Qualifying
There have been six different Bud Pole winners in the seven races at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Kurt Busch (2002 and 2004) is the only repeat Bud Pole winner there.

Track Update
Two of the seven races at Homestead-Miami Speedway have been won from the Bud Pole and four from the front row. Bill Elliott and Kurt Busch won back-to-back races from the Bud Pole (2001 and 2002) while Bobby Labonte and Greg Biffle won back-to-back from the second starting position (2003 and 2004).

Manufacturer Update
All three active manufacturers have posted victories at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the past five races there and all four manufacturers that have competed at Miami have won there. Pontiac won the first two races (1999 and 2000) and Dodge the third (2001). Ford has three wins (2002, '04 and '05). Chevrolet has one victory (2003).

Would You Believe?
Jeff Gordon has posted six top-10 finishes in seven races at Homestead, but has never won there. His best Homestead finish has been third, which came in 2004.

The Money
Purse: $5,270,543
NASCAR NEXTEL Leader Bonus $80,000

Tire/Fuel Data
Goodyear Tire Codes: Left-side -- D-4008; Right-side -- D-4064
Other NEXTEL Cup Tracks At Which This Tire Combination Is Run: None
Estimated Pit Window: Every 60-65 laps, based on fuel mileage

Notebook

Leading the Way
Thirty-three drivers have led at least one lap at Homestead. Tony Stewart is the only driver to lead in five of the seven races at Homestead and has led 330 of the 1,873 laps raced there (18 percent).

Nuggets
Chase For the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Drivers (Ranked by Average Finish)
Driver Starts Average Finish Laps Led
1. Kevin Harvick 5 9.400 59
2. Jeff Gordon 7 9.571 46
3. Mark Martin 7 11.571 30
4. Jeff Burton 7 13.714 5
5. Jimmie Johnson 5 15.600 34
6. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 6 19.166 46
7. Matt Kenseth 6 25.500 0
8. Kasey Kahne 2 27.000 0
9. Denny Hamlin 1 33.000 1
10. Kyle Busch 1 41.000 0

Milestones

All-time Standouts

Current Standouts

Starting Up Front Is Important

Owner Wins
Jack Roush and Joe Gibbs lead all car owners, each with three victories at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Ray Evernham has the other Homestead victory.

Who's Hot

Top 10 in Points at This Track

First
Jimmie Johnson finished second in the Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway, posting his fifth top-five finish in the Chase, all in the last five races and all first or second-place finishes. If Johnson finishes 12th or better, or leads a lap and finishes 13th or better, or leads the most laps and finishes 15th or better in the final race at Homestead, he will clinch the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Championship, regardless of any other driver's performance. Johnson has five victories in 2006 and would also win in case of a tie because of his six second-place finishes. Johnson retained his lead in the championship point standings for the second straight week. Johnson is the fourth different driver to lead the championship standings during the nine races in the Chase. Johnson has climbed from eighth to first in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup standings, gaining 219 points in the last five races. Johnson was the point leader after all but four of the first 26 races in 2006 and trailed then-leader Matt Kenseth by 57 points at the conclusion of the Race to The Chase, prior to the point adjustment, and by five after the adjustment in second-place. Johnson leads second-place Matt Kenseth by 63 points. He is one of only three drivers to compete in all three years of the Chase. One year ago he ranked second in the standings after the ninth Chase race. Johnson finished second in 2004 and fifth in the 2005 final standings. This will be the fifth straight season that Johnson has finished in the top 10 in the final standings. Johnson joins Hendrick Motorsports teammates Kyle Busch and Jeff Gordon in the Chase, giving car owner Rick Hendrick the most drivers in this year's Chase. Johnson has scored 23 top-10 finishes in 35 races this season, the most of all drivers. He has scored five victories in 2006 (Daytona, Las Vegas, the May event at Talladega, Indianapolis and second Martinsville). His six second-place finishes are the most by any driver this season. In 2004, Johnson posted four victories in the Chase, the most wins by a driver in the three-year history of the Chase. Like second-place Kenseth, Johnson has scored 29 top-15s in the first 35 races. Johnson has ranked among the top 10 for 104 straight races, since Atlanta in March 2004. Johnson held a 124-point lead over Matt Kenseth after Race No. 22 at Watkins Glen, the biggest lead of the season. He has competed in five races at Homestead-Miami Speedway, scoring three top-10 finishes. His other two finishes were 25th or worse. His best Homestead finish of second came in 2004. Johnson finished 40th in this race one year ago, posting his only DNF at Homestead and dropped from second to fifth in the final championship standings. Johnson has a 15.6 average finish at Homestead, ranking fifth among the top-10 drivers. Johnson has led in two races at Homestead. Johnson has won at least one race each season for five consecutive years (2002-2006).

