Race 2 Win: UAW-GM Quality 500

Nextel Cup Series

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UAW-GM Quality 500 - Race Notes

Lowe's Motor Speedway

Track data:
Race #: 31 of 36 (10-15-05)
Track Size: 1.5 Mile
Event: UAW-GM Quality 500
Number of Laps: 334
Location: Charlotte, NC
Length of Event: 500 Miles
Length of Front Stretch: 1,952.8 Feet
Length of Back Stretch: 1,360 Feet
Degree of Banking in Corners: 24 degrees
Degree of Banking on Straights: 5 degrees

Qualifying/Race data:
Last year's event pole winner: Ryan Newman 188.877 mph 10-14-04 28.590 seconds
Last year's event winner: Jimmie Johnson 130.214 mph 10-16-04 3 hrs, 50 min, 51 sec
Track qualifying record: Ryan Newman 192.988 mph 5-26-05 27.981 seconds
Track race record (500 miles): Jeff Gordon 160.306 mph 10-11-99 3 hrs, 07 min, 31 sec

Historical data
Race winners:
Bobby Allison (6) Darrell Waltrip (6) Dale Earnhardt (5) Richard Petty (5) David Pearson (4) Buddy Baker (4) Fred Lorenzen (4) Jeff Gordon (4) Mark Martin (4) Jimmie Johnson (4) Donnie Allison (3) Cale Yarborough (3) LeeRoy Yarbrough (3) Dale Jarrett (3) Joe Weatherly (2) Neil Bonnett (2) Benny Parsons (2) Bill Elliott (2) Junior Johnson (2) Rusty Wallace (2) Jim Paschal (2) Davey Allison (2) Bobby Labonte (2) Jeff Burton (2) Marvin Panch (1) Nelson Stacy (1) J.L. Johnson (1) Speedy Thompson (1) Harry Gant (1) Kyle Petty (1) Ken Schrader (1) Charlie Glotzbach (1) Geoffrey Bodine (1) Ernie Irvan (1) Terry Labonte (1) Matt Kenseth (1) Sterling Marlin (1) Jamie McMurray (1) Tony Stewart (1)
Races won from the pole: 13 of 93 events (14%)
Races won from in top 10: 72 of 93 events (77%)
Races won from outside top 10: 21 of 93 events (23%)

Track Milestones

Fireball Roberts won the pole for the first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Charlotte, the World 600 in 1960.

Joe Lee Johnson won the first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Charlotte, the World 600 in 1960.

The 1961 World 600 had two 100-mile qualifying races that were points races.

The first six fall races at Charlotte were 400-mile events.

The 1971 National 500 is the only race shortened at Charlotte. Due to rain, 238 of the scheduled 334 laps were completed.

The first night race was the 1992 The Winston. The first night (twilight) points race was the 1993 Coca-Cola 600.

Charlotte Motor Speedway was renamed Lowe's Motor Speedway in 1999.

The 2003 UAW-GM Quality was the first complete night race at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Track Update
There have been nine different race winners in the last 12 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Jimmie Johnson (May 2003, both races 2004 and May 2005) is the only repeat race winner since the fall of 1999.

Manufacturer Update
All three manufacturers have posted victories at Lowe's Motor Speedway in the past four seasons, but Chevrolet has won five straight.

Qualifying Update
Jeff Gordon has won seven Bud Poles in his 25 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at Charlotte (28 percent). He is second only to David Pearson who had 14 poles in 46 races there (30 percent).

The Money
Purse $4,980,384
NASCAR NEXTEL Leader Bonus $30,000
MBNA Mid-Race Leader Bonus $5,000

Would You Believe?
Ryan Newman has not started worse than fourth in his nine races at Lowe's Motor Speedway. He has scored five Bud Poles, a second and three fourth-place starts giving him a 2.1 starting average at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Track Tidbits

The field at Lowe's Motor Speedway 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 93 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at Lowe's Motor Speedway, two races per year, since the track opened in 1960. In 1961, there were two 100-mile qualifying point races held the week before the World 600.

Ryan Newman is the defending Bud Pole winner for the UAW-GM Quality 500.

David Pearson leads all drivers with 14 Bud Poles at Charlotte, including 11 straight from the fall of 1973 through 1978.

