Chicagoland Speedway
Track data:
Race: 18 of 36 (7-10-05)
Event: USG Sheetrock 400
Track Size: 1.5 Miles
Number of Laps: 267
Location: Joliet, IL
Length of Event: 400.5 Miles
Length of Front Stretch: 2,400 Feet
Length of Back Stretch: 1,700 Feet
Banking in Corners: 18 degrees
Banking on Back stretch: 5 degrees
Banking on tri-Oval: 11 degrees
Qualifying Data:
Last year's pole winner: Jeff Gordon 186.942 mph 7-9-04 28.886 seconds
Last year's race winner: Tony Stewart 129.507 mph 7-11-04 3 hrs, 05 min, 33 sec
Track qualifying record: Jeff Gordon 186.942 mph 7-9-04 28.886 seconds
Track race record: Kevin Harvick 136.832 mph 7-14-02 2 hrs, 55 min, 37 sec
Track Milestones
Todd Bodine won the first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Bud Pole at Chicagoland Speedway on June 13, 2001.
Kevin Harvick won the first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Chicagoland Speedway on June 15, 2001 then
repeated as the race winner in 2002.
NASCAR Racing in Illinois
There were two NASCAR NEXTEL Cup (Grand National) races in Illinois prior to the opening of
Chicagoland Speedway:
Date Track City Winner
7-10-54 Santa Fe Speedway Willow Springs, IL Dick Rathmann
7-21-56 Soldier Field Chicago, IL Fireball Roberts
7-15-01 Chicagoland Speedway Joliet, IL Kevin Harvick
7-14-02 Chicagoland Speedway Joliet, IL Kevin Harvick
7-13-03 Chicagoland Speedway Joliet, IL Ryan Newman
7-11-04 Chicagoland Speedway Joliet, IL Tony Stewart
Update of the Week
Jimmie Johnson has posted three top-five finishes in three races at Chicago. Kevin Harvick, Jeff
Gordon and Tony Stewart have all three posted top-10 finishes in three of their four races at Chicago.
Would You Believe?
Tony Stewart finished third Chicagoland Speedway in 2002. He improved his finish to second there in 2003
and won in 2004. Over the same three races, Jimmie Johnson finished fourth, third and second, respectively.
Track Tidbits
The field will consist of 43 cars. The 43rd position is reserved for a past NASCAR NEXTEL Cup champion,
if needed. If unused, it will go to the next eligible owner.
Two qualifying laps will be used to determine the starting positions with the adjustments made afterwards as
required.
There have been four NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at the Chicagoland Speedway since the track hosted its
first race in 2001.
Jeff Gordon is the defending Bud Pole winner for the USG Sheetrock 400.
There have been four different Bud Pole winners at Chicagoland Speedway: Todd Bodine (2001), Ryan
Newman (2002), Tony Stewart (2003) and Jeff Gordon (2004).
Tony Stewart is the defending champion of the USG Sheetrock 400.
There have been three different race winners in the four NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at Chicagoland:
Kevin Harvick (2001 and 2002), Ryan Newman (2003) and Tony Stewart (2004).
Kevin Harvick won the 2002 Tropicana 400 from the 32nd starting position, the deepest in the field that a
Chicagoland race winner has started.
Strong Starters at Chicagoland
Joe Nemechek and Tony Stewart are the only drivers to score three top-10 starts in four races at Chicagoland
Speedway.
The Money
Purse $5,845,750
NASCAR NEXTEL Leader Bonus $60,000
MBNA Mid-Race Leader Bonus $5,000
Tire/Fuel Data
Goodyear Tire Codes: Left-side — D-6838; Right-side -- D-6842
Other Tracks With This Same Tire Combination: None
Estimated Pit Window: Every 34 -38 laps, based on fuel mileage
Chicago Milestones
Ken Schrader is expected to make his 650th career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup start at Chicagoland Speedway.
Defending NEXTEL Cup Champion at Chicago
Kurt Busch has competed in all four races at Chicagoland Speedway scoring two top-10 finishes. He finished
35th or worse in his last two races at Chicagoland Speedway.
Point Leader at Chicago
Jimmie Johnson has competed in three races at Chicagoland Speedway posting finishes of fourth or better.
Starting Up Front is not the Only way to Victory at Chicagoland Speedway
Two of the four races at Chicagoland have been won from 14th or worse while the other two were won from
a top-10 starting position. No race at Chicagoland has been won from a top-five starting position.
Winners Galore
There have been three different race winners in the last three races at Chicagoland Speedway. Kevin
Harvick won the first two races at Chicagoland Speedway.