Second
Matt Kenseth finished 13th in the Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. He has scored eight top-15 finishes in the nine Chase races, the only driver to do so. Kenseth has scored 15 top-five finishes in 2006, tied with Tony Stewart for the most among all drivers. He has scored top-10 finishes in four of the nine races in the Chase. Kenseth scored four victories in 2006, winning at California, Dover and the second Michigan and Bristol events. Kenseth remained second in the standings following Phoenix. Kenseth was the leader in the championship standings after two of the nine races in the Chase. He now trails first-place Jimmie Johnson by 63 points. Kenseth led Johnson at the conclusion of the Race to The Chase by 57 points, prior to the point adjustment, and by five after the adjustment in first-place. He is one of only three drivers to participate in all three years of the Chase. One year ago he ranked seventh in the standings after race No. 9 of the Chase. Kenseth finished eighth in 2004 and seventh in the 2005 final standings. Kenseth has ranked among the top-five in the standings since his victory in race No. 2 at California, 34 straight races. Kenseth has been running at the finish in the last 29 races (since Texas in April). Kenseth has scored 29 top-15 finishes in 2006. Kenseth has led in six of the nine Chase races. He has competed in six races at Homestead-Miami Speedway, scoring just one top-10 finish. He finished third in this race one year ago, his only finish better than 19th at Homestead. Kenseth has never led at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He has a 25.5 average finish there, ranking seventh among the 10 Chase drivers. Kenseth has won at least one race each season for five consecutive years (2002-2006).

Third
Kevin Harvick finished first in the Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway and climbed from fifth to third in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup standings. Harvick has scored top-20 finishes in seven of the nine races in the Chase including two victories. He is the only driver to post two victories in the Chase. Harvick trailed then-leader Matt Kenseth by 304 points at the conclusion of the Race to The Chase, prior to the point adjustment, and by 10 after the adjustment ranking third. Harvick trails current leader Jimmie Johnson by 90 points. He is tied in championship points with fourth-place Denny Hamlin who also has 6,242 points. Harvick gets the third-place position because of his five victories. Harvick has led in three of the nine Chase races, earning 25 lap leader bonus points. This marks Harvick's first year in the Chase along with Burton, the first time team owner Richard Childress has had a driver in the Chase since the program's 2004 inception. Harvick is one of five “first-timers” to compete in the Chase. Harvick has ranked among the top 10 in the last 29 races, since Phoenix in April. One year ago he ranked 14th in the standings after 35 races. Harvick has scored 19 top-10 finishes in 2006 and top-15 finishes in 26 of the 35 races. He has competed in five races at Homestead, scoring four top-10 finishes. He finished eighth in this race one year ago, his third straight top-10 finish at Homestead. He has led in three of his six races at Homestead. Harvick has a 9.4 average finish at Homestead, ranking first among the 10 Chase drivers.

Fourth
Denny Hamlin finished third in the Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway and remained fourth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup standings. Hamlin has scored six top-10 finishes in the nine races in the Chase, tying Jeff Gordon for the most among the Chase drivers. He trailed then-leader Matt Kenseth by 437 points at the conclusion of the Race to The Chase, prior to the point adjustment, and by 20 after the adjustment in fifthplace. He now trails current leader Jimmie Johnson by 90 points. He is just 27 points behind third-place Kevin Harvick. Hamlin is the first Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year contender to make the Chase since the program's 2004 inception. Hamlin has two victories in 2006, sweeping both races at Pocono Raceway. He has 19 top-10 finishes in 2006, the most among all rookie contenders. Hamlin has been the highest finishing rookie in 17 of the 35 races this season. Hamlin has been running at the finish in the last 29 races. He has competed in just one race at Homestead, scoring a 33rd-place finish in this race one year ago. Hamlin led one lap at Homestead in this race one year ago. His 33.0 average finish ranks ninth among the 10 Chase drivers.

Fifth
Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished ninth in the Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway and dropped from third to fifth in the standings. He and Matt Kenseth are the only drivers to score top-25 finishes in all nine Chase races. He trailed then-leader Matt Kenseth by 447 points at the conclusion of the Race to The Chase, prior to the point adjustment, and by 25 after the adjustment ranking sixth. Earnhardt Jr. trails point leader Johnson by 115 points. This marks his second year in the Chase. One year ago he ranked 20th in the standings. He missed the 2005 Chase by 216 points. He finished fifth in 2004, the inaugural year of the Chase. Earnhardt finished 19th in the final standings in 2005. He has scored 24 top-15 finishes this season. Earnhardt Jr. has one victory in 2006, winning at Richmond in May. He has competed in six races at Homestead-Miami Speedway, scoring finishes of 13th or worse in all six. He finished 19th in this race one year ago, his first top-20 finish in his last four races at Homestead. Earnhardt Jr. has a 19.166 average finish at Homestead, ranking sixth among the 10 Chase drivers. He has led in just one of his six races there, but has not led in the last three.

