Darlington Raceway
Track data
Race #: 11 of 36 (5-13-06)
Track Size: 1.366 Miles
Event: Dodge Charger 500
Number of Laps: 367
Location: Darlington, SC
Length of Event: 501.322 Miles
Length of Front Stretch: 1,229 Feet
Length of Back Stretch: 1,229 Feet
Degree of Banking in Corners: 1-2 = 25 degrees/ 3-4 = 23 degrees
Degree of Banking on Straights: 2 degrees
Qualifying/Race data:
Last year's event pole winner: Kasey Kahne 170.024 mph 5-6-05 28.923 seconds
Last year's event winner: Greg Biffle 123.031 mph 5-7-05 4 hrs, 06 min, 29 sec
Track qualifying record: Ward Burton 173.797 mph 3-22-96 28.295 seconds
(500-mile) Track record: Dale Earnhardt 139.958 mph 3-28-93 3 hrs, 34 min, 55 sec
* green-white-checkered finish (370 laps; scheduled 367)
Historical data:
Previous winners at Darlington:
David Pearson (10) Dale Earnhardt (9) Jeff Gordon (6) Cale Yarborough (5) Bobby Allison (5)
Darrell Waltrip (5) Bill Elliott (5) Harry Gant (4) Richard Petty (3) Herb Thomas (3)
Buck Baker (3) Dale Jarrett (3) Fireball Roberts (2) Buddy Baker (2) Fred Lorenzen (2)
LeeRoy Yarbrough (2) Joe Weatherly (2) Nelson Stacy (2) Jimmie Johnson (2) Jeff Burton (2)
Ward Burton (2) Sterling Marlin (2) Terry Labonte (2) Curtis Turner (1) Neil Bonnett (1)
Darel Dieringer (1) Fonty Flock (1) Larry Frank (1) Ned Jarrett (1) Junior Johnson (1)
Johnny Mantz (1) Mark Martin (1) Benny Parsons (1) Jim Reed (1) Tim Richmond (1)
Ricky Rudd (1) Lake Speed (1) Speedy Thompson (1) Bobby Labonte (1) Ricky Craven (1)
Dick Rathmann (1) Greg Biffle (1)
Races won from the pole: 19 of 102 events (19%)
Races won from in top 10: 89 of 102 events (87%)
Races won from outside top 10: 13 of 102 events (13%)
Track Milestones
Darlington is the site of the first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup (Grand National) race to be held on a paved
raceway and the first 500-mile race on September 4, 1950. The track then measured 1.25 miles.
Curtis Turner won the first pole at Darlington Raceway in the 1950 Southern 500.
Johnny Mantz won the first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Darlington, the 1950 Southern 500.
The track was re-measured to 1.375-mile in 1953.
The track was re-configured to 1.366-mile following the spring race in 1970.
The spring race at Darlington became a 400-mile event in 1994.
The track configuration was reversed prior to the second race in 1997.
2004 was the final season of twice-a-year racing at Darlington.
The 2005 Dodge Charger 500 was the first Saturday night race at Darlington.
The race at Darlington has been shortened by rain on eight occasions, six of those in the Labor Day classic.
There has been only one race run caution-free at Darlington, the 1963 Southern 500.
Track Update
There have been nine different race winners in the last 10 races at Darlington. Jimmie Johnson, who swept
both races there in 2004, is the only repeat race winner since the 2000 Pepsi Southern 500.
Qualifying Update
There have been eight different Bud Pole winners in the 12 races at Darlington since September 1999.
Kasey Kahne (spring 2004 and 2005) is the only repeat Bud Pole winner there since 1999. Qualifying was rained
out three times in the 12-race period (spring 2001, fall 2002, fall 2004).
B - 2
The Money
Purse $5,410.760
NASCAR NEXTEL Leader Bonus $20,000
Tire/Fuel Data
Goodyear Tire Codes: Left-side - D-4024; Right-side - D-4026
Other Nextel Cup Tracks With Same Tire Combinations: None
Estimated Pit Window: every 65-70 laps, based on fuel mileage
Manufacturer Update
Ward Burton's victory in the 2001 Mountain Dew Southern 500 was the first Dodge modern era victory at
Darlington and the first victory at Darlington by Dodge since Buddy Baker won in there the spring of 1971.
