California Speedway
Track data:
Race #: 25 of 36 (9-4-05)
Track Size: 2 Miles
Event: SONY HD 500
Location: Fontana, CA.
Number of Laps: 250
Length of Event: 500 Miles
Length of Front Stretch: 3,100 Feet
Length of Back Stretch: 2,500 Feet
Degree of Banking in Corners: 14 degrees
Degree of Banking on Straights: 11 degrees(Tri-oval)/3 degrees(Back)
Qualifying/Race data:
Last year's pole winner: Brian Vickers 187.417 mph 9-3-04 38.417 seconds
Last year's event winner: Elliott Sadler 128.324 mph 9-5-04 3 hrs, 53 min, 47 sec
Track qualifying record: Kyle Busch 188.245 mph 2-26-05 38.248 seconds
Track race record: Jeff Gordon 155.012 mph 6-22-97 3hrs, 13min, 32 sec
Historical data
Previous race winners
Jeff Gordon (3) Mark Martin (1) Jeremy Mayfield (1) Rusty Wallace (1) Jimmie Johnson (1)
Kurt Busch (1) Elliott Sadler (1) Greg Biffle (1)
Races won from the pole: 0 of 10 events (0%)
Races won from in top 10: 5 of 10 events (50%)
Races won from outside top 10: 5 of 10 events (50%)
Track Milestones
Joe Nemechek won the pole for the inaugural NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at California Speedway.
Greg Sacks broke Nemechek's track-qualifying record in the second round of qualifying for the inaugural race at California Speedway.
Jeff Gordon won the inaugural NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at California on June 22, 1997.
The 2004 Pop Secret 500 was the first night-race at California Speedway and the first time that two races a year were held there.
Track Update
Jeff Gordon has three California Speedway victories, including the inaugural race in 1997, and has finished 11th or better in seven of the 10 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races there.
Manufacturer Update
Ford has six victories at California while Chevrolet has four. Kasey Kahne posted the best California finish for Dodge with a second-place finish in this race one year ago.
Qualifying Update
There have been nine different Bud Pole winner in the 10 races at California Speedway: Joe Nemechek (1997), Jeff Gordon (1998), Mike Skinner (2000), Bobby Labonte (2001), Ryan Newman (2002), Steve Park (2003), Kasey Kahne (May 2004), Brian Vickers (September 2004) and Kyle Busch (February 2005). Jeff Burton (1999) started from the pole when qualifying was canceled.
Moving Up
Nine of the 10 races at California had a majority of the top-10 finishers start outside the top 10. In 1999, only
three of the top-10 finishers started outside the top 10.
Leading the Way
Six drivers have led more than half of the 2,500 laps raced at California. Jeff Gordon (410), Mark Martin
(263), Matt Kenseth (192), Rusty Wallace (164), Kurt Busch (147) and Kasey Kahne (116) have combined for
1,292 laps led.
The Money
Purse $5,840,067
NASCAR NEXTEL Leader Bonus $30,000
MBNA Mid-Race Leader Bonus $5,000
Tire/Fuel Data
Goodyear Tire Codes: Left-side — D-6852; Right-side -- D-6854
Other Tracks With This Same Tire Combination: California, Chicago, Kansas, Michigan
Estimated Pit Window: Every 48-52 laps, based on fuel mileage
Track Tidbits
The field will consist of 43 cars. Two timed laps will be used to determine starting positions, with the
adjustments made afterward as required.
There have been 10 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at California Speedway since the track opened in 1997.
Fourteen drivers have competed in all 10 races at California.
Jeff Gordon won the inaugural race at the California Speedway in 1997 and repeated as the race winner there
in 1999 and again in the first race there in 2004.
Brian Vickers is the defending Bud Pole winner for the SONY HD 500.
Elliott Sadler is the defending race winner for the SONY HD 500.
There have been eight different race winners in the 10 races at California.
Jeff Gordon won has posted five top-five finishes in 10 races at California.
Rusty Wallace won has posted six top-10 finishes in 10 races at California.
Five of the 10 races at California were won from a top-five starting position. The other five races there have
all been won from 16th or worse.
Jeremy Mayfield won the 2000 California 500 presented by NAPA from the 24th starting position, the
deepest in the field that a race winner has started at California.
All of the fourteen drivers that have completed in all 10 races at California have led laps there except Sterling
Marlin.