Jeff Gordon has won seven poles at Charlotte, the most of all active drivers. He won five straight poles for the Coca-Cola 600 between 1994 and 1998 and has two Bud Poles for the fall race (1993 and 2000).

There have been only three different Bud Pole winners in the last nine races at Charlotte. Ryan Newman (May 2001; both 2003, October 2004 and May 2005) and Jimmie Johnson (May 2002; May 2004) are the repeat Bud Pole winners in the nine-race period. Jimmy Spencer won the Bud Pole there in October 2001. Qualifying was rained out in the fall of 2002.

The pole at Charlotte has been swept 14 times. Ryan Newman (2003) was the most recent driver to win both Bud Poles in a season at Charlotte.

Jimmie Johnson is the defending champion of the UAW-GM Quality 500. He has won four of the last five races at Charlotte, including three straight.

Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip are the all-time winners at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Both have six Charlotte victories.

Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin lead all active drivers, each with four victories at Charlotte.

In 45 years of twice-a-year NASCAR NEXTEL Cup racing at Lowe's Motor Speedway, a sweep has occurred just six times, most recently by Jimmie Johnson (2004).

Dale Earnhardt (1986) was the most recent driver to win both Charlotte races in the same year prior to Johnson. Richard Petty (1975), David Pearson (1974), Bobby Allison (1971) and Fred Lorenzen (1965) are the others to win both Charlotte races in the same year.

The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Lowe's Motor Speedway has been won from the pole and from the second starting position 13 times each. Third has produced 12 winners; fourth seven and fifth eight for a total of 53 victories in 93 races from the top-five starting positions (57 percent).

Jimmie Johnson won the 2003 Coca-Cola 600 from the 37th starting position, the furthest back a race winner has started at Charlotte.

Six of the last 17 races at Charlotte have been won from the front row, but six of the last 12 have been won from a starting position of 13th or worse.

Showing the Way
Jimmie Johnson (847) has led more than twice as many laps as Tony Stewart (399), who is second in laps led there in the past 10 races at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Johnson competed in only eight of those 10 races.

Rookie Success

Jamie McMurray won in his first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Charlotte, the 2002 UAW-GM Quality 500 – prior to his 2003 rookie season.

Jimmie Johnson won a Bud Pole and posted two top-10 finishes at Lowe's Motor Speedway in his rookie season (2002).

Kevin Harvick started sixth and finished second in his first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Charlotte in May 2001.

Ryan Newman posted his career-first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Bud Pole in qualifying for the 2001 Coca- Cola 600 – prior to his 2002 rookie season.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr., scored his career-first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Bud Pole in qualifying for the 2000 Coca-Cola 600. Fellow 2000 Rookie-of-the-Year contender, Matt Kenseth, posted his career-first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup victory in the race.

Tony Stewart finished fourth in his first race at Charlotte, the 1999 Coca-Cola 600.

The 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup

As a result of his fourth-place finish in the Banquet 400 at Kansas Speedway Tony Stewart remained the leader in the 2005 Chase for NASCAR NEXTEL Cup by 75 points over second-place Ryan Newman. The 10 drivers will race over the remaining six races to determine the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup champion who is expected to win in excess of $5 million.

Six drivers in the Chase changed positions at Kansas.

Eight of the 10 Chase drivers led at Kansas Speedway earning lap leader bonus points: Martin (139), Kenseth (71), Biffle (47), Mayfield (2), Stewart (1), Edwards (1), Johnson (1) and Wallace (1). Wallace earned five bonus points for the first time in a Chase race this season.

Kurt Busch (35th at New Hampshire, 23rd at Dover, eighth at Talladega and 14th at Kansas) started the 2004 Chase for the NEXTEL Cup by scoring a victory at New Hampshire and then followed with top-10 finishes in the first six races of the Chase. Busch remained 10th in the point standings, 224 points behind point leader Tony Stewart.

Seven of the 10 drivers who made it into the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup are doing so for the second straight year. Greg Biffle, Rusty Wallace, and Carl Edwards are new to the Chase in 2005.

Nine of the 10 drivers competing in the 2005 Chase for NASCAR NEXTEL Cup have scored at least one victory in the 2005 season. Rusty Wallace remains winless in 2005. Five of the 10 drivers have scored multiple victories led by Stewart and Biffle each with five.

