Last week was a controversial race, was it boring? Was it exciting? Just decide that for yourself. What is fact is that Toyota dominated early, but in the end it was Chris Buescher that punched his ticket to the playoffs by getting his first win of the year. This week we go to a track where Toyota had a field day last year but, like in Richmond didn’t win, Michigan. I have picked 8 notable drivers to look at, 1 based on the 2023 point standings, 2 based on 2023 stats, 2 based on Big track stats, 1 based on the last Michigan race and 2 based on their overall Michigan stats. Here is a look at those 8 notable drivers 2023 season statistics, along with ranks among drivers in 2023 and ranking through 22 races since the Chase started in 2004. We will also highlight notable streaks accomplished through the year, 2023 Big track (2+ miles) statistics and Michigan statistics.
1st in Points – Martin Truex Jr.
| Category | Statistic | 2023 Rank | ªRank Thru 22 Races |
| Avg. Fin.¹ | 11.68 | 1st of 35 | T62nd of 816 |
| Completed Laps%¹ | 99.7% | 1st of 35 | T27th of 816 |
| Laps in Top15%¹ | 76.96% | 2nd of 35 | 65th of 774‡ |
| Avg. Driver Rating¹ | 99.57 | 2nd of 35 | 66th of 774‡ |
| Wins | 3 | T2nd of 59 | T31st of 1303 |
| Poles | 1 | T5th of 59 | T84th of 1303 |
| Top 2’s | 4 | T3rd of 59 | T57th of 1303 |
| Top 3’s | 7 | 1st of 59 | T29th of 1303 |
| Top 5’s | 8 | T2nd of 59 | T61st of 1303 |
| Top 10’s | 12 | 2nd of 59 | T77th of 1303 |
| DNF’s¹ | 1 | T2nd of 35 | T86th of 816 |
| Stage Wins | 3 | T5th of 59 | T32nd of 412* |
| Stage T10s | 30 | 1st of 59 | T16th of 412* |
| Stage Pts | 172 | 3rd of 59 | 25th of 412* |
| Playoff Pts² | 18 | 2nd of 59 | T15th of 412* |
ªSince Playoffs started in 2004
¹Ranks of drivers to start 40% of races thru 22 races
²Earned from races only, does not reflect penalties
*Stage racing started in 2017
‡Loop Data started in 2005, max Driver Rating is 150.0
- Notable Streaks this year
- 2 straight Top 2 finishes (tied longest streak in Cup Series this year)
- 4 straight Top 5 finishes (tied longest streak in Cup Series this year)
- 3 straight Top 10 finishes (active streak, tied longest active streak in Cup Series)
- 4 straight Top 10 finishes
- 2023 Big track Stats (Avg. Fin. and Driver Rating rank among drivers with 1+ Big track start, 37 drivers)
- 2 Races, Avg. Finish 7.0(4th), 68.89% of Laps ran in Top15, Avg. Driver Rating 102.75(2nd), Best 3rd, Worst 11th, Laps Completed 100%, Led 5.56% of laps he ran, 0 Wins, 0 Poles, 1 Top 3, 1 Top 5, 1 Top 10, 2 Top 15’s, 0 Finishes out of Top 20, 0 DNF’s, 0 Stage Wins, 3.0 Stage Pts Per Stage
- Michigan Statistics
- 2022 Michigan Race
- Finished 6th, Started 7th, Led 0 laps, Finished 4th in Stage 1, ran 186 Laps in Top15 (93.0% of laps he ran), had 99.8 Driver Rating (ranked 6th)
- Notable Michigan Statistics (Ranks are of drivers with 1+ start this year and 1+ start at Michigan, 46 drivers)
- 32 Races
- 13.47 Avg. Finish (Ranks 8th)
- Best Finish: 2nd, Worst: 37th
- Completed 99.38% of laps (% ranks 12th)
- 59.37% of Laps ran in Top15 (% ranks 16th)
- 89.25 Average Driver Rating (Ranks 10th)
- Led 4.51% of laps he’s run (% ranks 9th)
- 0 Wins
- 3 Top 2’s, 9.38% (% ranks 9th)
- 9 Top 3’s, 28.13% (% ranks 3rd)
- 15 Top 10’s, 46.88% (% ranks 9th)
- 18 Top 15’s, 56.25% (% ranks 13th)
- 6 finishes outside Top 20, 18.75% (% ranks T8th)
- 1 DNF, 3.13% (% ranks 19th)
- 4 Stage Wins, 20.0% (% ranks 2nd)
- 4.1 Stage Pts Per Stage (Ranks 5th)
Main Points & Outlook
– Martin Truex Jr. is notable because of his 2023 season stats
– Truex was the only driver that could make a one stop strategy work at Richmond and this helped him to a 7th place finish
– This was his 3rd straight Top 10 finish
– He now has 11 of his 15 2023 Ranks above being 1st or 2nd including his 11.68 Avg. Finish, 99.57 Avg. Driver Rating, 7 Top 3’s, and 30 Stage T10’s
– All of his 2023 Ranks above are T5th or better
– In the 2 Big track races this year he’s finished 3rd and 11th with the 2nd best Avg. Driver Rating (102.75)
– In the 2 races he’s ran 69% of his laps in the Top 15 and has led 5.56% of his laps
– The 4 stages in these races have brought him 0 Stage Wins and 3.0 Stage Pts Per Stage
– At Michigan last year Truex started 7th, finished 6th, had the 6th best Driver Rating (99.8), and ran 93% of his laps in the Top 15, but led 0 laps
– In 32 races at Michigan he has a best finish of 2nd (3 times), a 13.47 Avg. Finish, and 9 Top 3’s
– At Michigan he’s ran only 59% of his laps in the Top 15, has an 89.25 Avg. Driver Rating, and finished in the Top 10 in less than half of his races
– He has the 2nd best Stage Win% (20%) and the 5th most Stage Pts Per Stage (4.1) at Michigan among active drivers
Outlook for this weekend
The stats above all point to Truex having a good race this weekend. However, none of them really point to him winning this weekend, although if he puts a full race together he could. This weekend I see Truex being in the Top 10 most the day and finishing there as well, somewhere between 1st and 8th.