Would You Believe?
Mark Martin has five top-10 finishes, including one victory, in 10 races at California. He also failed to finish
three times. One of Martin's DNFs was his first top-10 – when he ran out of gas on the final lap of the inaugural
race in 1997, yet still finished 10th.
California Milestones
Kurt Busch is expected to make his 175th NASCAR NEXTEL Cup start at California Speedway.
Defending NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Champion at California Speedway
Kurt Busch has competed in six races at California Speedway, scoring one victory (April 2003) and three
top-five finishes. Five of his six California finishes were top 15s.
Point Leader at California Speedway
Tony Stewart has competed in eight races at California Speedway, scoring three top-10 finishes - all in his
first three races there. Stewart has not posted a top-15 finish in his last five races at California Speedway.
Starting Up Front at California May or May not be Important
Five races at California Speedway have been won from a top-five starting position while the other five races
there have been won from 16th or worse.
California Dominators
Jeff Gordon has won three races at California Speedway and is the only driver to score multiple victories
there.
Rusty Wallace has scored six top-10 finishes in his 10 races at California Speedway, more than any other
driver.
Pole Winners Galore
There have been nine different Bud Pole winners in 10 races at California Speedway. Qualifying for the
1999 race was rained out.
California Streakers
Ryan Newman has scored three top-10 finishes in his last three races at California Speedway.
Jamie McMurray has scored four straight top-15 finishes at California Speedway, three of those finishes
were top-fives.
Tony Stewart has finished 16th or worse in his last five races at California Speedway.
Jeremy Mayfield, who scored a victory at California Speedway in 2000, has finished 14th or worse in his last
five races there.
Ford Domination at California
A Ford has won six races and a Chevrolet has won four at California Speedway, including the last two races
there. Four different owners share the Ford victories while all four Chevrolet California wins were posted by
Hendrick Motorsports.
“Last-Timers” at California
Mark Martin has scored one victory (May 1998) and five top-10 finishes at California Speedway. Martin has
led 263 laps at California Speedway, second only to Jeff Gordon (410).
Rusty Wallace has scored one victory (April 2001) and six top-10 finishes at California Speedway. Wallace
leads all drivers in top-10 finishes there.
And the Beat Goes On
Jeff Burton has been running at the finish in all 10 of his races California Speedway.
Owner Domination at California Speedway
Hendrick Motorsports has posted four victories at California Speedway. Jack Roush has two victories at
California Speedway and is the only other owner with multiple victories there.
Starting and Finishing Up Front at California Speedway
Brian Vickers has a 3.0 starting average and a 21.0 finishing average in three races at California Speedway.
His starting average is the best among active drivers.
Carl Edwards has a 19.0 starting average and a 5.5 finishing average in two races at California Speedway.
His finishing average is the best among active drivers.
Top 10 Lap Leaders at California Speedway
Driver Races Led
1. Gordon, Jeff 10 410
2. Martin, Mark 10 263
3. Kenseth, Matt 7 192
4. Wallace, Rusty 10 164
5. Busch, Kurt 6 147
6. Kahne, Kasey 3 116
7. Johnson, Jimmie 5 104
8. Jarrett, Dale 10 102
9. Stewart, Tony 8 101
10.Spencer, Jimmy 9 93
Would you Believe?
A Dodge has not won a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at California Speedway
California May Spell Trouble for Some of the Chase Contenders
Tony Stewart (first) has not posted a top-15 finish in his last five races at California Speedway.
Jeremy Mayfield (sixth) has not posted a top-10 finish in his last five races at California Speedway.
Jeff Gordon (10th) has finished 37th and 30th in his last two races at California Speedway.
Matt Kenseth (11th) has finished 22nd and 26th in his last two races at California Speedway
Race For The Chase to the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup
Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson and Greg Biffle have clinched a spot in the 2005 Chase for the NEXTEL
Cup.
Rusty Wallace will secure a coveted spot in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup this coming weekend
in the Sony HD 500 at California Speedway by starting the race.
Any driver who has a lead of 191 points or more over the 11th place driver following the conclusion of the
race at California Speedway will clinch a berth in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup.
The most points that can be gained or lost in a race is 156. The drivers ranked 11th thru 17th in the
current point standings are all 139 or less behind 10th-place Jeff Gordon.
Streak Leaders
Ricky Rudd has competed in 776 conseuctive races, the all-time record for consecutive races.