Looking Back
Rookie-of-the-Year contenders Ryan Newman and Jimmie Johnson finished fifth and sixth, respectively,
in their career-first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Darlington – the 2002 Carolina Dodge Dealers 400. Only
two other active drivers posted top-10 finishes in their Darlington debut: Tony Stewart (sixth - March 1999) and
Mark Martin (seventh - April 1982).
B - 3
Notebook
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 102 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup (Grand National) races at Darlington since the track opened in
1950.
Forty-three drivers have posted Bud Poles at Darlington; 23 drivers have won more than one.
Kasey Kahne is the defending Bud Pole winner for the Dodge Charger 500.
David Pearson leads all drivers with 12 poles at Darlington. Bill Elliott had five Bud poles there.
Jeff Gordon, Dale Jarrett and Ken Schrader lead all active drivers, each with three Bud Poles at
Darlington.
Nineteen of 102 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at Darlington have been won from the Bud Pole, the most
productive starting position. Thirty-five have been won from the first two starting positions and 67 have been
won from the top five. Three of the past 10 Darlington races have been won from outside the top 30 starting
positions – including two of the last five 500-mile races.
The furthermost back that a race winner has started at Darlington was 43rd in the inaugural Southern 500 in
1950 by Johnny Mantz.
Only four other drivers have won at Darlington from a starting position further back than 15th: Herb
Thomas (23rd - fall 1954), Bobby Labonte (37th - fall 2000), Ward Burton (37th - fall 2001) and Ricky
Craven (31st - spring 2003).
Only 13 of the 102 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup (Grand National) races at Darlington have been won from a
starting position outside the top 10.
Forty-two different drivers have won NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at Darlington, 23 drivers have won
more than once there.
Greg Biffle is the defending champion of the Dodge Charger 500.
David Pearson leads all drivers with 10 victories at Darlington.
Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with six victories at Darlington.
In 46 years of twice-yearly NASCAR NEXTEL Cup racing at Darlington (1960-2004), a sweep occurred 10
times.
Track Update of the Week
Jeremy Mayfield has seven top-10 finishes in his 22 races at Darlington – six were sixth or better. He has
finished in every position in the top six except first.
Taming Darlington - Somewhat
Darlington, known as “the track too tough to tame”, has nearly been tamed in recent years – by several
drivers.
Jeff Gordon has 13 top-five finishes, including six victories, in the last 20 races at Darlington.
Dale Jarrett has nine top-five finishes, including three victories, in the last 17 races at Darlington. However,
Jarrett has finished 15th or worse in his last five races there.
Jeff Burton has scored eight top-five finishes, including two victories, in the last 17 races at Darlington. He
has not scored a top-10 finish there in his last five races.
Jimmie Johnson has six top-10 finishes, including two victories, in the last seven races at Darlington.
Starting Up Front is not Important at Darlington Raceway
Five of the last 10 races at Darlington Raceway have been won from a top-10 starting position. The
other five were won from outside the top 10 including two of the last 10 races that were won from the 37th place
starting position, the lowest a driver has started and won at Darlington since the inaugural race in 1950
which featured a 75-car field with the winner starting 43rd. No driver has won a race from the Bud Pole at
Darlington since Dale Jarrett won the 1997 Transouth Financial 500, 17 races ago.
Darlington Streaks
There have been nine different race winners in the 10 races at Darlington since September 2000. Only
Jimmie Johnson has been able to repeat, winning both races there in 2004.
Elliott Sadler and Ryan Newman each have five straight top-10 starts at Darlington, the longest current
streak.
Jimmie Johnson has scored four straight top-10 finishes at Darlington, the longest current streak. Two of
those finishes were victories in 2004. Johnson has scored six top-10 finishes in his seven races at Darlington.