– Martin Truex Jr. is notable because of his 2023 season stats
– Truex was the only driver that could make a one stop strategy work at Richmond and this helped him to a 7th place finish
– This was his 3rd straight Top 10 finish
– He now has 11 of his 15 2023 Ranks above being 1st or 2nd including his 11.68 Avg. Finish, 99.57 Avg. Driver Rating, 7 Top 3’s, and 30 Stage T10’s
– All of his 2023 Ranks above are T5th or better
– In the 2 Big track races this year he’s finished 3rd and 11th with the 2nd best Avg. Driver Rating (102.75)
– In the 2 races he’s ran 69% of his laps in the Top 15 and has led 5.56% of his laps
– The 4 stages in these races have brought him 0 Stage Wins and 3.0 Stage Pts Per Stage
– At Michigan last year Truex started 7th, finished 6th, had the 6th best Driver Rating (99.8), and ran 93% of his laps in the Top 15, but led 0 laps
– In 32 races at Michigan he has a best finish of 2nd (3 times), a 13.47 Avg. Finish, and 9 Top 3’s
– At Michigan he’s ran only 59% of his laps in the Top 15, has an 89.25 Avg. Driver Rating, and finished in the Top 10 in less than half of his races
– He has the 2nd best Stage Win% (20%) and the 5th most Stage Pts Per Stage (4.1) at Michigan among active drivers
Outlook for this weekend
The stats above all point to Truex having a good race this weekend. However, none of them really point to him winning this weekend, although if he puts a full race together he could. This weekend I see Truex being in the Top 10 most the day and finishing there as well, somewhere between 1st and 8th.
2nd in Points – Denny Hamlin
| Category | Statistic | 2023 Rank | ªRank Thru 22 Races |
| Avg. Fin.¹ | 12.32 | 3rd of 35 | T83rd of 816 |
| Completed Laps%¹ | 95.93% | 24th of 35 | 350th of 816 |
| Laps in Top15%¹ | 82.5% | 1st of 35 | 29th of 774‡ |
| Avg. Driver Rating¹ | 97.87 | 3rd of 35 | 80th of 774‡ |
| Wins | 2 | T4th of 59 | T54th of 1303 |
| Poles | 3 | T1st of 59 | T16th of 1303 |
| Top 2’s | 4 | T3rd of 59 | T57th of 1303 |
| Top 3’s | 5 | T5th of 59 | T73rd of 1303 |
| Top 5’s | 7 | T5th of 59 | T85th of 1303 |
| Top 10’s | 10 | T6th of 59 | T160th of 1303 |
| DNF’s¹ | 2 | T11th of 35 | T242nd of 816 |
| Stage Wins | 4 | T3rd of 59 | T18th of 412* |
| Stage T10s | 28 | T3rd of 59 | T23rd of 412* |
| Stage Pts | 177 | 2nd of 59 | T21st of 412* |
| Playoff Pts² | 14 | 4th of 59 | T21st of 412* |
ªSince Playoffs started in 2004
¹Ranks of drivers to start 40% of races thru 22 races
²Earned from races only, does not reflect penalties
*Stage racing started in 2017
‡Loop Data started in 2005, max Driver Rating is 150.0
- Notable Streaks this year
- 2 straight Top 2 finishes (active streak, longest active streak in Cup Series and tied longest streak in Cup Series this year)
- 2 straight Top 3 finishes (active streak, longest active streak in Cup Series)
- 2 straight Top 5 finishes (active streak, longest active streak in Cup Series)
- 3 straight Top 10 finishes (active streak, tied longest active streak in Cup Series)
- 2023 Big track Stats (Avg. Fin. and Driver Rating rank among drivers with 1+ Big track start, 37 drivers)
- 2 Races, Avg. Finish 3.5(1st), 94.72% of Laps ran in Top15, Avg. Driver Rating 112.5(1st), Best 1st, Worst 6th, Laps Completed 100%, Led 5.56% of laps he ran, 1 Win, 0 Poles, 1 Top 3, 1 Top 5, 2 Top 10’s, 2 Top 15’s, 0 Finishes out of Top 20, 0 DNF’s, 0 Stage Wins, 6.5 Stage Pts Per Stage
- Michigan Statistics
- 2022 Michigan Race
- Finished 3rd, Started 9th, Led 38 laps (19.0%), Finished 2nd in Stage 1 and 1st in Stage 2, ran 195 Laps in Top15 (97.5% of laps he ran), had 128.6 Driver Rating (ranked 1st)
- Notable Michigan Statistics (Ranks are of drivers with 1+ start this year and 1+ start at Michigan, 46 drivers)
- 32 Races
- 12.59 Avg. Finish (Ranks 6th)
- Best Finish: 1st, Worst: 39th
- Completed 98.29% of laps (% ranks 17th)
- 72.34% of Laps ran in Top15 (% ranks 8th)
- 94.59 Average Driver Rating (Ranks 6th)
- Led 4.35% of laps he’s run (% ranks 10th)
- 2 Wins, 6.25% (% ranks 5th)
- 5 Top 2’s, 15.63% (% ranks 4th)
- 17 Top 10’s, 53.13% (% ranks 5th)
- 24 Top 15’s, 75.0% (% ranks T3rd)
- 6 finishes outside Top 20, 18.75% (% ranks T8th)
- 3 DNF’s, 9.38% (% ranks 31st)
- 1 Stage Win, 5.0% (% ranks T5th)
- 14 Stage T10’s, 70.0% (% ranks T3rd)
- 4.35 Stage Pts Per Stage (Ranks 4th)
Main Points & Outlook
– Denny Hamlin is notable because of his stats on Big tracks this year
– Richmond saw Hamlin come up just short of his 2nd win in a row, as he finished 2nd
– He has now finished 2 straight races in the Top 2 and 3 straight races in the Top 10
– 8 of his 15 2023 Ranks above are 3rd or better, but only his 82.5 Laps in Top15% and 3 Poles are 1st or T1st
– His stage stats (4 Stage Wins, 28 Stage T10’s, and 177 Stage Pts) this year are all tied 3rd most or better
– Half of his Top 10’s this year have been Top 3’s
– In the 2 Big track races this year he has the best Avg. Finish (3.5) and best Avg. Driver Rating (112.5) with 1 Win
– He’s ran 95% of his laps in the Top 15 in the 2 races and has gotten 6.5 Stage Pts Per Stage with 0 Stage Wins
– In the Michigan race last year Hamlin led 38 laps, got 19 Stage Pts, had the best Driver Rating (128.6), and finished 3rd
– In 32 races here he has led 4.35% of his laps, ran 72% of his laps in the Top 15, and has a 94.59 Avg. Driver Rating
– At Michigan he has 2 Wins, 5 Top 2’s, and has finished 75% of his races in the Top 15
– In 20 stages here he has 14 Stage T10’s and 4.35 Stage Pts Per Stage
Outlook for this weekend
Hamlin’s hot streak plus his really good Big track stats I think make him the favorite heading to Michigan this weekend. However, his Michigan stats are only okay overall. With that said I think Toyota as a whole will be strong this weekend, just like last year, and thus I see Hamlin finishing between 1st and 5th.