Rusty Wallace has been running at the finish in 37 consecutive races, the longest current streak.
Jimmie Johnson has ranked in the top-10 of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series point standings for 57
consecutive races, the longest current streak.
Who's Hot
Tony Stewart has scored 11 top-five and 16 top-10 finishes in 2005, both the most of all drivers.
Tony Stewart has scored 10 straight top-10 finishes, including five victories, in the last 10 races.
Matt Kenseth has posted top-five finishes in three of his last four races.
Jeremy Mayfield has scored nine straight top-20 finishes.
Rusty Wallace has scored 19 top-15 finishes in 24 races in 2005, the most of all drivers.
Ryan Newman has posted 21 top-10 starts in 24 races this season, the most of all drivers.
Jeff Gordon has climbed from 15th to 10th in the point standings in the last four races.
Roush Racing drivers have won 10 of the 24 races in 2005. Hendrick Motorsports drivers have won
five and Joe Gibbs Racing also has five victories. Evernham Motorsports has two and Dale Earnhardt
Inc. and Richard Childress Racing each have one.
Top 10 in 2005 Points
First
Tony Stewart finished eighth in the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway and remained first in the
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings, adding 87 points to his lead over second-place Jimmie Johnson. This
is the fourth straight week that Stewart has sat atop of the point standings. Stewart has scored 10 straight top-10
finishes, including five victories, in his last 10 races. He has scored 11 top-five and 16 top-10 finishes this season,
the most of all drivers. He leads second-place Jimmie Johnson by 213 points. Stewart was the first driver to clinch
a spot in the 2005 Chase to the NEXTEL Cup. He did so with three races remaining. Stewart ranked fourth in the
point standings after 24 races one year ago. He has competed in eight races at California Speedway scoring three
top-10 finishes. Stewart has finished outside the top 15 in his last five races there. He finished 18th in this race one
year ago and 17th there in February. Stewart has a 17.4 average finish at California Speedway.
Second
Jimmie Johnson finished 36th in the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway and remained second in the
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. It marked his fourth DNF of 2005. Despite his finish, Johnson secured
a spot in the 2005 Chase to the NEXTEL Cup, doing so with two races remaining. Johnson led the point standings
after 16 of the 24 races this season. He has scored two victories in 2005 (Las Vegas and Charlotte). He has scored
15 top-10 finishes in 2005, one less than Stewart. Johnson ranked second after 24 races one year ago, 24 points
behind first-place Jeff Gordon. One year later he is 213 points behind first-place Tony Stewart. He has ranked
among the top-10 drivers since Las Vegas in March 2004, 57 straight races. Johnson has competed in five races at
California Speedway scoring one victory (2002) and three top-10 finishes. He has finished first or second in three
of his five races at California Speedway. He finished 14th in this race one year ago and second there in February.
Johnson has a 7.0 average finish at California Speedway.
Third
Greg Biffle finished third in the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway and remained third 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. Biffle became the third driver to secure a spot in the 2005 Chase
to the NEXTEL Cup with two races remaining. He trails second-place Jimmie Johnson by 11 points and is 224
behind point leader Tony Stewart. Biffle ranked 18th in the point standings after 24 races one year ago. He has
scored five victories in 2005, tied with Tony Stewart for the most of all drivers. He has scored 13 top-10 finishes
in 24 races this season, three less than Stewart and two less than Johnson. Biffle has competed in five races at
California Speedway finishing outside the top-10 in his first four races there. He returned this past February and
scored the first of his five victories this season. Bifffle finished 36th in this race one year ago, his worst California
finish. He has led in just two of his five races at California Speedway. Biffle has a 20.2 average finish at California
Speedway.
Fourth
Rusty Wallace finished fifth in the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway and remained fourth in the
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. He is 271 points behind first-place Tony Stewart and trails thirdplace
Greg Biffle by 47 points. Wallace was 14th in the point standings after race No. 10 at Darlington. He has
scored 19 top-15 finishes in 24 races this season, the most among all drivers. Wallace ranked 21st in the point
standings after 24 races one year ago. If Wallace starts the Sony HD 500 at California Speedway he will become
the fourth driver to clinch a spot in the 2005 Chase to the NEXTEL Cup. Wallace has competed in 10 races at
California Speedway scoring one victory (2001) and six top-10 finishes, the most of all drivers. He has led in
three of his 10 races at California Speedway, leading 164 laps and ranks fourth overall in laps led at the California
superspeedway. He finished 10th in this race one year ago and 10th there in February. Wallace has a 13.4 average
finish at California Speedway.