Four of the “Ford Five” of Jack Roush Racing finished in the top five: Mark Martin (first), Greg Biffle (second), Carl Edwards (third), and Matt Kenseth (fifth).

Ryan Newman, Matt Kenseth and Tony Stewart each have scored three top-five finishes in the first four races in the 2005 Chase for NASCAR NEXTEL Cup.

Kevin Harvick (24th) remained 11th in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings by just one point over 12th-place Jamie McMurray.

A total of $1 Million will be paid to the driver who finishes 11th in the final NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. Additionally, the 11th-place driver will also join the top-10 drivers on the stage at the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Awards Banquet in New York in December.

Lowe's - The Second of Five 1.5-Mile Tracks on the Chase Schedule:

Greg Biffle has scored only one top top-10 finish in five races at Lowe's Motor Speedway, sixth there in May.

Kurt Busch has scored only one top top-10 finish in 10 races at Lowe's Motor Speedway, fourth tin this race one year ago.

Carl Edwards has raced in only one race at Lowe's Motor Speedway finishing third there in May.

Jimmie Johnson has scored three straight victories at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Matt Kenseth has scored three top-10 finishes in the last five races at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Mark Martin has not scored a top-10 finish in his last six races at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Jeremy Mayfield has scored two top-10 finishes in the last three races at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Ryan Newman has scored four top-10 finishes in his last six races at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Tony Stewart has scored three top-10 finishes in his last four races at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Rusty Wallace has scored top-15 finishes in eight of the last nine races at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Driver Milestones at Lowe's

Ricky Rudd.is expected to make his 783rd consecutive start, the all-time record for consecutive races by a driver.

Elliott Sadler is expected to make his 200th consecutive NASCAR NEXTEL Cup start this week at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Ricky Rudd Expected to Set Mark at Lowe's Motor Speedway
Ricky Rudd is expected to make his 59th start at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Rudd is second all-time in starts at there behind Richard Petty who holds the record with 64 starts. Rudd has never won at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Defending NEXTEL Cup Champion at Lowe's Motor Speedway
Kurt Busch has competed in 10 races at Lowe's Motor Speedway, scoring just one top-10 finish, a fourth in this race one year ago.

Point Leader at Lowe's Motor Speedway
Tony Stewart has competed in 13 races at Lowe's Motor Speedway, scoring one victory (October 2003) and nine top-10 finishes. Stewart finished 24th there in May, only his second finish outside the top 10 in his last 10 races at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Tough at Lowe's in 2004

Jimmie Johnson scored victories in both Lowe's races in 2004 and was the only driver to score top-five finishes in both races there that season.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jamie McMurray, Elliott Sadler and Tony Stewart each scored top-10 finishes in both races at Lowe's in 2004. None of these drivers posted a top-10 there this past May.

Strong Starter at Lowe's Motor Speedway
Ryan Newman has posted nine straight top-four starts, including five Bud Poles in nine races at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Winning From Up Front at Lowe's Motor Speedway
Twenty-six of 93 races at Lowe's Motor Speedway (28 percent) have been won from a front-row starting position. Jimmie Johnson's victory from the Bud Pole there in May 2004 was the most recent Lowe's victory from the front row and only front-row victory in the last nine races.

Starting Up Front is Not Important at Lowe's
Six of the last 12 races at Lowe's have been won from a starting position outside the top 10.

Lowe's Dominator
Jimmie Johnson has finished seventh or better in his last seven races at Lowe's Motor Speedway, the longest top-10 streak among active drivers. Johnson has scored three straight victories at Lowe's. The last driver to win four straight on a superspeedway was Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Talladega (fall 2001 thru spring 2003). .

Active Lowe's Dominators

Starts- Ricky Rudd (58)

Bud Poles - Jeff Gordon (seven)

Victories - Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon (four each)

Top Fives - Mark Martin (15)

Top 10s - Ricky Rudd (25)

Average Start (more than one) - Ryan Newman - 2.111 in nine races

Average Finish - Jimmie Johnson - 7.375 in eight races

Laps Led - Mark Martin - 1,148 in 41 races

Manufacturer Domination at Lowe's
A Chevrolet has won the last five races at Lowe's Motor Speedway

“Last-Timer” at Lowe's Motor Speedway
Rusty Wallace has scored two victories and 22 top-10 finishes in his 47 races at Lowe's Motor Speeedway. He finished 31st in this race one year ago.