– Denny Hamlin is notable because of his stats on Big tracks this year
– Richmond saw Hamlin come up just short of his 2nd win in a row, as he finished 2nd
– He has now finished 2 straight races in the Top 2 and 3 straight races in the Top 10
– 8 of his 15 2023 Ranks above are 3rd or better, but only his 82.5 Laps in Top15% and 3 Poles are 1st or T1st
– His stage stats (4 Stage Wins, 28 Stage T10’s, and 177 Stage Pts) this year are all tied 3rd most or better
– Half of his Top 10’s this year have been Top 3’s
– In the 2 Big track races this year he has the best Avg. Finish (3.5) and best Avg. Driver Rating (112.5) with 1 Win
– He’s ran 95% of his laps in the Top 15 in the 2 races and has gotten 6.5 Stage Pts Per Stage with 0 Stage Wins
– In the Michigan race last year Hamlin led 38 laps, got 19 Stage Pts, had the best Driver Rating (128.6), and finished 3rd
– In 32 races here he has led 4.35% of his laps, ran 72% of his laps in the Top 15, and has a 94.59 Avg. Driver Rating
– At Michigan he has 2 Wins, 5 Top 2’s, and has finished 75% of his races in the Top 15
– In 20 stages here he has 14 Stage T10’s and 4.35 Stage Pts Per Stage
Outlook for this weekend
Hamlin’s hot streak plus his really good Big track stats I think make him the favorite heading to Michigan this weekend. However, his Michigan stats are only okay overall. With that said I think Toyota as a whole will be strong this weekend, just like last year, and thus I see Hamlin finishing between 1st and 5th.
3rd in Points – William Byron
| Category | Statistic | 2023 Rank | ªRank Thru 22 Races |
| Avg. Fin.¹ | 12.55 | 5th of 35 | 93rd of 816 |
| Completed Laps%¹ | 98.58% | 10th of 35 | 126th of 816 |
| Laps in Top15%¹ | 75.87% | 3rd of 35 | 80th of 774‡ |
| Avg. Driver Rating¹ | 100.35 | 1st of 35 | 56th of 774‡ |
| Wins | 4 | 1st of 59 | T11th of 1303 |
| Poles | 3 | T1st of 59 | T16th of 1303 |
| Top 2’s | 5 | T1st of 59 | T30th of 1303 |
| Top 3’s | 6 | T2nd of 59 | T47th of 1303 |
| Top 5’s | 8 | T2nd of 59 | T61st of 1303 |
| Top 10’s | 11 | T3rd of 59 | T115th of 1303 |
| DNF’s¹ | 2 | T11th of 35 | T242nd of 816 |
| Stage Wins | 7 | 1st of 59 | T6th of 412* |
| Stage T10s | 29 | 2nd of 59 | T18th of 412* |
| Stage Pts | 206 | 1st of 59 | 11th of 412* |
| Playoff Pts² | 27 | 1st of 59 | T8th of 412* |
ªSince Playoffs started in 2004
¹Ranks of drivers to start 40% of races thru 22 races
²Earned from races only, does not reflect penalties
*Stage racing started in 2017
‡Loop Data started in 2005, max Driver Rating is 150.0
- Notable Streaks this year
- 2 straight Wins (longest streak in Cup Series this year)
- 2 straight Top 2 finishes (tied longest streak in Cup Series this year)
- 3 straight Top 3 finishes (longest streak in Cup Series this year)
- 4 straight Top 5 finishes (tied longest streak in Cup Series this year)
- 6 straight Top 10 finishes
- 2023 Big track Stats (Avg. Fin. and Driver Rating rank among drivers with 1+ Big track start, 37 drivers)
- 2 Races, Avg. Finish 19.5(18th), 79.05% of Laps ran in Top15, Avg. Driver Rating 99.25(3rd), Best 14th, Worst 25th, Laps Completed 99.44%, Led 16.76% of laps he ran, 0 Wins, 1 Pole, 0 Top 3’s, 0 Top 5’s, 0 Top 10’s, 1 Top 15, 1 Finish out of Top 20, 0 DNF’s, 0 Stage Wins, 3.25 Stage Pts Per Stage
- Michigan Statistics
- 2022 Michigan Race
- Finished 12th, Started 20th, Led 0 laps, Finished 7th in Stage 1 and 9th in Stage 2, ran 170 Laps in Top15 (85.0% of laps he ran), had 83.5 Driver Rating (ranked 12th)
- Notable Michigan Statistics (Ranks are of drivers with 1+ start this year and 1+ start at Michigan, 46 drivers)
- 8 Races
- 14.38 Avg. Finish (Ranks 9th)
- Best Finish: 2nd, Worst: 36th
- Completed 99.11% of laps (% ranks 13th)
- 68.06% of Laps ran in Top15 (% ranks 9th)
- 82.3 Average Driver Rating (Ranks 14th)
- Led 1.39% of laps he’s run (% ranks 15th)
- 0 Wins
- 1 Top 2, 12.5% (% ranks 5th)
- 2 Top 10’s, 25.0% (% ranks T13th)
- 6 Top 15’s, 75.0% (% ranks T3rd)
- 1 finish outside Top 20, 12.5% (% ranks 5th)
- 0 DNF’s, 0.00% (% ranks T1st)
- 0 Stage Wins
- 10 Stage T10’s, 62.5% (% ranks T5th)
Main Points & Outlook
– William Byron is notable because of his 2023 stats thru 22 races
– Richmond was a struggle for Byron as he only ran 34% of his laps in the Top 15, got 4 Stage Pts, and finished 21st
– He now leads the series in only 7 of the 15 2023 Ranks above
– Only 10 of the 15 2023 Ranks above are 2nd or better now and his 12.55 Avg. Finish is 5th best
– His 7 Stage Wins, 29 Stage T10’s, and 206 Stage Pts are all either most or 2nd most this year
– His best finish in the 2 Big track races this year is 14th and his Avg. Finish is just 19.5
– In the 2 races he’s ran 79% of his laps in the Top 15, has led 17% of his laps ran, and has a 99.25 Avg. Driver Rating
– At Michigan last year Byron ran 85% of his laps in the Top 15, got 6 Stage Pts, had the 12th best Driver Rating (83.5), and finished 12th
– This was his 8th Cup race at Michigan and his 6th finish out of the Top 10
– His best finish here is 2nd, Avg. Finish is 14.38, and Avg. Driver Rating is 82.3
– He’s ran 68% of his laps at Michigan in the Top 15 and led only 1.39% of his laps
Outlook for this weekend
The only good stats above for Byron are his 2023 stats, which is good to have but not extremely helpful for this weekend. This is especially the case when you see his Big track finishes, but the good news is he’s ran well in the 2 Big track races. However, his struggles at Michigan are real and for that reason I see him finishing between 6th and 15th this weekend.