Owner Wins at Darlington Raceway
Junior Johnson and Rick Hendrick have each scored 11 wins at Darlington Raceway, the most of any
car owner. Johnson's victories were scored by six different drivers: Cale Yarborough (three), Bill Elliott (two),
Darrell Waltrip (two), Leroy Yarbrough (two), Bobby Allison (one) and one by Junior as an owner/driver
(1965). Hendrick's 11 victories were scored by five different drivers: Jeff Gordon (six), Jimmie Johnson (two),
Terry Labonte (one), Ricky Rudd (one) and Tim Richmond (one).
Recent Domination at Darlington Raceway
Kasey Kahne has won two Bud Poles in his three NASCAR NEXTEL Cup starts at Darlington.
Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne and Mark Martin have all scored top-five finishes in each of the last two races
at Darlington, the longest current streak.
Jimmie Johnson has scored four straight top-10 finishes at Darlington. Mark Martin has scored top-10
finishes in his last three races at Darlington.
Leading The Way at Darlington Raceway
Dale Earnhardt led 2,648 laps in 44 races at Darlington, more than any other driver. Jeff Gordon leads
all active drivers with 1,553 laps led in 25 races there.
Would you Believe?
Qualifying was rained out only once in the first 77 races at Darlington. Qualifying has been rained out in
three of the last nine races there.
Darlington Standouts
Richard Petty had 65 career starts at Darlington, more than any other driver.
Kyle Petty leads all full-time drivers with 48 Darlington starts.
David Pearson scored 12 Bud Poles at Darlington, leading all drivers.
Jeff Gordon, Dale Jarrett and Ken Schrader leads all active drivers, each with three Bud Poles at
Darlington.
David Pearson leads all drivers with 10 victories in 47 races at Darlington Raceway.
Richard Petty leads all drivers with 25 top-five finishes while Bill Elliott leads all drivers with 35 top-10
finishes.
Mark Martin leads all full time, active drivers with 16 top-five finishes at Darlington Raceway.
Mark Martin has scored 24 top-10 finishes at Darlington Raceway, the most among full time, active drivers.
Ryan Newman leads all active drivers with a 4.714 starting average in seven races at Darlington Raceway
Kasey Kahne has a 7.0 finishing average in his three races at Darlington Raceway, the best of all active
drivers.
Milestones
Jamie McMurray is expected to make his 125th NASCAR NEXTEL Cup start at Darlington Raceway.
Matt Kenseth will make his 225th consecutive NASCAR NEXTEL Cup start if he competes at Darlington
Raceway. Ricky Rudd set the standard with 788 consecutive starts that ended with his retirement last
November.
Who's Hot
Jimmie Johnson has won three races in 2006, more than any other driver.
Tony Stewart is the only driver to score six top-five finishes in 10 races this season.
Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson are the only drivers to score seven top-10 finishes in the first 10 races
in 2006.
Tony Stewart is the only driver to score top-10 finishes in the last five races. All of his finishes in those
races were sixth or better.
Kevin Harvick has scored all five of his 2006 top-10 finishes in the last six races.
Carl Edwards has scored three straight top-10 finishes.
Mark Martin and Jimmie Johnson have each scored top-15 finishes in nine of the 10 races in 2006.
Tony Stewart is the only driver to lead at least one lap in nine of the 10 races this season.
Matt Kenseth ranks third in the point standings at Richmond. After 10 races one year ago, he ranked 24th.
Tony Stewart has moved from 22nd to second in the point standings since Race No. 2 at California.
Kevin Harvick has moved from 23rd to fifth in the point standings in the last six races.
Jeff Burton has climbed from 21st to 12th in the point standings since Martinsville and is just 11 points
behind 10th-place Casey Mears.
Top 10 in 2005 Points at This Track
Point
Standings Driver Starts Wins Best Top 5s Top 10s
1st Johnson, Jimmie 7 2 1 (2 Times) 3 6
2nd Stewart, Tony 13 *** 4 (2 Times) 2 7
3rd Kenseth, Matt 12 *** 6 (1 Time) *** 3
4th Martin, Mark 39 1 1 (1 Time) 16 24
5th Harvick, Kevin 9 *** 2 (1 Time) 2 4
6th Earnhardt Jr., Dale 11 *** 4 (1 Time) 1 4
7th Kahne, Kasey 3 *** 3 (1 Time) 2 2
8th Busch, Kyle 1 *** 23 (1 Time) *** ***
9th Gordon, Jeff 25 6 1 (6 Times) 13 16
10th Mears, Casey 5 *** 15 (1 Time) *** ***
First
Jimmie Johnson finished 12th in the Crown Royal 400 at Richmond International Raceway and remained
first in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings, moving to 55 points ahead of second-place Tony Stewart.