And Beat Goes On
Tony Stewart has been running at the finish in all 13 of his races at Lowe's Motor Speedway, the longest current streak among active drivers.

Owner Domination at Lowe's
Rick Hendrick has 12 victories at Lowe's Motor Speedway, the most of all car owners. Hendricks 12 victories were scored by Jeff Gordon (four), Jimmie Johnson (four), Darrell Waltrip (two) and Ken Schrader and Terry Labonte (one each).

Starting and Finishing Up Front at Lowe's Motor Speedway

Ryan Newman has a 2.111 starting average and a 19.111 finishing average in nine races at Lowe's Motor Speedway. His starting average is the best among all drivers at Lowe's.

Jimmie Johnson has a 9.25 starting average and a 7.375 finishing average in eight races at Lowe's Motor Speedway. His finishing average is the best among drivers.

Sweeps at Lowe's Motor Speedway
There have been six sweeps at Lowe's Motor Speedway since twice-a-year racing began there in 1960. Jimmie Johnson (2004) posted the first Lowe's sweep since Dale Earnhardt in 1986, 18 years earlier.

Don't Tell Me You Can't
Jimmie Johnson won the 2003 Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway from the 37th starting position. This is the furthest back a race winner has started and won in the 45-year history at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Leading the way at Lowe's Motor Speedway
Jimmie Johnson is the only driver to lead in the last seven races at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Top 10 Lap Leaders at Lowe's Motor Speedway
Driver Races Led
1. Allison, Bobby 44 2,249
2. Petty, Richard 64 1,703
3. Yarborough, Cale 50 1,664
4. Pearson, David 46 1,663
5. Earnhardt, Dale 48 1,522
6. Elliott, Bill 55 1,426
7. Baker, Buddy 57 1,200
8. Martin, Mark 41 1,148
9. Waltrip, Darrell 55 1,066
10. Wallace, Rusty 47 940

Would You Believe?
Rusty Wallace made his 700th career start at Kansas, 10th all time. Wallace is expected to make his 701st start at Lowe's Motor Speedway and tie Buddy Baker for ninth all-time.

Winning Tougher than Ever in 2005
After 30 races in 2005, there are still three drivers who won in 2004 that have not won in 2005: Elliott Sadler, Rusty Wallace and Joe Nemechek. Rusty Wallace is the only driver ranked in the top 10 that has not won a race in 2005. There are six drivers not in the top 10 that have scored at least one victory in 2005.

Who's Hot

Tony Stewart has scored 15 top-five and 21 top-10 finishes in 2005, both the most of all drivers.

Ryan Newman, Matt Kenseth and Tony Stewart have each scored top-five finishes in three of the four races in the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup.

Rusty Wallace has scored 24 top-15 finishes in 30 races in 2005, the most of all drivers.

Carl Edwards has scored three straight top-10 finishes, the longest current streak among all drivers.

Brian Vickers has scored four straight top-15 finishes.

Ryan Newman has posted 24 top-10 starts in 30 races this season, the most of all drivers.

The “Ford Five” drivers of Jack Roush Racing have won 12 of the 30 races in 2005. Hendrick Motorsports drivers have won seven while Joe Gibbs Racing has five victories. Evernham Motorsports has two and Robert Yates Racing, Dale Earnhardt Inc., Richard Childress Racing and Penske Racing each have one.