– William Byron is notable because of his 2023 stats thru 22 races
– Richmond was a struggle for Byron as he only ran 34% of his laps in the Top 15, got 4 Stage Pts, and finished 21st
– He now leads the series in only 7 of the 15 2023 Ranks above
– Only 10 of the 15 2023 Ranks above are 2nd or better now and his 12.55 Avg. Finish is 5th best
– His 7 Stage Wins, 29 Stage T10’s, and 206 Stage Pts are all either most or 2nd most this year
– His best finish in the 2 Big track races this year is 14th and his Avg. Finish is just 19.5
– In the 2 races he’s ran 79% of his laps in the Top 15, has led 17% of his laps ran, and has a 99.25 Avg. Driver Rating
– At Michigan last year Byron ran 85% of his laps in the Top 15, got 6 Stage Pts, had the 12th best Driver Rating (83.5), and finished 12th
– This was his 8th Cup race at Michigan and his 6th finish out of the Top 10
– His best finish here is 2nd, Avg. Finish is 14.38, and Avg. Driver Rating is 82.3
– He’s ran 68% of his laps at Michigan in the Top 15 and led only 1.39% of his laps
Outlook for this weekend
The only good stats above for Byron are his 2023 stats, which is good to have but not extremely helpful for this weekend. This is especially the case when you see his Big track finishes, but the good news is he’s ran well in the 2 Big track races. However, his struggles at Michigan are real and for that reason I see him finishing between 6th and 15th this weekend.
4th in Points – Christopher Bell
| Category | Statistic | 2023 Rank | ªRank Thru 22 Races |
| Avg. Fin.¹ | 14.18 | 8th of 35 | T160th of 816 |
| Completed Laps%¹ | 96.03% | 23rd of 35 | T345th of 816 |
| Laps in Top15%¹ | 68.46% | 9th of 35 | 156th of 774‡ |
| Avg. Driver Rating¹ | 89.28 | 6th of 35 | 183rd of 774‡ |
| Wins | 1 | T6th of 59 | T108th of 1303 |
| Poles | 1 | T5th of 59 | T84th of 1303 |
| Top 2’s | 1 | T10th of 59 | T190th of 1303 |
| Top 3’s | 3 | T10th of 59 | T149th of 1303 |
| Top 5’s | 5 | T10th of 59 | T158th of 1303 |
| Top 10’s | 11 | T3rd of 59 | T115th of 1303 |
| DNF’s¹ | 3 | T22nd of 35 | T432nd of 816 |
| Stage Wins | 2 | T10th of 59 | T52nd of 412* |
| Stage T10s | 28 | T3rd of 59 | T23rd of 412* |
| Stage Pts | 138 | 7th of 59 | 54th of 412* |
| Playoff Pts² | 7 | 10th of 59 | T54th of 412* |
ªSince Playoffs started in 2004
¹Ranks of drivers to start 40% of races thru 22 races
²Earned from races only, does not reflect penalties
*Stage racing started in 2017
‡Loop Data started in 2005, max Driver Rating is 150.0
- Notable Streaks this year
- 2 straight Top 5 finishes
- 3 straight Top 10 finishes
- 2023 Big track Stats (Avg. Fin. and Driver Rating rank among drivers with 1+ Big track start, 37 drivers)
- 2 Races, Avg. Finish 19.0(17th), 58.87% of Laps ran in Top15, Avg. Driver Rating 70.05(19th), Best 6th, Worst 32nd, Laps Completed 68.89%, Led 0.4% of laps he ran, 0 Wins, 0 Poles, 0 Top 3’s, 0 Top 5’s, 1 Top 10, 1 Top 15, 1 Finish out of Top 20, 1 DNF, 0 Stage Wins, 0 Stage T10’s
- Michigan Statistics
- 2022 Michigan Race
- Finished 26th (crash), Started 2nd, Led 31 laps (15.5%), Finished 1st in Stage 1 and 4th in Stage 2, ran 159 Laps in Top15 (82.38% of laps he ran), had 93.7 Driver Rating (ranked 9th)
- Notable Michigan Statistics (Ranks are of drivers with 1+ start this year and 1+ start at Michigan, 46 drivers)
- 4 Races
- 17.25 Avg. Finish (Ranks 16th)
- Best Finish: 13th, Worst: 26th
- Completed 99.02% of laps (% ranks 14th)
- 67.32% of Laps ran in Top15 (% ranks 11th)
- 89.13 Average Driver Rating (Ranks 11th)
- Led 4.79% of laps he’s run (% ranks 8th)
- 0 Top 10’s
- 2 Top 15’s, 50.0% (% ranks T15th)
- 1 finish outside Top 20, 25.0% (% ranks T13th)
- 1 DNF, 25.0% (% ranks T37th)
- 1 Stage Win, 12.5% (% ranks 3rd)
- 5 Stage T10’s, 62.5% (% ranks T5th)
- 5.25 Stage Pts Per Stage (Ranks 2nd)
Main Points & Outlook
– Christopher Bell is notable because he’s 4th in points
– Bell was the worst Toyota last week by far as he ran only 6% of his laps in the Top 15 and finished 20th
– His best 2023 Ranks above are his 11 Top 10’s and 28 Stage T10’s that are both T3rd best
– Only 8 of his 15 2023 Ranks above are better than 10th
– He has just 1 Win, 3 Top 3’s, a 14.18 Avg. Finish, and an 89.28 Avg. Driver Rating this year
– In the 2 Big track races this year he has finishes of 6th and 32nd with 1 DNF
– He’s ran 59% of his laps in the Top 15 in the 2 races, has a 70.05 Avg. Driver Rating, and has not recorded a Stage T10 in the 4 stages
– In the 2022 Michigan Cup race Bell ran 82% of his laps in the Top 15, led 31 laps, won Stage 1, and had the 9th best Driver Rating (93.7); but a late crash resulted in him finishing 26th
– In 4 races at Michigan he has never finished in the Top 10
– His best finish at Michigan is 13th and he’s only ran 67% of his laps here in the Top 15
– He does have an 89.13 Avg. Driver Rating here, has led 5% of his laps, and has gotten 5.25 Stage Pts Per Stage
Outlook for this weekend
Bell’s stats above are not that pretty for this weekend as he hasn’t performed well at Michigan in his career and his Big track stats this year are lacking as well. However, last year at Michigan Bell did run well before a late incident, so there is hope for him. Looking at this altogether I see Bell having a decent run this weekend but finishing between 8th and 20th.