Pole Winners Galore
There have been four different Bud Pole winners in the last four races at Chicagoland Speedway.
Chevy Strong at Chicagoland
A Chevrolet has won three of the four races at Chicagoland Speedway. Dodge has one victory and Ford is
still seeking their first at Chicagoland Speedway.
And the Beat Goes On for Many
Jeff Gordon, Robby Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Dale Jarrett, Matt Kenseth, Sterling Marlin, Mark
Martin, Jeremy Mayfield, Ricky Rudd, Elliott Sadler and Rusty Wallace have all been running at the finish in
all four races at Chicagoland Speedway
Starting and Finishing Up Front at Chicagoland
Joe Nemechek (10.25) has the best starting average of all drivers that have competed in all four races at
Chicagoland. Jeff Gordon (6.75) has the best average finish of all drivers that have competed in all four races at
Chicagoland. Despite his average finish, Gordon has never won at Chicagoland.
Leading The Way at Chicagoland
Tony Stewart has led 275 laps at Chicagoland Speedway, more than any other driver.
Would you Believe?
Tony Stewart finished third, second and first in his last three races at Chicagoland. Jimmie Johnson
finished fourth, third and second in his last three races at Chicagoland.
Latest Dominators at Chicagoland Speedway
Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart have each scored three top-five finishes at Chicagoland
Speedway, more than any other drivers.
Kevin Harvick, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart have each scored four top-10 finishes at
Chicagoland Speedway, more than any other drivers.
“Last-Timers” at Chicagoland Speedway
Mark Martin has scored two top-10 finishes in his four races at Chicagoland Speedway.
Rusty Wallace has never scored a top-10 finish in his four races at Chicagoland Speedway.
Who's Hot
Jimmie Johnson has scored 12 top-10 finishes in 2005, two more than any other driver.
Tony Stewart finished second, first and first in his last three races. He has climbed from 10th to third in
the point standings in the last three races
Dale Jarrett has scored two consecutive fifth-place finishes. Jarrett has climbed from 15th to 10th in the
point standings in the last two races.
Rusty Wallace has finished 11th or better in his last six races. Five of those finishes were top-10s. He has
climbed from 14th to fifth in the point standings in the last seven races
Jamie McMurray has climbed from 13th to seventh in the point standings in the last four races.
Roush Racing drivers have won eight of the 17 races in 2005. Hendrick Motorsports drivers have
won five while Joe Gibbs Racing has two victories and Richard Childress Racing, and Evernham
Motorsports each have one.
Top 10 Heading to Chicagoland
First
Jimmie Johnson finished sixth in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway and climbed from second to first in
the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. Johnson has led the standings after 13 of the 17 races this season. He has
scored two wins in 2005 posting victories at Las Vegas and Lowe’s. He is the only driver to score 12 top-10 finishes in
the first 17 races in 2005, two more than any other driver. Johnson ranked first after 17 races one year ago. He has ranked
among the top-10 drivers since Las Vegas in March 2004, 50 straight races. Johnson has competed in three races at
Chicagoland Speedway scoring three top-five finishes. He is one of four drivers to score three top-10 finishes at
Chicagoland Speedway. Johnson finished fourth in his first race at Chicagoland Speedway in 2002, then third in 2003 and
second there in 2004. He has led in all three races at Chicagoland Speedway. His 3.0 average finish at Chicagoland
Speedway is the best of all drivers that have competed in more than one race there.
Second
Greg Biffle finished 36th in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway and dropped from first to second in the
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. Biffle has ranked among the top-five in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point
standings since race No. 2 at California. He trails first-place Jimmie Johnson by 73 points. Biffle ranked 24th in the point
standings after 17 races one year ago. Biffle has scored five victories in 2005 (California, Texas, Darlington, Dover and
Michigan) the most of all drivers. He has scored 10 top-10 finishes in the first 17 races, two less than Johnson. Biffle has
competed in two races at Chicagoland Speedway finishing 20th in both of his races there. Biffle, who has led in more
races than any other driver in 2005, has never led a lap at Chicagoland Speedway.
Third
Tony Stewart finished first in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway and climbed from fourth to third in
the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. Stewart has climbed from 10th to third in the point standings in the last
three races, the result of a second and two first-place finishes. He has scored nine top-10 finishes this season. He trails
point leader Jimmie Johnson by 136 points and is 63 points behind second-place Greg Biffle. Stewart ranked fourth in the
point standings after 17 races one year ago. He has competed in all four races at Chicagoland Speedway, scoring three
top-five finishes He finished third there in 2002, second there in 2003 and first in this race one year ago. He is one of four
drivers to score three top-10 finishes at Chicagoland Speedway. Stewart has led in his last three races at Chicagoland
Speedway leading 275 laps, the most of all drivers.
