Race 2 Win: Stater Bros. 300

NASCAR Busch Series

Stater Bros. 300 - Race Notes

2006 NASCAR BUSCH SERIES
RACE #2 of 35 - Stater Bros. 300
CALIFORNIA SPEEDWAY - FONTANA, CA
Event #: 12th Busch Series Race at California Speedway, second September

Date: February 25, 2006 Race Time: 6:00 P.M. ET
Television: FX Radio: MRN
Track Size: Two miles Race Distance: 300 miles, 150 laps
Track: Banking: Corners: 14 degrees Tri Oval: 11 degrees Backstretch: 3 degrees
Straights: Fronstretch: 3,100 feet Backstretch: 2,500 feet

2005 Spring WINNER: Mark Martin (F)

2005 Fall WINNER: Carl Edwards (F)

No California race has been won from the Pole. Best start of a race winner - second -1998 and 1999.

Worst Starting Position of a Race Winner: 28th, Todd Bodine, 1997

Most Wins at California: Matt Kenseth - three

Most Poles at California: nine drivers @ one each (no time trials in 1999 and 2002)

Qualifying at California:
Driver Year Speed Time
Track Record: Tony Stewart (C) 2005 185.941 mph 38.722 sec.
First 2005 Race: Tony Stewart (C) 185.941 mph 38.722 sec.
Sept. 2005 Race: Clint Bowyer (C) 181.330 mph 39.706 sec.

California Race Speeds:
Driver Year Speed Time
Track Record: Hank Parker Jr. (C) 2001 155.957 mph 1:55:25
First 2005 Race: Mark Martin (F) 117.251 mph 2:33:31
Sept. 2005 Race: Carl Edwards (F) 139.104 mph 2:09:24

Top Ten Finishers in the Feb. 2005 California Race: Four started in the top 10.
POS DRIVER START MAKE LAPS LED
1st Mark Martin 3 F 102
2nd Kevin Harvick 6 C -
3rd Shane Hmiel 5 C 19
4th Clint Bowyer 11 C -
5th Reed Sorenson 4 D -
6th Carl Edwards 16 F -
7th Jamie McMurray 15 D -
8th David Stremme 18 D -
9th Matt Kenseth 17 F 3
10th Dale Jarrett 12 F -

DNFs: 8 (accident - 2, engine - 3, other - 3)
Pole Winner Tony Stewart finished 29th.
Leader of the Most Laps: Mark Martin
Last Place: Jeff Fuller four laps, vibration
Last Driver on Lead Lap: Tony Stewart, 29th
Most Positions Improved: +24, Denny Hamlin, 42nd to 18th
Most Positions Lost: -28, Tony Stewart, 1st to 29th

Top Ten Finishers in the Sept. 2005 California Race: Five started in the top 10.
POS DRIVER START MAKE LAPS LED
1st Carl Edwards 4 F 52
2nd Greg Biffle 13 F 59
3rd Clint Bowyer 1 C 11
4th Johnny Sauter 15 D 9
5th Kasey Kahne 2 D 4
6th Jason Keller 5 F -
7th Jason Leffler 7 C -
8th Kenny Wallace 23 F -
9th David Stremme 22 D -
10th Paul Menard 12 C -

DNFs: 7 (engine - 2, other - 5)
Pole Winner Clint Bowyer finished third.
Leader of the Most Laps: Greg Biffle -59
Last Place: J.J. Yeley, four laps (engine)
Last Driver on Lead Lap: David Green, 18th
Most Positions Improved: Tim Fedewa, +20, 41st to 21st
Most Positions Lost: Kevin Hamlin, -28, 14th to 42nd

Running at the Finish: Jason Keller has been running at the end of all 11 California races: He finished 17th in the spring of 2005, sixth in the fall of 2005.

California Race Winners:
Year Driver (Make) Avg. Speed Time
1997 Todd Bodine (P) 145.083 mph 2:04:04
1998 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (C) 146.576 mph 2:02:48
1999 Matt Kenseth (C) 119.960 mph 2:30:03
2000 Matt Kenseth (C) 126.375 mph 2:22:25
2001 Hank Parker Jr.(C) 155.957 mph* 1:55:25
2002 Scott Riggs (F) 131.403 mph 2:16:59
2003 Matt Kenseth (F) 129.419 mph 2:19:05
2004 (1) Greg Biffle (F) 138.978 mph 2:09:31
2004 (2) Greg Biffle (F) 147.819 mph 2:01:46
2005 (1) Mark Martin (F) 117.251 mph 2:33:31
2005 (2) Carl Edwards (F) 139.104 mph 2:09:24
*Track Record

Miscellaneous California Stats:
1. Most Cars Starting a Race: 7/98 - 9/05 - 43 cars
2. Most DNFs in a Race: 5/99 - 12 cars
3. Fewest DNFs in a Race: 7/98; 4/00; 9/05 - seven cars
4. Most Laps Led by Winner: 7/98 Dale Earnhardt Jr. - 141 laps
5. Most Laps Led by a Non-Winner: 4/01 - Greg Biffle - 90 laps
6. Fewest Laps Led by Winner: 4/01 - Hank Parker Jr - 11 laps
7. Race Top Five All Same Make: None
8. Driver With Most DNFs: Jeff Fuller - five
9. Most Starts in Top Five: Jeff Green - four
10. Average Lead Changes per Race: 12.5
10. Average Leaders Per Race: 7.45
12. Average Cautions Per Race: 5.18

Birthdays:
Todd Bodine, 42 - 2/27
Kertus Davis, 25 - 2/26

California Fast Facts:

Ford has won the last six California races.

There has not been a repeat pole winner at California.

No California NASCAR Busch Series race has been won from the pole.

Current Busch Series Consecutives:
Category Driver Streak
Races Competed In Jason Keller 272 (started 9/97 at Richmond)
Top Five Finish Kevin Harvick four (started at Texas ‘05)
Top 10 Finish Clint Bowyer five (started at Memphis ‘05)
Running at Finish Stacy Compton 31 (started at Nashville 1 ‘05)
Finish in Lead Lap Jason Keller seven (started at Kansas ‘05)

Milestones at California:

Michael Waltrip is scheduled to make his 250th NBS start in the Stater Bros. 300

Jason Keller is scheduled to make his 393rd NBS start in the Stater Bros. 300, passing Elton Sawyer to take over sole possession of second place all-time in number of starts in the Series. He will be just 24 behind all-time leader Tommy Houston (1982-1996). He his on pace to become the all-time leader at the September race at this track.