– Christopher Bell is notable because he’s 4th in points
– Bell was the worst Toyota last week by far as he ran only 6% of his laps in the Top 15 and finished 20th
– His best 2023 Ranks above are his 11 Top 10’s and 28 Stage T10’s that are both T3rd best
– Only 8 of his 15 2023 Ranks above are better than 10th
– He has just 1 Win, 3 Top 3’s, a 14.18 Avg. Finish, and an 89.28 Avg. Driver Rating this year
– In the 2 Big track races this year he has finishes of 6th and 32nd with 1 DNF
– He’s ran 59% of his laps in the Top 15 in the 2 races, has a 70.05 Avg. Driver Rating, and has not recorded a Stage T10 in the 4 stages
– In the 2022 Michigan Cup race Bell ran 82% of his laps in the Top 15, led 31 laps, won Stage 1, and had the 9th best Driver Rating (93.7); but a late crash resulted in him finishing 26th
– In 4 races at Michigan he has never finished in the Top 10
– His best finish at Michigan is 13th and he’s only ran 67% of his laps here in the Top 15
– He does have an 89.13 Avg. Driver Rating here, has led 5% of his laps, and has gotten 5.25 Stage Pts Per Stage
Outlook for this weekend
Bell’s stats above are not that pretty for this weekend as he hasn’t performed well at Michigan in his career and his Big track stats this year are lacking as well. However, last year at Michigan Bell did run well before a late incident, so there is hope for him. Looking at this altogether I see Bell having a decent run this weekend but finishing between 8th and 20th.
6th in Points – Kevin Harvick
| Category | Statistic | 2023 Rank | ªRank Thru 22 Races |
| Avg. Fin.¹ | 13.5 | 6th of 35 | T127th of 816 |
| Completed Laps%¹ | 98.67% | 9th of 35 | 121st of 816 |
| Laps in Top15%¹ | 73.43% | 4th of 35 | 105th of 774‡ |
| Avg. Driver Rating¹ | 83.82 | 10th of 35 | 247th of 774‡ |
| Wins | 0 | T14th of 59 | T235th of 1303 |
| Poles | 0 | T13th of 59 | T222nd of 1303 |
| Top 2’s | 1 | T10th of 59 | T190th of 1303 |
| Top 3’s | 1 | T14th of 59 | T279th of 1303 |
| Top 5’s | 6 | T7th of 59 | T120th of 1303 |
| Top 10’s | 10 | T6th of 59 | T160th of 1303 |
| DNF’s¹ | 1 | T2nd of 35 | T86th of 816 |
| Stage Wins | 1 | T12th of 59 | T74th of 412* |
| Stage T10s | 23 | T7th of 59 | T59th of 412* |
| Stage Pts | 112 | 9th of 59 | T67th of 412* |
| Playoff Pts² | 1 | T15th of 59 | T99th of 412* |
ªSince Playoffs started in 2004
¹Ranks of drivers to start 40% of races thru 22 races
²Earned from races only, does not reflect penalties
*Stage racing started in 2017
‡Loop Data started in 2005, max Driver Rating is 150.0
- Notable Streaks this year
- 2 straight Top 5 finishes
- 3 straight Top 10 finishes (active streak, tied longest active streak in Cup Series)
- 2023 Big track Stats (Avg. Fin. and Driver Rating rank among drivers with 1+ Big track start, 37 drivers)
- 2 Races, Avg. Finish 4.5(2nd), 81.39% of Laps ran in Top15, Avg. Driver Rating 98.95(4th), Best 4th, Worst 5th, Laps Completed 100%, Led 1.39% of laps he ran, 0 Wins, 0 Poles, 0 Top 3’s, 2 Top 5’s, 2 Top 10’s, 2 Top 15’s, 0 Finishes out of Top 20, 0 DNF’s, 0 Stage Wins, 2.5 Stage Pts Per Stage
- Michigan Statistics
- 2022 Michigan Race
- Finished 1st, Started 16th, Led 38 laps (19.0%), Finished 8th in Stage 1, ran 190 Laps in Top15 (95.0% of laps he ran), had 123.0 Driver Rating (ranked 2nd)
- Notable Michigan Statistics (Ranks are of drivers with 1+ start this year and 1+ start at Michigan, 46 drivers)
- 42 Races
- 10.95 Avg. Finish (Ranks 3rd)
- Best Finish: 1st, Worst: 41st
- Completed 99.48% of laps (% ranks 10th)
- 67.83% of Laps ran in Top15 (% ranks 10th)
- 102.46 Average Driver Rating (Ranks 1st)
- Led 9.15% of laps he’s run (% ranks 3rd)
- 6 Wins, 14.29% (% ranks 2nd)
- 13 Top 2’s, 30.95% (% ranks 1st)
- 22 Top 10’s, 52.38% (% ranks 6th)
- 30 Top 15’s, 71.43% (% ranks T5th)
- 6 finishes outside Top 20, 14.29% (% ranks T6th)
- 1 DNF, 2.38% (% ranks 18th)
- 6 Stage Wins, 30.0% (% ranks 1st)
- 14 Stage T10’s, 70.0% (% ranks T3rd)
- 5.45 Stage Pts Per Stage (Ranks 1st)
Main Points & Outlook
– Kevin Harvick is notable because of how he’s performed here at Michigan in his career
– Last week Harvick ran all but 6 laps in the Top 15 en route to his 3rd straight Top 10 and 10th Top 10 this year, finishing 10th
– Only 2 of his 15 2023 Ranks above are better than 5th (1 DNF and 73.43 Laps in Top15%)
– 7 of his 15 2023 Ranks above are 10th or worse including his 83.82 Avg. Driver Rating, 0 Wins, 1 Top 3, and 1 Stage Win
– He is the only driver to finish in the Top 5 of both Big track races this year, finishing 4th and 5th
– In the 2 races he’s ran 81% of his laps in the Top 15, had a 98.95 Avg. Driver Rating, and 2.5 Stage Pts Per Stage
– Last year at Michigan Harvick won the race after starting 16th and running 95% of his laps in the Top 15
– In the race he led 38 laps and had the 2nd best Driver Rating (123.0)
– This was his 6th win at Michigan in 42 races, his 13th Top 2, and improved his Avg. Finish to 10.95
– He has as many finishes out of the Top 20 here as he does Wins and Stage Wins (6)
– His 102.46 Avg. Driver Rating, 6 Stage Wins, and 5.45 Stage Pts Per Stage at Michigan are best among active drivers
Outlook for this weekend
While the 2023 stats above for Harvick are not great, the rest of his stats above are incredible and point to a strong run from him this weekend. If Harvick can reproduce most of these stats then this weekend he will get his 4th straight Top 10, have a good chance at the win, and finish between 1st and 6th.