Top 10 in 2005 Points at This Track

First
Tony Stewart finished fourth in the Banquet 400 at Kansas Speedway and remained first in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. He remains at the top of the point standings for the ninth time in the last 10 races. Stewart has scored top-10 finishes in 15 of the last 16 races. He has scored 15 top-five and 21 top-10 finishes this season, both the most of all drivers. He leads second-place Ryan Newman by 75 points after the fourth of 10 races in the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. This is the biggest points margin since the Chase began at New Hampshire. Stewart ranked sixth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings after 30 races one year ago. He has competed in 13 races at Lowe's Motor Speedway, scoring one victory (October 2003) and nine top-10 finishes. Stewart finished 10th in this race one year ago and 24th there in May one of just three finishes outside the top 15 at Lowe's. Stewart has scored top-10 finishes in three of his last four races at Lowe's. Stewart has a 10.692 average finish at Lowe's Motor Speedway and ranks third among the Chase drivers in average finish there. Stewart has led 414 laps at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Second
Ryan Newman finished 23rd in the Banquet 400 at Kansas Speedway ending a three-race streak of topfive finishes. He remained second in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. This remains the highest point standings of his career which he has held just five times, most recently after Darlington in March 2002. He trails first-place Tony Stewart by 75 points. Newman is one of three drivers that have scored top-five finishes in the first four races in the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. Newman ranked eighth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings after 30 races one year ago. He has scored 13 top-10 finishes in 30 races this season. Newman has competed in nine races at Lowe's Motor Speedway scoring five Bud Poles, three top-five and four top-10 finishes. All nine of his starts at Lowe's Motor Speedway have been fourth or better. He finished 14th in this race one year ago and fifth there in May. Newman's 19.111 average finish at Lowe's Motor Speedway ranks eighth among the Chase drivers there.

Third
Greg Biffle finished second in the Banquet 400 at Kansas Speedway and climbed from fifth to third in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. He has scored top-15 finishes in seven of the last eight races. Biffle has ranked among the top five after 28 of the 30 races in 2005. Biffle is making his first appearance in the Chase. He trails first-place Tony Stewart by 88 points after the fourth of 10 races in the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. He has scored five victories in 2005, tied with Tony Stewart for the most of all drivers. He has scored 17 top-10 finishes in 30 races this season. Biffle has competed in five races at Lowe's Motor Speedway scoring just one top-10 finish. Biffle finished 33rd in this race one year ago and sixth there in May, his best Lowe's finish. That sixth-place finish remains his only top-15 finish at Lowe's Motor Speedway. He led one lap there in May, his first lap led at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Biffle has a 18.6 average finish at Lowe's Motor Speedway ranking seventh among the Chase drivers in average finish there.

Fourth
Rusty Wallace finished seventh in the Banquet 400 at Kansas Speedway and dropped from third to fourth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. He trails first-place Tony Stewart by 90 points. He has scored 24 top-15 finishes in 30 races this season, the most among all drivers. He is making his first appearance in the Chase. Wallace has scored three top-10 finishes in the first four races in the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. He has competed in 47 races at Lowe's Motor Speedway, scoring two victories and 22 top-10 finishes. His last victory there came in May 1990. Wallace has led 940 laps at Lowe's Motor Speedway and ranks 10th overall in laps led at Lowe's, He finished 31st in this race one year ago and 10th there in May. Wallace has scored top-15 finishes in eight of his last nine races at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Wallace has a 16.170 average finish at Lowe's Motor Speedway and ranks fifth among the Chase drivers in average finish there. Wallace has posted 12 DNFs in 47 races at Lowe's Motor Speedway (one in every four races). However, his last Lowe's DNF came in May 1995, 21 races ago.

Fifth
Jimmie Johnson finished sixth in the Banquet 400 at Kansas Speedway and dropped from fourth to fifth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. He has scored top-10 finishes in three of the four races in the Chase for the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. Johnson led the point standings after 17 of the 30 races this season. He has scored three victories in 2005 (Las Vegas, Charlotte and second Dover). He has scored 18 top-10 finishes in 2005, three less than Tony Stewart. Johnson ranked ninth in the point standings after 30 races one year ago. He has ranked among the top-10 drivers since Las Vegas in March 2004, 63 straight races. Johnson has competed in eight races at Lowe's Motor Speedway, scoring four victories and seven top-10 finishes there. Johnson has scored victories in his last three races at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The most recent driver to score four straight victories at a track was Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Talladega (fall 2001-spring 2003). Johnson has scored top-15 starts in seven of his eight races at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Johnson has a 7.375 average finish at Lowe's Motor Speedway ranking second among the Chase drivers in average finish there.