Sixth
Jeff Gordon finished fourth in the Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway and remained sixth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup standings. He has scored four top-five finishes in the nine races in the Chase. He joins Kasey Kahne as the only drivers with three DNFs in the nine races in the Chase. Gordon trailed thenleader Matt Kenseth by 464 points at the conclusion of the Race to The Chase, prior to the point adjustment, and by 40 after the adjustment ranking ninth. He trails current leader Jimmie Johnson by 167 points and will be mathematically eliminated in his quest for the 2006 Championship when Jimmie Johnson starts the race at Homestead. This marks Gordon's second year in The Chase. One year ago he ranked 11th in the standings. He finished third in 2004, the inaugural year of The Chase. Gordon finished 11th in the standings in 2005. Gordon has two victories in 2006, winning at Infineon and Chicago. He has scored 23 top-15 finishes in 35 races in 2006. Gordon has scored six top-10 finishes in seven races at Homestead. Gordon finished ninth in this race one year ago, extending a streak of four straight top-10 finishes at Homestead. Gordon has a 9.571 finishing average at Homestead, ranking second among all Chase drivers.

Seventh
Jeff Burton finished 10th in the Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway and remained seventh in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup standings. Burton has scored five top-10 finishes in the nine races in the Chase. He now trails leader Jimmie Johnson by 225 points and has been mathematically eliminated from winning the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Championship. He trailed then-leader Matt Kenseth by 463 points at the conclusion of the Race to The Chase, prior to the point adjustment, and by 35 after the adjustment ranking eighth. This marks Burton's first year in the Chase (along with Richard Childress Racing teammate Kevin Harvick) and the first time team owner Richard Childress has had a driver in the Chase since the program's 2004 inception. Burton's teammate, Harvick, began the Chase in third place. RCR has won three of the nine races in the Chase. Burton led in each of the first four Chase races, but not in the last five. He has posted 26 top-15 finishes in 2006. He has scored 20 top-10 finishes in 35 races this season. One year ago he ranked 18th in the standings after 35 races. Burton has competed in seven races at Homestead, scoring three top-10 finishes, all top fives. Burton has finished 14th or worse in his last three races at Homestead. He finished 25th in this race one year ago. He led just five laps in his first race at Homestead but has not led in his last six races there. Burton has a 13.714 average finish at Homestead, ranking fourth among the 10 Chase drivers.

Eighth
Mark Martin finished sixth in the Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway and climbed from ninth to eight in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup standings. He trailed then-leader Matt Kenseth at the conclusion of the Race to The Chase by 449 points, prior to the point adjustment, and by 30 after the adjustment ranking seventh. He now trails current leader Jimmie Johnson by 273 points and has been mathematically eliminated from winning the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Championship. Martin is one of only three drivers to compete in all three years of the Chase. A year ago he ranked fifth after race No. 35. Martin finished fourth in 2004 and fourth again in the 2005 final standings. During 2004 and 2005 he scored just one Chase victory (Kansas in 2005), but five second-place finishes. Martin has not won in 2006 and his best Chase finish in the first nine races is third at Kansas. He has posted four top-10 finishes in seven races at Homestead, all top-fives. Martin finished second in this race one year ago, his best finish at Homestead. Martin has an 11.571 average finish at Homestead, ranking third among the 10 Chase drivers. Martin is the only Chase driver who has not won in 2006. Martin has not won a race since his victory at Kansas in October 2005, 41 races ago.

Ninth
Kasey Kahne finished seventh in the Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway and climbed from 10th to ninth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup standings. Kahne has scored three DNFs in the Chase, tying Jeff Gordon for the most. Kahne has scored four top-10 finishes in the Chase. Kahne trails point leader Jimmie Johnson by 319 points and has been mathematically eliminated from winning the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Championship. Kahne made the Chase by beating 11th-place Tony Stewart by just 16 points. He trailed thenleader Matt Kenseth by 466 points at the conclusion of the Race to The Chase, prior to the adjustment, and by 45 after the adjustment ranking 10th. This marks Kahne's first year in the Chase and the third by an Evernham Motorsports driver (Jeremy Mayfield finished 10th in 2004 and ninth in 2005). Kahne has scored six victories in 2006, more than any other driver. Kahne has posted 20 top-15 finishes in 2006. He has 18 top-10 finishes in 35 races this season. One year ago he ranked 22nd in the standings after 35 races. Kahne has competed in two races at Homestead, scoring two finishes outside the top-15. He finished 16th in this race one year ago. Kahne has never led at Homestead. He has a 27.0 average finish at Homestead, ranking eighth among the 10 Chase drivers.

10th
Kyle Busch finished 38th in the Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway and dropped from eighth to 10th in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup standings. Busch has scored 18 top-10 finishes in 2006. He has scored three top-10 finishes in the nine races of The Chase. One year ago Busch ranked 19th after 35 races. He trailed then-leader Matt Kenseth by 361 points at the conclusion of the Race to The Chase, prior to the point adjustment, and by 15 after the adjustment, ranking fourth. He now trails current point leader Jimmie Johnson by 359 points and has been mathematically eliminated from winning the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Championship. This marks Busch's first year in The Chase, one of five drivers new to The Chase. He has scored 24 top-15 finishes in 2006. Busch has competed in just one race at Homestead, scoring a 41st place DNF in this race one year ago. He has not led at Homestead. Busch's 41.0 average finish at Homestead ranks last among the 10 Chase drivers.

Season Nuggets