Fourth
Elliott Sadler finished 21st in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway and dropped from third to fourth in
the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. He has finished 20th or worse in five races this season. Sadler has scored 12
top-15 finishes in 17 races in 2005. He trails point leader Jimmie Johnson by 200 points and is 64 points behind thirdplace
Tony Stewart. He ranked eighth in the point standings after 17 races one year ago. Sadler has scored nine top-10
finishes in 2005. He has competed in all four races at Chicagoland Speedway and has scored only one top-10 finish there.
He finished 21st in this race one year ago. His best Chicagoland finish, ninth, came there in 2003. He has led in two of the
four races there.
Fifth
Rusty Wallace finished fourth in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway and climbed from sixth to fifth in
the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. He is 205 points behind first-place Jimmie Johnson. He trails fourth-place
Elliott Sadler by just five points. Wallace has climbed from 14th to fifth in the point standings in the last seven races.
Wallace ranked 17th in the point standings after 17 races one year ago. He has scored nine top-10 finishes this season.
Wallace has competed in all four races at Chicagoland Speedway but has yet to score a top-10 finish. He finished 11th in
this race one year ago his best Chicagoland finish. Wallace has never had a DNF or has led a lap at Chicagoland
Speedway.
Sixth
Ryan Newman finished 14th in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Newman climbed from seventh to
sixth the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. He trails point leader Jimmie Johnson by 263 points and is 58 points
behind teammate Rusty Wallace. He ranked ninth in the point standings after 17 races one year ago. Newman has scored
12 top-15 finishes in 2005. He has scored eight top-10 finishes in 2005. Newman has competed in three races at
Chicagoland Speedway, scoring one victory (2003) and two top-five finishes. He finished 34th in this race one year ago,
his worst finish at Chicagoland. Newman has led in two of his three races at Chicagoland Speedway.
Seventh
Jamie McMurray finished second in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway and climbed from 10th to
seventh in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. McMurray has climbed from 13th to seventh in the point
standings in last four races. He trails point leader Jimmie Johnson by 285 points. McMurray ranked 13th in the NASCAR
NEXTEL Cup point standings after 17 races one year ago. He has scored seven top-10 finishes in 17 races this season. He
has competed in two races at Chicagoland Speedway scoring one top-10 finish there. McMurray finished 13th in this race
one year ago and eighth there in 2003.
Eighth
Mark Martin finished 39th in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway and dropped from fifth to eighth in the
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. This was his worst finish in 2005. Martin ended a four-race streak of top-15
finishes that began at Dover. He trails point leader Jimmie Johnson by 310 points and is just 25 points behind seventhplace
Jamie McMurray. Martin ranked 14th in the point standings after 17 races one year ago. He has posted eight top-10
finishes in 2005. Martin has competed in all four races at Chicagoland Speedway scoring two top-10 finishes. His best
Chicagoland finish of sixth came in the 2001 inaugural race. Martin finished 24th in this race one year ago, his worst
finish at Chicagoland Speedway. Martin has led in three of his four races there.
Ninth
Kurt Busch finished 37th in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway and dropped from eighth to ninth in the
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. He trails point leader Jimmie Johnson by 348 points and is just 38 points behind
eighth-place Mark Martin. Ninth and 10th in the point standings each have scored 2,030 driver points. Busch gets the
position over Jarrett because he has one victory (Phoenix) while Jarrett has yet to win in 2005. Busch ranked seventh in
the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings after 17 races one year ago. He has scored eight top-10 finishes in 17 races
this season. Busch has competed in all four races at Chicagoland Speedway scoring two top-10 finishes. Busch finished
35th in this race one year ago. He has never led a lap at Chicagoland Speedway.
10th
Dale Jarrett finished fifth in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway and climbed from 12th to 10th in the
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. Jarrett scored his second fifth-place finish in as many weeks. Jarrett has climbed
from 15th to 10th in the point standings in last two races. He trails point leader Jimmie Johnson by 348 points and is just
one point ahead of 11th-place Jeremy Mayfield. Ninth through 12th in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings are
separated by a mere three points. Jarrett ranked 15th in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings after 17 races one
year ago. He has scored five top-10 finishes in 17 races this season. He has competed in all four races at Chicagoland
Speedway scoring two top-10 finishes there, both top fives. Jarrett finished third in this race one year ago, his best
Chicagoland finish.