Sixth
Carl Edwards finished third in the Banquet 400 at Kansas Speedway and remained sixth in the point standings. One year ago he ranked 40th in the point standings after competing in just eight races in 2004. Edwards has scored 17 top-15 finishes in 30 races in 2005 including 13 top-10 finishes. Edwards has scored three top-10 finishes in four races in the Chase for the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup. He trails first-place Tony Stewart by 95 points. He finished third there in May leading 10 laps, his only race at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Edward's 3.0 finishing average at Lowe's Motor Speedway ranks first among the Chase drivers in average finish there.

Seventh
Mark Martin finished first in the Banquet 400 at Kansas Speedway and climbed from ninth to seventh in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings, now 113 points behind point leader Tony Stewart. He has scored three top-10 finishes in the first four races in the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. Martin ranked fifth in the point standings after 30 races one year ago. He has posted 15 top-10 finishes in 2005. He has competed in 41 races at Lowe's Motor Speedway, scoring four victories and 19 top-10 finishes. His last Lowe's victory came in the May 2002. Martin also won the All-Star race there earlier this season. He finished 13th in this race one year ago and 28th there in May. Martin has not scored a top-10 finish in his last six races at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Martin has a 16.439 average finish at Lowe's which ranks sixth among the Chase drivers in average finish there.

Eighth
Matt Kenseth finished fifth in the Banquet 400 at Kansas Speedway and dropped from seventh to eighth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. He has scored three top-five finishes in the first four races in the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. Kenseth ranked seventh in the NASCAR NEXTEL CUP point standings after 30 races one year ago. Kenseth has scored 18 top-15 finishes including 14 top-10 finishes in 2005. Kenseth has competed in 12 races at Lowe's Motor Speedway scoring one victory (May 2000) and six top-10 finishes. He finished 11th in this race one year ago and 37th there in May. Kenseth has a 14.750 average finish at Lowe's Motor Speedway and ranks fourth among the Chase drivers in average finish there. Kenseth trails firstplace Tony Stewart by 116 points and is just 28 points behind third-place Greg Biffle as the competition remains very close.

Ninthv
Jeremy Mayfield finished 16th in the Banquet 400 at Kansas Speedway and dropped from eighth to ninth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. He has scored only one top-10 finish in the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. Mayfield has scored only eight top-10 finishes but has 18 top-15 finishes in 30 races in 2005. Mayfield ranked 10th in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings after 30 races one year ago. He has competed in 23 races at Lowe's Motor Speedway, scoring seven top-10 finishes. He finished 30th in this race one year ago and fourth there in May. Mayfield has a 21.869 average finish at Lowe's Motor Speedway and ranks last among the Chase drivers in average finish there. Mayfield finished second in this race in 2000, his best Lowe's finish.

10th
Kurt Busch finished 14th in the Banquet 400 at Kansas Speedway and remained 10th in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. Busch is now 224 points behind first-place Tony Stewart. One year ago Busch started the 2004 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup by scoring a victory at New Hampshire and then scored top-10 finishes in the first six races of the Chase. Busch ranked first in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings after 30 races one year ago and went on to record his first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup championship by just eight points over Jimmie Johnson. He has scored 15 top-10 finishes in 30 races this season. Busch has competed in 10 races at Lowe's Motor Speedway scoring just one top-10 finish. He finished fourth in this race one year ago scoring his best Lowe's finish and 43rd there in May. Busch has a 20.4 average finish at Lowe's Motor Speedway and ranks ninth among the Chase drivers in average finish there

This Week in The Chase - 2004
Week No. 5, Race No. 31 - Jimmie Johnson won the UAW-GM Quality 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway - posting his second track sweep of the season. Johnson also swept both races at Pocono. Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr., both finished ahead of Kurt Busch but posted only minimal gains as Busch remained first in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup with a 24 point lead over Earnhardt Jr. and 74 over Gordon. Jeremy Mayfield continued to slide out of contention for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, failing to finish for the second time in the first five races of the Chase. Mayfield lost 92 points to Busch, the biggest drop in the standings among the top-10 at Lowe's Motor Speedway, and dropped to 349 points behind the leader.

Six of the drivers in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup posted top-10 finishes in the UAW-GM Quality 500.

Only two drivers in the top-10 in points changed positions at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

The top-three drivers were separated by just 74 points.

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