Johnson and Stewart are the only drivers to score seven top-10 finishes in 10 races this season. Johnson's three
victories (Daytona, Las Vegas and Talladega) remain the most by a driver this season. One year ago Johnson
began the 2005 season with 10 straight top-20 finishes before ending his streak with a 40th-place finish in Race
No. 11. In 2006 Johnson has scored nine top-15s in the first 10 races and is tied with Mark Martin who also has
nine top-15 finishes, the only drivers to do so. Johnson ranked first in the point standings after Race No. 10 in
2005 with a 127-point lead over second-place Jeff Gordon. Johnson has ranked among the top-10 for 79 straight
races, since Atlanta in March 2004. He has competed in seven races at Darlington Raceway, scoring two victories
(both in 2004) and six top-10 finishes. His only Darlington finish outside the top 10 came there in March 2003
when he finished 27th. Johnson has scored top-10 finishes in his last four races at Darlington, the longest current
streak. Johnson has a 7.714 average finish at Darlington Raceway, second only to Kasey Kahne (7.0 in three
starts at Darlington). Johnson finished seventh at Darlington one year ago. He has been running at the finish in all
seven of his races at the South Carolina superspeedway. Johnson has won at least one race each season for five
consecutive years (2002-2006).
Second
Tony Stewart finished sixth in the Crown Royal 400 at Richmond International Raceway and climbed from
third to second in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. This is his best points ranking of 2006. It was
his eighth top-15 finish in the first 10 races of the season. Stewart has led at least one lap in nine of the 10 races
this season, the only driver to do so. His 60 lap leader bonus points are the most of all drivers. Stewart has led
801 laps, the most of all drivers. Stewart has finished sixth or better in the last five races. Six of his seven top-10
finishes in 2006 are top-fives. He has competed in 13 races at Darlington Raceway, scoring seven top-10 finishes.
Despite his record, Stewart has failed to finish better than 10th in his last five races at Darlington. Stewart finished
10th in this race one year ago. Stewart's best Darlington finish of fourth has occurred twice, most recently in
September 2001. Stewart has one DNF at Darlington, a 36th-place finish there in March 2002. He has a 12.384
finishing average at Darlington Raceway. He has led in only two of his 13 races at Darlington. Stewart has won at
least one race each season for eight consecutive years (1999-2006).
Third
Matt Kenseth finished 38th in the Crown Royal 400 at Richmond International Raceway scoring his worst
finish in 2006. Kenseth scored his first victory of 2006 at California. He has scored eight top-15 finishes this
season. Kenseth dropped from second to third in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. One year ago he
ranked 24th in the point standings after 10 races. Kenseth has ranked among the top-five in the point standings
since his victory in Race No. 2 at California. He has competed in 12 races at Darlington Raceway, scoring just
three top-10 finishes. Kenseth has not scored a top-10 finish in his last four races at Darlington. He finished
26th at Darlington one year ago. His best Darlington finish of sixth came there in March 2000. He has a 21.833
finishing average at Darlington Raceway. He has led in four of his 12 races at Darlington. Kenseth has won at
least one race each season for five consecutive years (2002-2006).
Fourth
Mark Martin finished 11th in the Crown Royal 400 at Richmond International Raceway and climbed from
fifth to fourth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. At this point one year ago he ranked sixth in the
point standings. Martin has scored 13 top-15 finishes in the 14 races since Atlanta last October. He has had only
one DNF (Talladega in October 2005 - Accident) in the 34 races since Dover in June 2005. Martin has competed
in 39 races at Darlington Raceway, scoring just one victory there in September 1993. Martin has scored 24 top-10
finishes at Darlington Raceway the most of all full time drivers. He finished fourth in this race one year ago, his
third straight top-10 finish at Darlington. He has had only one finish outside the top-15 at Darlington in his last six
races there. Martin has a 12.23 average finish at Darlington Raceway.
