The Frontstretch: Numbers Game : Sharpie 500 by Kim DeHaven -- Monday August 28, 2006

Go to site navigation Go to article

Numbers Game : Sharpie 500

Kim DeHaven · Monday August 28, 2006

 

0.591
Matt Kenseth’s margin of victory over Kyle Busch in the Sharpie 500. (in seconds)

2
Drivers that have clinched a place in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth.

2 hours, 57 minutes, 37 seconds
Time it took to complete the Sharpie 500.

4th
Race winner Matt Kenseth’s starting position at Bristol.

6
Number of cars that failed to make the starting field for the Sharpie 500.
(No. 61 – Chad Chaffin; No. 00 – Hermie Sadler; No. 09 – Mike Wallace; No. 37 – Mike Skinner; No. 89 – Morgan Shepherd; No. 30 – Stanton Barrett)

6th
Finishing position of Denny Hamlin, earning him Rookie of the Race honors.

7
Laps in the Sharpie 500 completed by Derrike Cope; he finished 43rd.

7
Career poles for Kurt Busch in 208 starts.

7
Drivers in the Top 10 that changed point positions after the race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

7
Points that Jimmie Johnson leads Matt Kenseth by in the driver standings.

9
Career poles won at Bristol by Cale Yarborough, the most of any driver.

10
Caution flags for a total of 62 laps.

12
Career wins at Bristol for Darrell Waltrip, the most of any driver.

13
Top 10 finishes in 2006 for Kyle Busch.

14
Career wins for Matt Kenseth in 244 starts.

18
Lead changes among 7 drivers Saturday night.

21
Wins for Junior Johnson at Bristol, the most of any car owner.

30th
Kenny Wallace’s finishing position in the Sharpie 500. Kenny turned 43 last Wednesday.

32
Positions gained by Carl Edwards in the Sharpie 500 to win the USG Improving the Finish Award. (started 39th, finished 7th)

38th
The farthest back that a Bristol race winner has started. Elliott Sadler accomplished that feat in the 2001 Food City 500.

39
Cars running at the end of the Sharpie 500; 14 of those finished on the lead lap.

50
Races that have been won from a Top 4 starting position at Bristol, including Saturday night’s race.

80
Points separating 4th to 10th in the championship standings.

90
Points that 11th place Kasey Kahne trails 10th place Mark Martin in the point standings.

90.025
Average race speed (in mph).

100th
Career Cup start for Scott Wimmer and Brian Vickers completed on Saturday night.

117
Laps led by race winner Matt Kenseth.

208
Lap in the race when I threw the remote toward the TV in disgust.

263
Laps led by Jeff Burton, the most of any driver.

124.906
Kurt Busch’s pole winning speed (in mph).

500
Laps in the Sharpie 500, equaling 266.500 miles.

1961
Year when the first race was held at Bristol. It was the Volunteer 500, and it was won by Jack Smith.

160,000
Estimated crowd in attendance at Bristol.

$336,516
Matt Kenseth’s purse for winning the Sharpie 500.

$6,075,119
Total purse for the Sharpie 500.

Do you want the chance to win a free Frontstretch T-Shirt, and are you really good at talking about NASCAR? Well, we have the perfect opportunity for you. Our staff will be giving away a free T-Shirt to the reader who makes the best post in our Frontstretch Forum between now and the end of the season. So, what makes a good post? It’s pretty hard to impress us, but here are some things we are looking for:

Does your post spark passionate reactions from other readers? Are you commenting on meaningful NASCAR-related events? Do your posts have substance? In other words, “Dale Jr. is the best driver ever” or “Danica Patrick is hot” will not cut it.

So go to the Frontstretch Forums, post early, post often, and post well! We’ll announce the winner following the final race of the season at Homestead.

 

©2000 - 2008 Kim DeHaven and Frontstetch.com. Thanks for visiting the Frontstretch!

 

Nancy
08/29/2006 07:57 AM
permalink

Interesting selection for USG Improving the finish award. Another driver started 40 and finished 3, 37 position gain.

Karen
08/29/2006 09:26 AM
permalink

Nancy, I counted 37 position gain for a driver too. :)

Nikki, Editor
08/29/2006 10:23 AM
permalink

FYI: Like many of these types of sponsored programs, the teams are eligible to participate in the "USG Improving the Finish" program if they carry the USG contingency decal on the front quarter panels of their race cars. My guess is that Earnhardt Jr. does not carry USG on his car; therefore, while he did improve his position 37 places, he is not elligible.

Kim
08/29/2006 02:58 PM
permalink

As Nikki stated, if the team is not a participant in the USG program, they are NOT eligible for the contingency award. I get this very same comment every week a driver that is not in the program advances their position more. Fans miss nothing! (Except noticing which little decals are on each car to make them eligible for contingencies.) Thanks for reading!

 

Contact Kim DeHaven

Recent articles from Kim DeHaven:

Driver Review : Regan Smith
Driver Review : Tony Raines
Driver Review : Dave Blaney
Numbers Game : LifeLock 400
Frontstretch Folio : Goody's Cool Orange 500

Want to know more about Kim DeHaven or view her complete article archives? Then check out her archive and bio page.