– Kevin Harvick is notable because of how he’s performed here at Michigan in his career
– Last week Harvick ran all but 6 laps in the Top 15 en route to his 3rd straight Top 10 and 10th Top 10 this year, finishing 10th
– Only 2 of his 15 2023 Ranks above are better than 5th (1 DNF and 73.43 Laps in Top15%)
– 7 of his 15 2023 Ranks above are 10th or worse including his 83.82 Avg. Driver Rating, 0 Wins, 1 Top 3, and 1 Stage Win
– He is the only driver to finish in the Top 5 of both Big track races this year, finishing 4th and 5th
– In the 2 races he’s ran 81% of his laps in the Top 15, had a 98.95 Avg. Driver Rating, and 2.5 Stage Pts Per Stage
– Last year at Michigan Harvick won the race after starting 16th and running 95% of his laps in the Top 15
– In the race he led 38 laps and had the 2nd best Driver Rating (123.0)
– This was his 6th win at Michigan in 42 races, his 13th Top 2, and improved his Avg. Finish to 10.95
– He has as many finishes out of the Top 20 here as he does Wins and Stage Wins (6)
– His 102.46 Avg. Driver Rating, 6 Stage Wins, and 5.45 Stage Pts Per Stage at Michigan are best among active drivers
Outlook for this weekend
While the 2023 stats above for Harvick are not great, the rest of his stats above are incredible and point to a strong run from him this weekend. If Harvick can reproduce most of these stats then this weekend he will get his 4th straight Top 10, have a good chance at the win, and finish between 1st and 6th.
7th in Points – Ross Chastain
| Category | Statistic | 2023 Rank | ªRank Thru 22 Races |
| Avg. Fin.¹ | 15.45 | 12th of 35 | T215th of 816 |
| Completed Laps%¹ | 98.76% | 7th of 35 | T111th of 816 |
| Laps in Top15%¹ | 59.58% | 13th of 35 | 225th of 774‡ |
| Avg. Driver Rating¹ | 83.99 | 9th of 35 | 245th of 774‡ |
| Wins | 1 | T6th of 59 | T108th of 1303 |
| Poles | 1 | T5th of 59 | T84th of 1303 |
| Top 2’s | 2 | 9th of 59 | T130th of 1303 |
| Top 3’s | 4 | T7th of 59 | T105th of 1303 |
| Top 5’s | 6 | T7th of 59 | T120th of 1303 |
| Top 10’s | 8 | T13th of 59 | T243rd of 1303 |
| DNF’s¹ | 2 | T11th of 35 | T242nd of 816 |
| Stage Wins | 5 | 2nd of 59 | T11th of 412* |
| Stage T10s | 23 | T7th of 59 | T59th of 412* |
| Stage Pts | 148 | 5th of 59 | T48th of 412* |
| Playoff Pts² | 10 | 6th of 59 | T35th of 412* |
ªSince Playoffs started in 2004
¹Ranks of drivers to start 40% of races thru 22 races
²Earned from races only, does not reflect penalties
*Stage racing started in 2017
‡Loop Data started in 2005, max Driver Rating is 150.0
- Notable Streaks this year
- 2 straight Top 5 finishes
- 2023 Big track Stats (Avg. Fin. and Driver Rating rank among drivers with 1+ Big track start, 37 drivers)
- 2 Races, Avg. Finish 8.0(5th), 60.56% of Laps ran in Top15, Avg. Driver Rating 98.2(5th), Best 3rd, Worst 13th, Laps Completed 100%, Led 25.28% of laps he ran, 0 Wins, 0 Poles, 1 Top 3, 1 Top 5, 1 Top 10, 2 Top 15’s, 0 Finishes out of Top 20, 0 DNF’s, 2 Stage Wins, 5.0 Stage Pts Per Stage
- Michigan Statistics
- 2022 Michigan Race
- Finished 24th, Started 22nd, Led 29 laps (14.5%), Finished 6th in Stage 1, ran 118 Laps in Top15 (59.3% of laps he ran), had 96.3 Driver Rating (ranked 8th)
- Notable Michigan Statistics (Ranks are of drivers with 1+ start this year and 1+ start at Michigan, 46 drivers)
- 5 Races
- 29.8 Avg. Finish (Ranks 36th)
- Best Finish: 24th, Worst: 35th
- Completed 93.14% of laps (% ranks 34th)
- 15.88% of Laps ran in Top15 (% ranks 29th)
- 52.02 Average Driver Rating (Ranks 31st)
- Led 3.34% of laps he’s run (% ranks 11th)
- 0 Top 15’s
- 5 finishes outside Top 20, 100% (% ranks T32nd)
- 1 DNF, 20.0% (% ranks 36th)
- 0 Stage Wins
- 1 Stage T10, 10.0% (% ranks T19th)
Main Points & Outlook
– Ross Chastain is notable because of his 2023 Big track stats
– Chastain stunk at Richmond running only 5 laps in the Top 15 and finishing 24th
– He now has only 3 2023 Ranks above being 5th or better (1 Pole, 5 Stage Wins, and 148 Stage Pts)
– His 15.45 Avg. Finish, 59.58 Laps in Top15%, 8 Top 10’s, and 2 DNF’s are his only 2023 Ranks above to be worse than 10th
– The only race finish streak he has to speak of is a 2 race Top 5 streak earlier this year
– His 8.0 Avg. Finish and 98.2 Avg. Driver Rating at Big tracks this year are both 5th best
– In the 2 Big track races he has finishes of 3rd and 13th, but has only ran 60.56% of his laps in the Top 15 despite leading 25% of his laps
– In the 2022 Michigan race Chastain led 29 laps, ran only 59% of his laps in the Top 15, and finished 24th; but he did have the 8th best Driver Rating (96.3)
– This 24th is his best finish at Michigan in 5 career races
– At Michigan he has a 29.8 Avg. Finish, a 52.02 Avg. Driver Rating, ran only 16% of his laps in the Top 15, and has gotten just 1 Stage T10
Outlook for this weekend
It’s no secret that Chastain has struggled for the better part of the last 2 months and his 2023 Ranks show it. What’s worse is that his Michigan stats are terrible, but he has done well in Big track races this year overall. However, with his recent struggles I see more Michigan struggle coming for Chastain as he finishes somewhere between 10th and 20th.
– Ross Chastain is notable because of his 2023 Big track stats
– Chastain stunk at Richmond running only 5 laps in the Top 15 and finishing 24th
– He now has only 3 2023 Ranks above being 5th or better (1 Pole, 5 Stage Wins, and 148 Stage Pts)
– His 15.45 Avg. Finish, 59.58 Laps in Top15%, 8 Top 10’s, and 2 DNF’s are his only 2023 Ranks above to be worse than 10th
– The only race finish streak he has to speak of is a 2 race Top 5 streak earlier this year
– His 8.0 Avg. Finish and 98.2 Avg. Driver Rating at Big tracks this year are both 5th best
– In the 2 Big track races he has finishes of 3rd and 13th, but has only ran 60.56% of his laps in the Top 15 despite leading 25% of his laps
– In the 2022 Michigan race Chastain led 29 laps, ran only 59% of his laps in the Top 15, and finished 24th; but he did have the 8th best Driver Rating (96.3)
– This 24th is his best finish at Michigan in 5 career races
– At Michigan he has a 29.8 Avg. Finish, a 52.02 Avg. Driver Rating, ran only 16% of his laps in the Top 15, and has gotten just 1 Stage T10
Outlook for this weekend
It’s no secret that Chastain has struggled for the better part of the last 2 months and his 2023 Ranks show it. What’s worse is that his Michigan stats are terrible, but he has done well in Big track races this year overall. However, with his recent struggles I see more Michigan struggle coming for Chastain as he finishes somewhere between 10th and 20th.
