Darlington Raceway all-time.
• A total of 30 of the 55 NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won multipole times at Darlington Raceway.
• Johnny Mantz (Plymouth, 75.250 MPH) won the first NASCAR Cup Series race held at Darlington Raceway on September 4, 1950. The race took 6 hours, 38 minutes, and 40 seconds to complete and had 75 entries.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in victories at Darlington Raceway with 10 wins (1968, ‘70, ‘72, ‘73, ‘74, ‘76 sweep, ‘77, ‘79, 80); Pearson is one of five drivers with 10 or more wins at a single track.

• Denny Hamlin leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in victories at Darlington Raceway with four (2021, 2020, 2017, 2010).
• Of the 55 NASCAR Cup Series Darlington Raceway winners, eight will be active this weekend.

• A total of 13 drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series have posted consecutive wins at Darlington — Greg Biffle (2005-2006), Jimmie Johnson (2004 sweep), Jeff Burton (1999 sweep), Jeff Gordon (1995-1996), Dale Earnhardt (1989-1990 and 1987 sweep), Bill Elliott (1985 sweep), David Pearson (1976 sweep, 1979-1980), Bobby Allison (1975 sweep), Buddy Baker (1970-1971), LeeRoy Yarborough (1969 sweep), Richard Petty (1967 sweep), Nelson Stacy (1961-1962), Herb Thomas (1954-1955).
• Dale Earnhardt (1989-1990) and Jeff Gordon (1995-1996) are tied for the NASCAR Cup Series most consecutive wins at Darlington Raceway with three consecutive victories each.
• The last nine races in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway have been won by nine different drivers.
• Youngest Cup Series Darlington winner: Kyle Busch (May 10, 2008 — 23 years, 0 months, 8 days).
• Oldest Cup Series Darlington winner: Harry Gant (Sept. 1, 1991 — 51 years, 7 months, 22 days).
• A total of six drivers have posted their first career NASCAR Cup Series win at Darlington Raceway:

• NASCAR Hall of Famer Terry Labonte was the youngest of the six drivers to win their first NASCAR Cup Series career race at Darlington Raceway at the age of 23.
• A total of 21 different starting positions have led to wins in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway.
• The first starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (21) than any other starting position at Darlington (16.5%).
• The outside front row (second starting position) has produced the second-most wins at 19 (15%)
• Of the 127 NASCAR Cup Series races at Darlington Raceway, 21 have been won from the pole; the most recent was Joey Logano in 2022.
• A total of 12 different drivers have won from the pole or first starting position at Darlington Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series; led by NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson with four wins from the pole (1971, 1972, 1976 sweep).
• Joey Logano (2022) is the only active driver to win from the pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington.

NASCAR Cup Series Wins by Starting Positions at Darlington Raceway

• The deepest in the field that a Cup Series race winner has started at Darlington Raceway is 43rd by Johnny Mantz in 1950 — the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series event held at the historic raceway.
• The deepest in the field that an active race winner has started at Darlington is 18th by Kyle Larson on Sept. 3, 2023.
• A total of 46 different organizations have won a race in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway.
• This weekend seven of the 46 organizations that have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway will be active, led by Hendrick Motorsports.
• Hendrick Motorsports has the most wins by an organization at Darlington Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series with 16 victories among eight drivers — Tim Richmond (1986), Ricky Rudd (1991), Jeff Gordon (1995, ‘96 sweep, ‘97, ‘98, ‘02, ‘07), Terry Labonte (2003), Jimmie Johnson (2004 sweep and 2012), Mark Martin (2009), William Byron (2023) and Kyle Larson (2023).

