NASCAR.COM - By the Numbers Charlotte - May 22, 2008
http://www.nascar.com/2008/news/feat...tte/index.html
No matter last couple of years, only number to know: 48
Jimmie Johnson has led 1,134 laps at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
What's it all gotten him? NASCAR's most coveted possession during the season: points.
342 - Points by which Jimmie Johnson has outscored all drivers in the last 10 Charlotte races, better than the equivalent of two second-place finishes (170 points).
Back in Time - May 28, 1961
David Pearson wins his 1st Cup race in the World 600 at Charlotte, although Pearson wasn't even supposed to be driving the car. Regular driver Darel Dieringer was not allowed to compete due to contract conflictions, and Pearson -- working as a roofer -- was summoned. He qualified 3rd, led 225 of 400 laps and skated across the finish line in sparks after blowing a tire. It was the 1st of 105 career victories.
10 Key Facts
1 * Track in which Kasey Kahne has won multiple events: Lowe's Motor Speedway. He swept both races there in 2006.
2 * Drivers ranked in the top 12 that have a top-10 average finish at Charlotte: Jimmie Johnson (6.8) and Carl Edwards (7.3).
5 * Times the All-Star Race winner has also won the Coca-Cola 600 in the same season: Darrell Waltrip (1985), Davey Allison (1991), Dale Earnhardt (1993), Jeff Gordon (1997) and Jimmie Johnson (2003).
5 * Top-10 finishes for Carl Edwards in his 6 starts at Charlotte. His only finish worse than 10th came in last year's Coca-Cola 600 when he was 15th. His best finish at the track is 3rd, both in the Coca-Cola 600 (2005, 2006).
7 * Victories in the last 10 Charlotte races by Hendrick Motorsports. Tony Stewart (fall 2003) and Kasey Kahne (both 2006) are the only non-Hendrick drivers to win at Lowe's Motor Speedway since 2003.
12 * Times that Ryan Newman has started 4th or better in his 14 Charlotte starts, including 7 poles. His 2 other starts came in 2006 when he began 18th and 15th. His 243 laps led are the most among active drivers who have not won at the track.
13 * Back-to-back winners at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Jeff Gordon won the fall race last year. A victory Sunday would make it 15 consecutive seasons in which Gordon has won a race.
16 * Laps led by Jeff Gordon in his 1st career victory, on May 29, 1994. Gordon started from the pole, but didn't make his winning move until late in the race and beat Rusty Wallace (187 laps led) by 3.91 seconds.
22 * Finishing position of Dale Earnhardt in his Cup Series debut on May 25, 1975, in the World 600. Richard Petty won the race.
38.5 * Average finish for David Ragan in his two starts at Charlotte. He finished 37th and 40th in last year's events.