15th in Points – Bubba Wallace
| Category | Statistic | 2023 Rank | ªRank Thru 22 Races |
| Avg. Fin.¹ | 17.14 | 17th of 35 | T305th of 816 |
| Completed Laps%¹ | 98.13% | 11th of 35 | 157th of 816 |
| Laps in Top15%¹ | 58.13% | 15th of 35 | 240th of 774‡ |
| Avg. Driver Rating¹ | 75.38 | 17th of 35 | 342nd of 774‡ |
| Wins | 0 | T14th of 59 | T235th of 1303 |
| Poles | 0 | T13th of 59 | T222nd of 1303 |
| Top 2’s | 0 | T20th of 59 | T351st of 1303 |
| Top 3’s | 0 | T23rd of 59 | T422nd of 1303 |
| Top 5’s | 4 | T12th of 59 | T209th of 1303 |
| Top 10’s | 6 | T16th of 59 | T318th of 1303 |
| DNF’s¹ | 5 | T31st of 35 | T693rd of 816 |
| Stage Wins | 0 | T18th of 59 | T107th of 412* |
| Stage T10s | 13 | T14th of 59 | T106th of 412* |
| Stage Pts | 64 | 15th of 59 | T105th of 412* |
| Playoff Pts² | 0 | T20th of 59 | T123rd of 412* |
ªSince Playoffs started in 2004
¹Ranks of drivers to start 40% of races thru 22 races
²Earned from races only, does not reflect penalties
*Stage racing started in 2017
‡Loop Data started in 2005, max Driver Rating is 150.0
- Notable Streaks this year
- 3 straight Top 5 finishes
- 2023 Big track Stats (Avg. Fin. and Driver Rating rank among drivers with 1+ Big track start, 37 drivers)
- 2 Races, Avg. Finish 20.5(T20th), 70.48% of Laps ran in Top15, Avg. Driver Rating 77.05(13th), Best 11th, Worst 30th, Laps Completed 92.22%, Led 0.00% of laps he ran, 0 Wins, 0 Poles, 0 Top 3’s, 0 Top 5’s, 0 Top 10’s, 1 Top 15, 1 Finish out of Top 20, 1 DNF, 0 Stage Wins, 1.5 Stage Pts Per Stage
- Michigan Statistics
- 2022 Michigan Race
- Finished 2nd, Started 1st, Led 22 laps (11.0%), got 0 Stage T10’s, ran 182 Laps in Top15 (91.0% of laps he ran), had 118.4 Driver Rating (ranked 3rd)
- Notable Michigan Statistics (Ranks are of drivers with 1+ start this year and 1+ start at Michigan, 46 drivers)
- 9 Races
- 18.56 Avg. Finish (Ranks 19th)
- Best Finish: 2nd, Worst: 28th
- Completed 99.76% of laps (% ranks 9th)
- 24.5% of Laps ran in Top15 (% ranks 24th)
- 67.11 Average Driver Rating (Ranks 21st)
- Led 1.33% of laps he’s run (% ranks 16th)
- 1 Pole, 11.11% (% ranks 2nd)
- 0 Wins
- 1 Top 2, 11.11% (% ranks 8th)
- 2 Top 10’s, 22.22% (% ranks 16th)
- 2 Top 15’s, 22.22% (% ranks 13th)
- 4 finishes outside Top 20, 44.44% (% ranks 22nd)
- 0 DNF’s, 0.00% (% ranks T1st)
- 0 Stage Wins
- 0 Stage T10’s
Main Points & Outlook
– Bubba Wallace is notable because of his Michigan race last year
– Wallace got 16 Stage Pts at Richmond en route to a 12th place finish
– Wallace’s best 2023 Rank above is only 11th (98.13 Completed Laps%)
– His 17.14 Avg. Finish, 75.38 Avg. Driver Rating, 6 Top 10’s, and 64 Stage Pts all rank between 15th and 17th best in the 2023 Ranks above
– He has more DNF’s (5) than Top 5’s this year (4)
– In the 2 Big track races this year he has finishes of 11th and 30th with 1 DNF
– In these races he has ran 70.48% of his laps in the Top 15, led 0 laps, has a 77.05 Avg. Driver Rating, and only 1.5 Stage Pts Per Stage
– At Michigan last year Wallace ran 91% of his laps in the Top 15, led 11% of his laps, started 1st, finished 2nd and had the 3rd best Driver Rating (118.4)
– This was his 2nd Top 10 in 9 races here at Michigan and his 1st Pole here
– In his 9 races here he has an 18.56 Avg. Finish, a 67.11 Avg. Driver Rating, and 4 finishes out of the Top 20
– In his career at Michigan he’s ran only 24.5% of his laps in the Top 15 and has gotten 0 Stage T10’s
Outlook for this weekend
Looking at last years Michigan race this weekend is very promising for Wallace, but his other stats say it will be a struggle. All of this leaves the stats a little muddled, but overall I think Wallace has a decent weekend in store as he probably finishes between 6th and 15th this weekend.
– Bubba Wallace is notable because of his Michigan race last year
– Wallace got 16 Stage Pts at Richmond en route to a 12th place finish
– Wallace’s best 2023 Rank above is only 11th (98.13 Completed Laps%)
– His 17.14 Avg. Finish, 75.38 Avg. Driver Rating, 6 Top 10’s, and 64 Stage Pts all rank between 15th and 17th best in the 2023 Ranks above
– He has more DNF’s (5) than Top 5’s this year (4)
– In the 2 Big track races this year he has finishes of 11th and 30th with 1 DNF
– In these races he has ran 70.48% of his laps in the Top 15, led 0 laps, has a 77.05 Avg. Driver Rating, and only 1.5 Stage Pts Per Stage
– At Michigan last year Wallace ran 91% of his laps in the Top 15, led 11% of his laps, started 1st, finished 2nd and had the 3rd best Driver Rating (118.4)
– This was his 2nd Top 10 in 9 races here at Michigan and his 1st Pole here
– In his 9 races here he has an 18.56 Avg. Finish, a 67.11 Avg. Driver Rating, and 4 finishes out of the Top 20
– In his career at Michigan he’s ran only 24.5% of his laps in the Top 15 and has gotten 0 Stage T10’s
Outlook for this weekend
Looking at last years Michigan race this weekend is very promising for Wallace, but his other stats say it will be a struggle. All of this leaves the stats a little muddled, but overall I think Wallace has a decent weekend in store as he probably finishes between 6th and 15th this weekend.