Fifth
Mark Martin finished 16th in the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway and remained fifth in the
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. He trails point leader Tony Stewart by 396 points and is 125 points
behind fourth-place Rusty Wallace. Martin ranked 12th in the point standings after 24 races one year ago. He has
posted 12 top-10 finishes in 2005. Martin has competed in all 10 races at California Speedway scoring one victory
(1998) and five top-10 finishes. Martin has led in seven of his 10 races at California Speedway, leading 263 laps,
second behind Jeff Gordon (410). Martin finished third in this race one year ago and seventh there in February.
Martin has a 14.6 average finish at California Speedway. By virtue of his lead over 11th -place Matt Kenseth, he
cannot fall out of the top 10 at California Speedway.
Sixth
Jeremy Mayfield finished 18th in the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway and remained sixth in the
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. Mayfield has scored just six top-10 finishes but has 15 top-15 finishes
in 24 races in 2005. He has climbed from a low of 26th in the point standings after race No. 3 at Las Vegas to a
season high sixth-place ranking. He trails point leader Tony Stewart by 427 points and is just 31 points behind
fifth-place Mark Martin. Mayfield ranked 13th in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings after 24 races
one year ago. He has competed in all 10 races at California Speedway scoring one victory (April 2000) and four
top-10 finishes. He finished 16th in this race one year ago and 28th there in February. He has not scored a top-10
finish in his last five races at California Speedway. Mayfield has a 15.8 average finish at California. By virtue of
his lead over 11th -place Matt Kenseth, he cannot fall out of the top 10 at California Speedway.
Seventh
Kurt Busch finished 10th in the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway and remained seventh in the
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. He trails point leader Tony Stewart by 428 points and is just one point
behind sixth-place Jeremy Mayfield. Busch ranked sixth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings after 24
races one year ago. He has scored 13 top-10 finishes in 24 races this season. Busch has competed in six races at
California Speedway scoring one victory (April 2003) and three top-10 finishes, all top fives. He finished 11th in
this race one year ago and third there in February. Busch has an 8.3 average finish at California Speedway. By
virtue of his lead over 11th -place Matt Kenseth, he cannot fall out of the top 10 at California Speedway.
Eighth
Carl Edwards finished 24th in the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway and climbed from ninth to
eighth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. Edwards has scored 13 top-15 finishes in 24 races in 2005.
He trails point leader Tony Stewart by 561 points and is 133 points behind seventh-place Kurt Busch. Edwards
has scored nine top-10 finishes in 2005. He has finished sixth in this race one year ago and posted his best
California finish, fifth, in February. Edwards is only 61 points ahead of 11th-place Matt Kenseth.
Ninth
Ryan Newman finished 39th in the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway posting his third DNF in 2005.
Newman remained dropped from eighth to ninth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. He trails point
leader Tony Stewart by 591 points and is 30 points behind eighth-place Carl Edwards. He ranked 10th in the point
standings after 24 races one year ago. Newman has scored 15 top-15 finishes including 10 top-10 finishes in 2005.
Newman has competed in five races at California Speedway, scoring three top-10 finishes, all in his last three
races there. He finished fifth in this race one year ago and ninth there in February. Newman has a 14.6 average
finish at California Speedway. Newman is only 31 points ahead of 11th-place Matt Kenseth.
10th
Jeff Gordon finished sixth in the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway and climbed from 12th to 10th
in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. Gordon has climbed from 15th to 10th in the point standings
in the last four races. Gordon trails point leader Tony Stewart by 611 points and is 20 points behind ninth-place
Ryan Newman. Gordon ranked first in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings after 24 races one year ago.
He has scored nine top-10 finishes in 24 races this season. He has competed in all 10 races at California, scoring
three victories (1997, 1999 and May 2004), the most of all drivers. He finished 37th in this race one year ago and
30th there in February, his worst finishes at California Speedway. Gordon has an 11.4 average finish at California
Speedway. Gordon is only 11 points ahead of 11th-place Matt Kenseth, 12 points ahead of 12th-place Jamie
McMurray and 34 points ahead of 13th-place Elliott Sadler.
