Similar Track Concept
The theory behind this chart is that there are similar tracks (aka sister tracks) within the NASCAR schedule in terms of banking, distance and shape that a driver may excel at.
What Have You Done For Me Lately?
I am prone to look at a drivers performance more recently then over their career. So, this table is sorted by 2008 averages rather then over the length of the drivers career. That stat is still in the table though.
The Tracks
This week’s race is at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Georgia. So, the similar tracks we are going to look at are: Atlanta, Lowe’s & Texas.
The Similarities
These are the tracks that proudly take the ‘cookie-cutter’ moniker to its highest level. 1-1/2-miles, 24° banking and a quad-oval. They are super fast tracks and certain drivers and teams seem to consistently excel here.
By the way, this table also shows the drivers median finish which I think is better than the average.
| Rank | Driver | Atlanta Median | Lowe’s Median | Texas Median | Starts | Avg | ’08 Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kyle Busch | 12.0 | 27.5 | 10.5 | 27 | 16.7 | 3.7 |
| 2 | Jeff Burton | 12.0 | 6.5 | 12.5 | 64 | 10.3 | 9.0 |
| 3 | Kevin Harvick | 21.5 | 19.5 | 12.0 | 44 | 17.7 | 10.8 |
| 4 | Greg Biffle | 10.0 | 16.5 | 29.5 | 34 | 18.7 | 11.2 |
| 5 | Jeff Gordon | 6.5 | 8.0 | 11.5 | 64 | 8.7 | 11.8 |
| 6 | Tony Stewart | 9.0 | 9.5 | 8.5 | 54 | 9.0 | 11.8 |
| 7 | Jimmie Johnson | 3.0 | 3.0 | 6.0 | 41 | 4.0 | 12.8 |
| 8 | Clint Bowyer | 13.0 | 21.0 | 13.0 | 18 | 15.7 | 12.8 |
| 9 | David Ragan | 28.0 | 24.5 | 25.0 | 12 | 25.8 | 12.8 |
| 10 | Matt Kenseth | 8.5 | 12.0 | 9.0 | 50 | 9.8 | 13.0 |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | 19.0 | 16.0 | 9.0 | 21 | 14.7 | 13.3 |
| 12 | Dale Earnhardt Jr | 7.0 | 11.0 | 9.0 | 51 | 9.0 | 14.5 |
| 13 | Carl Edwards | 3.0 | 8.5 | 13.5 | 25 | 8.3 | 14.5 |
| 14 | Mark Martin | 9.0 | 9.0 | 10.0 | 64 | 9.3 | 14.7 |
| 15 | Jamie McMurray | 15.0 | 19.0 | 10.0 | 36 | 14.7 | 15.3 |
| 16 | Kurt Busch | 11.5 | 16.0 | 9.5 | 45 | 12.3 | 16.7 |
| 17 | Ryan Newman | 16.5 | 21.0 | 28.0 | 41 | 21.8 | 17.3 |
| 18 | Kasey Kahne | 18.5 | 10.0 | 24.0 | 29 | 17.5 | 18.8 |
| 19 | Casey Mears | 21.0 | 22.0 | 14.0 | 34 | 19.0 | 20.5 |
| 20 | Brian Vickers | 19.0 | 24.5 | 19.0 | 30 | 20.8 | 20.7 |
| 21 | Bobby Labonte | 12.5 | 6.0 | 22.5 | 64 | 13.7 | 20.8 |
| 22 | Martin Truex Jr | 26.0 | 17.0 | 8.0 | 22 | 17.0 | 21.3 |
| 23 | Sam Hornish Jr | 24.5 | 17.5 | 27.5 | 6 | 23.2 | 23.2 |
| 24 | David Reutimann | 28.0 | 25.5 | 41.0 | 10 | 31.5 | 23.5 |
| 25 | AJ Allmendinger | 15.0 | 25.5 | 32.5 | 8 | 24.3 | 23.8 |
| 26 | Marcos Ambrose | 29.0 | 0.0 | 21.0 | 2 | 25.0 | 25.0 |
| 27 | Paul Menard | 27.0 | 24.0 | 22.0 | 14 | 24.3 | 26.0 |
| 28 | Elliott Sadler | 20.0 | 26.0 | 21.5 | 55 | 22.5 | 26.2 |
| 29 | Scott Riggs | 25.0 | 22.5 | 27.0 | 28 | 24.8 | 26.7 |
| 30 | Reed Sorenson | 29.0 | 18.5 | 30.5 | 19 | 26.0 | 28.0 |
| 31 | Dave Blaney | 25.5 | 25.0 | 22.0 | 49 | 24.2 | 28.2 |
| 32 | Michael Waltrip | 23.0 | 18.0 | 26.5 | 60 | 22.5 | 29.3 |
| 33 | Regan Smith | 34.0 | 21.0 | 34.5 | 6 | 29.8 | 29.8 |
| 34 | David Gilliland | 30.0 | 33.0 | 21.0 | 15 | 28.0 | 30.2 |
| 35 | Robby Gordon | 20.0 | 28.5 | 32.0 | 43 | 26.8 | 30.3 |
| 36 | Juan Pablo Montoya | 25.0 | 32.0 | 22.0 | 12 | 26.3 | 30.3 |
| 37 | Sterling Marlin | 18.0 | 28.0 | 26.0 | 53 | 24.0 | 31.0 |
| 38 | Scott Speed | 34.0 | 0.0 | 33.0 | 2 | 33.5 | 33.5 |
| 39 | Joe Nemechek | 17.5 | 18.0 | 33.0 | 60 | 22.8 | 37.8 |
| 40 | Joey Logano | 0.0 | 0.0 | 40.0 | 1 | 40.0 | 40.0 |
| 41 | Aric Almirola | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
“