20th in Points – Chase Elliott
| Category | Statistic | 2023 Rank | ªRank Thru 22 Races |
| Avg. Fin.¹ | 11.8 | 2nd of 35 | 66th of 816 |
| Completed Laps%¹ | 92.09% | 31st of 35 | T597th of 816 |
| Laps in Top15%¹ | 62.09% | 11th of 35 | 203rd of 774‡ |
| Avg. Driver Rating¹ | 81.98 | 12th of 35 | 269th of 774‡ |
| Wins | 0 | T14th of 59 | T235th of 1303 |
| Poles | 0 | T13th of 59 | T222nd of 1303 |
| Top 2’s | 1 | T10th of 59 | T190th of 1303 |
| Top 3’s | 3 | T10th of 59 | T149th of 1303 |
| Top 5’s | 5 | T10th of 59 | T158th of 1303 |
| Top 10’s | 8 | T13th of 59 | T243rd of 1303 |
| DNF’s¹ | 2 | T11th of 35 | T242nd of 816 |
| Stage Wins | 1 | T12th of 59 | T74th of 412* |
| Stage T10s | 8 | T22nd of 59 | T137th of 412* |
| Stage Pts | 42 | 22nd of 59 | T126th of 412* |
| Playoff Pts² | 1 | T15th of 59 | T99th of 412* |
ªSince Playoffs started in 2004
¹Ranks of drivers to start 40% of races thru 22 races
²Earned from races only, does not reflect penalties
*Stage racing started in 2017
‡Loop Data started in 2005, max Driver Rating is 150.0
- Notable Streaks this year
- 3 straight Top 5 finishes
- 2023 Big track Stats (Avg. Fin. and Driver Rating rank among drivers with 1+ Big track start, 37 drivers)
- 2 Races, Avg. Finish 6.0(4th), 71.94% of Laps ran in Top15, Avg. Driver Rating 93.15(7th), Best 2nd, Worst 10th, Laps Completed 100%, Led 0.28% of laps he ran, 0 Wins, 0 Poles, 1 Top 3, 1 Top 5, 2 Top 10’s, 2 Top 15’s, 0 Finishes out of Top 20, 0 DNF’s, 0 Stage Wins, 1.25 Stage Pts Per Stage
- Michigan Statistics
- 2022 Michigan Race
- Finished 11th, Started 13th, Led 0 laps, got 0 Stage T10’s, ran 73 Laps in Top15 (36.5% of laps he ran), had 75.2 Driver Rating (ranked 15th)
- Notable Michigan Statistics (Ranks are of drivers with 1+ start this year and 1+ start at Michigan, 46 drivers)
- 12 Races
- 8.0 Avg. Finish (Ranks 1st)
- Best Finish: 2nd, Worst: 20th
- Completed 100% of laps (% ranks T1st)
- 83.1% of Laps ran in Top15 (% ranks 2nd)
- 98.63 Average Driver Rating (Ranks 3rd)
- Led 6.39% of laps he’s run (% ranks 5th)
- 0 Wins
- 3 Top 2’s, 25.0% (% ranks 2nd)
- 3 Top 5’s, 25.0% (% ranks 9th)
- 10 Top 10’s, 83.33% (% ranks 2nd)
- 11 Top 15’s, 91.67% (% ranks 2nd)
- 0 finishes outside Top 20, 0.00% (% ranks T1st)
- 0 DNF’s, 0.00% (% ranks T1st)
- 1 Stage Win, 5.0% (% ranks T5th)
- 2.15 Stage Pts Per Stage (Ranks 12th)
Main Points & Outlook
– Chase Elliott is notable because of his stats in his 12 career starts at Michigan
– Elliott ran 92% of his laps last week in the Top 15, but in the end he finished 13th
– He now has the 2nd best Avg. Finish (11.8), but only the 12th best Avg. Driver Rating (81.98)
– In his 15 races this year he has just 3 Top 3’s, 5 Top 5’s, and 8 Top 10’s
– He only has 1.35 Stage Pts Per Stage this year
– In the 2 Big track races this year he has finished 2nd and 10th with the 7th best Avg. Driver Rating (93.15)
– In the races he’s ran 72% of his laps in the Top 15, led only 0.28% of his laps, and has gotten just 1.25 Stage Pts Per Stage
– Last year at Michigan Elliott started 13th, led 0 laps, got 0 Stage T10’s, ran only 36.5% of his laps in the Top 15, finished 11th, and had the 15th best Driver Rating (75.2)
– In 12 races at Michigan he has 10 Top 10’s and an 8.0 Avg. Finish
– His 8.0 Avg. Finish, 83.1% of Laps in Top 15, 25.0 Top 2%, 83.33 Top 10%, and 91.67 Top 15% at Michigan all rank 1st or 2nd among active drivers
Outlook for this weekend
Elliott needs a strong run at Michigan this weekend if he is to point his way into the playoffs and that could be possible looking at his Michigan and 2023 Big track stats. However, his race here last year was miserable and his races this year have been full of mediocre runs and better finishes than he deserves. This weekend I think Elliott has another one of his good Michigan runs though and finishes between 6th and 12th.
– Chase Elliott is notable because of his stats in his 12 career starts at Michigan
– Elliott ran 92% of his laps last week in the Top 15, but in the end he finished 13th
– He now has the 2nd best Avg. Finish (11.8), but only the 12th best Avg. Driver Rating (81.98)
– In his 15 races this year he has just 3 Top 3’s, 5 Top 5’s, and 8 Top 10’s
– He only has 1.35 Stage Pts Per Stage this year
– In the 2 Big track races this year he has finished 2nd and 10th with the 7th best Avg. Driver Rating (93.15)
– In the races he’s ran 72% of his laps in the Top 15, led only 0.28% of his laps, and has gotten just 1.25 Stage Pts Per Stage
– Last year at Michigan Elliott started 13th, led 0 laps, got 0 Stage T10’s, ran only 36.5% of his laps in the Top 15, finished 11th, and had the 15th best Driver Rating (75.2)
– In 12 races at Michigan he has 10 Top 10’s and an 8.0 Avg. Finish
– His 8.0 Avg. Finish, 83.1% of Laps in Top 15, 25.0 Top 2%, 83.33 Top 10%, and 91.67 Top 15% at Michigan all rank 1st or 2nd among active drivers
Outlook for this weekend
Elliott needs a strong run at Michigan this weekend if he is to point his way into the playoffs and that could be possible looking at his Michigan and 2023 Big track stats. However, his race here last year was miserable and his races this year have been full of mediocre runs and better finishes than he deserves. This weekend I think Elliott has another one of his good Michigan runs though and finishes between 6th and 12th.