NASCAR Cup Series Darlington Raceway Active Winning Organizations

• Hendrick Motorsports (1995-1996 sweep and 2003-2004 sweep) and Richard Childress Racing (1989-1990 sweep) are tied for the most the consecutive wins in the Cup Series at Darlington with three straight each.
• A total of 11 different manufacturers have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway.
• Chevrolet leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Darlington Raceway with 44 victories; followed by Ford (34), Mercury (10), Toyota (10), Oldsmobile (six), Dodge (five), Pontiac (five), Buick (four), Plymouth (four), Hudson (three) and American Motor Company (two).
• The most consecutive Cup Series races won by manufacturer at Darlington Raceway is four straight — Ford (Once: 1961-1962), Chevrolet (Four times: 1979-1980; 1986-1987; 1989-1991; 1995-1996).
• Four drivers won at Darlington Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series in more than two manufacturers, led by Bobby Allison and Cale Yarborough who each won in four different manufacturers at the track:
  • Bobby Allison — Mercury (1971), Chevrolet (1972), American Motor Co. (1975 sweep) and Buick (1983)
  • Cale Yarborough – Mercury (1968), Chevrolet (1973, 1974), Oldsmobile (1978) and Buick (1982)
  • Buck Baker — Oldsmobile (1953), Pontiac (1960), Dodge (1964)
  • David Pearson — Ford (1968, 1970), Mercury (1972, ‘73, ‘74, ‘76 sweep, ‘77), Chevrolet (1979, 1980)
• Erik Jones (Toyota 2019, Chevrolet 2022) is the only active driver to win in more than one manufacturer at Darlington, but former active winners Chase Briscoe (Ford 2024) and Kyle Busch (Toyota 2008) currently drive different makes than what they have previously won in.

ADDITIONAL FINISHING POSITIONS

Runner-Up Finishes:

• A total of 64 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have finished runner-up at Darlington Raceway, led by NASCAR Hall of Famers Darrell Waltrip and Richard Petty with eight second-place finishes each.
• Denny Hamlin (2007, 2012, 2013, 2022) leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in second-place finishes at Darlington Raceway with four.

Top Five In Runner-Up Finishes at Darlington Raceway (All-Time & Active)

Top-Five Finishes:

• A total of 150 different drivers have finished in the top-five at Darlington Raceway, led by NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty with 25 top-five finishes.
• Denny Hamlin leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in top-five finishes at Darlington with 13 top fives.

Top Five in Top-Five Finishes at Darlington Raceway (All-Time & Active)

Top-10 Finishes:

• A total of 245 different Cup Series drivers have posted top-10 finishes at Darlington Raceway, led by NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott with 35 top 10s.
• Denny Hamlin leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in top-10 finishes at Darlington with 18 top 10s.

Top Five in Top-10 Finishes at Darlington Raceway (All-Time & Active)

Average Finishing Position:

• Bob Burdick leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Darlington Raceway with a 3.0 in two starts.
• Denny Hamlin leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Darlington Raceway with an 8.200 in 25 starts.

Top 10 in Average Finishing Position at Darlington Raceway (All-Time & Active)

LAP LEADERS & LEAD CHANGES

Lap Leaders

• In total 182 different drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series have led at least one lap at Darlington Raceway.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the NASCAR Cup Series in laps led at Darlington Raceway with 2,648 laps led in 44 series starts.
• Kyle Larson leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers with 1,048 laps led in 14 starts at Darlington.
• The most laps led in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway by the race winner was 351 laps of the scheduled 400 laps (87%) by Johnny Mantz on September 4, 1950. He started the race from the 43rd position.
• The most laps led in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway by a driver that did not win the race was 284 laps of the scheduled 367 laps (77%) by Kyle Larson on September 2, 2018. He started the race from the second position and finished third.
• The fewest laps led in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway by the race winner was just the final lap by Ricky Craven on March 16, 2003. He started the race from the 31st position.
• The fewest laps led in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway by an active race winner was seven laps lap by William Byron on May 14, 2023. He started the race from the fourth position.
• The most lap leaders in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway is 17 in the September 6, 1982 race.
• The fewest lap leaders in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway is two in the May 9, 1964 race.