Fifth
Kevin Harvick finished third in the Crown Royal 400 at Richmond International Raceway and climbed from
seventh to fifth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. He has climbed from 23rd to fifth in the point
standings in the last six races. One year ago he ranked 11th in the point standings. Harvick has scored five top-10
finishes in 2006, all in the last six races. He has competed in nine races at Darlington Raceway posting four top-
10 finishes. His best Darlington finish of second came there in August 2003. He finished 14th in this race one year
ago. He has been running at the finish in all but one of his races there. He has a 17.44 average finish at Darlington
Raceway and has led in just one of his nine races at Darlington Raceway.
B - 15
Sixth
Dale Earnhardt Jr., finished first in the Crown Royal 400 at Richmond International Raceway and climbed
from eighth to sixth in the point standings. One year ago he ranked ninth in the point standings. Earnhardt has
scored seven top-15 finishes in the 10 races in 2006. He has competed in 11 races at Darlington Raceway, scoring
just four top-10 finishes. His best Darlington finish of fourth came there in March 2002. He finished eighth in
this race one year ago. He has scored top-15 finishes in his last three races at Darlington. Earnhardt has a 16.55
average finish at Darlington. His only Darlington DNF came in his first race there in March 2000 when he finished
40th.
Seventh
Kasey Kahne finished 34th in the Crown Royal 400 at Richmond International Raceway scoring his third
finish of 34th or worse in 2006, all in the last five races. He has scored six top-10 finishes in 2006. Kahne has
won two races in 2006, (Atlanta and Texas) both from the Bud pole starting position. He dropped from fourth
to seventh in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. Kahne has scored seven top-15 finishes in the first
10 races in 2006. One year ago he ranked 19th in the point standings. Kahne has competed in just three races
at Darlington scoring top-15 finishes in all three. He has scored top-five finishes in his last two races there. He
finished third in this race one year ago his best Darlington finish. Kahne has a 7.0 average finish at Darlington, the
best among active drivers. He has been running at the finish in all of his races at Darlington. He has led in two of
his three races at Darlington. Kahne has won at least one race each season for two consecutive years (2005-2006).
Eighth
Kyle Busch finished fifth in the Crown Royal 400 at Richmond International Raceway and climbed from
ninth to eighth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. It marked his fifth top-10 finish in 10 races this
season. One year ago he ranked 27th in the point standings. Busch has scored six top-15 finishes in the 10 races in
2006. He has competed in just one race at Darlington finishing 23rd there in 2005.
Ninth
Jeff Gordon finished 40th in the Crown Royal 400 at Richmond International Raceway and dropped from
sixth to ninth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. Gordon ranked second in the point standings at this
point one year ago, 127 points behind then point leader Jimmie Johnson. He is now 305 points behind current
point leader Johnson one year later. Gordon has competed in 25 races at Darlington Raceway, scoring six victories
and 16 top-10 finishes. His last Darlington victory came in September 2002. His six victories are the most among
active drivers at Darlington. Gordon finished second in this race one year ago. Gordon has a 12.64 average finish
at Darlington Raceway. He has led 1,553 laps at Darlington, ranking first among active drivers and seventh alltime
there. Since his last Darlington victory in September 2002, Gordon finished 33rd, 32nd and 41st before
scoring top-five finishes in his last two races there.
10th
Casey Mears finished 17th in the Crown Royal 400 at Richmond International Raceway and climbed from
11th to 10th in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. He has scored seven top-20 finishes in 10 races
this season. One year ago he ranked 25th in the point standings. Mears has competed in five races at Darlington
Raceway and has yet to crack the top-10. His best Darlington finish of 15th came there in March 2004. He
finished 39th in this race one year ago. He has been running at the finish in all five of his races at Darlington, but
has never led there. Mears has a 29.8 average finish at Darlington Raceway.