Top 10 Lap Leaders at Darlington Raceway (All-Time & Active)

Lead Changes

• The most lead changes in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway is 41 in the September 6, 1982 race.
• The fewest lead changes in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway is four in the September 4, 1950 race.
• In three of the six Next Gen races at Darlington the final pass for the lead was with nine or fewer laps to go; including two of the races being decided with just two laps to go (2022-1 and 2023-1).
• In the Modern Era (1972-Present) in the NASCAR Cup Series there has been three races at Darlington Raceway that were decided on the final lap: April 1979, March 1987 and March 2003.
  • The last time a NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway was decided by a last lap pass, was on March 16, 2003, when Ricky Craven passed Kurt Busch coming to the line on the final lap.
  • On March 29, 1987, Dale Earnhardt passed Bill Elliott on the final lap of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway to win the event.
  • And on April 8, 1979, Darrell Waltrip passed Richard Petty on the final lap of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway to win the event.

FEMALE COMPETITORS

• Three female drivers have competed at Darlington Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series — Danica Patrick, Janet Guthrie and Shawna Robinson.

TRACK & EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

• Since the advent of electronic scoring in 1993, the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway is the March 16, 2003 race won by Ricky Craven with a margin of victory of 0.002 second over Kurt Busch in second-place.
• Darlington Raceway‘s finish of 0.002 second is tied with the 2011 Spring Talladega Superspeedway race for the second-closest finishes in the NASCAR Cup Series using electronic scoring.
• Kansas Speedway holds the series‘ Margin of Victory record of 0.001 second from the May 5, 2024 race.

Top Five Closest Margins of Victory in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway

Top Five Largest Margins of Victory in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway

• NASCAR Overtime: Five NASCAR Cup Series races have resulted in an Overtime finish at Darlington Raceway:

• Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway six times: 1952, 1993, 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2016.
• Five NASCAR Cup Series races at Darlington from 2020-2021 did not hold qualifying due to the COVID-19 pandemic/restrictions:
  • In 2020, the May 17 race (random draw), May 20 (inverted field), Sept. 6 (metric qualifying).
  • In 2021 both races were by metric qualifying – May 9 and Sept. 5.
  • A total of 10 of the 127 NASCAR Cup Series races at Darlington Raceway have been shortened from their scheduled number of laps; the most recent was in 2020.

• The NASCAR Cup Series has held 11 races on Mother‘s Day at seven different tracks producing 10 different winners.
• Darlington Raceway has hosted races on Mother‘s Day five times (2007, 2021-2024).
• This season Kansas Speedway will host a NASCAR Cup Series race on Mother‘s Day — May 11, 2025
• Last season‘s race at Darlington Raceway was won by RFK Racing‘s Brad Keselowski, the most recent Cup race on the holiday Mother‘s Day.
• Buck Baker has won the most NASCAR Cup Series races on Mother‘s Day with two victories (1956, 1954).

NASCAR IN SOUTH CAROLINA

• South Carolina has hosted a total of 333 NASCAR national series races among 10 different tracks.

• The first NASCAR Cup Series race held in the state of South Carolina was at Darlington Raceway on Sept. 4, 1950 — the event was won by Johnny Mantz in a Plymouth.

SOUTH CAROLINA IN NASCAR

• A total of 140 different drivers have made at least one NASCAR national series start with their home state recorded as South Carolina.
• James Hylton leads all NASCAR drivers from South Carolina with the most NASCAR national series starts with 607.
• Three drivers from South Carolina have been inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame — David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, and Cotton Owens.
• 11 drivers from South Carolina have won at least one race in NASCAR‘s three national series totaling 240 victories; 206 of which are Cup victories.
• Seven drivers from South Carolina have won in the NASCAR Cup Series, but of the seven only two have won at Darlington Raceway in the Cup Series — David Pearson and Cale Yarborough.

— NASCAR —