Credit: Autostock

By the Numbers: Pepsi 400

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Daytona International Speedway was formerly the traditional midpoint of the NASCAR Cup season, though in 2005 Saturday night's Pepsi 400 serves as the 17th of 36 races.

The event provides the flip side to the season-opening Daytona 500, which is held in mid-afternoon, as the Pepsi 400 is held in the evening to avoid the stifling mid-day heat and unavoidable afternoon thunderstorms.

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Defending Pepsi 400 winner Jeff Gordon -- who also won the 2005 Daytona 500 -- is also the defending Bud Pole winner and is in the best position to expand the track's statistical legacy.

The following numbers refer to Daytona International Speedway and the Pepsi 400, unless otherwise noted.

1 -- Greg Biffle's number of top-10 finishes in five career starts: His victory in the 2003 Pepsi 400.

1 -- The fewest laps led by a race winner, Jimmy Spencer in 1994.

1 -- The number of drivers who have won three consecutive races: Cale Yarborough (1967-68).

1 -- The number of Pepsi 400s shortened by rain.

2 -- Jeff Gordon's consecutive race victories.

2 -- Kurt Busch's number of consecutive top-five finishes.

3 -- Tony Stewart's number of consecutive top-10 finishes.

Sterling Marlin

4 -- Dale Jarrett and Sterling Marlin's leading number of pole positions by active drivers.

4 -- The number of times a season sweep has occurred: Fireball Roberts (1962), Cale Yarborough (1968), Lee Roy Yarbrough (1969) and Bobby Allison (1982).

5 -- The number of races since Sterling Marlin has led a lap, in the 2002 Pepsi 400.

5 -- The number of active drivers who won their last pole: Dale Jarrett (2005), Greg Biffle (2004), Jeff Green (2003), Sterling Marlin (2001) and Kyle Petty (1993).

6 -- Jeff Gordon's leading number of victories by an active driver.

6 -- The number of active drivers with no Daytona DNFs: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Casey Mears, Greg Biffle and Mike Bliss.

6 -- The number of different winners in consecutive races, since 1998: Dale Jarrett, Jeff Burton, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Michael Waltrip, Greg Biffle and Jeff Gordon.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

7 -- Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s worst finish in his last four starts.

8 -- Jimmie Johnson's average finishing position, best among all drivers with more than one start.

8.363 -- Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s average starting position, best among all active drivers.

9 -- The number of consecutive races in which there's been a different pole winner, since Dale Jarrett swept both poles in 2000.

11 -- Rusty Wallace's worst finish in his last five races.

12 -- The most caution periods, in 1989.

12 -- Wood Brothers Racing's leading number of victories by a car owner, excluding two qualifying race wins.

12 -- Sterling Marlin's leading number of top-five finishes by an active driver entered in the Pepsi 400.

14 -- The number of the 93 races won from the pole position.

15 -- Kyle Petty's leading number of DNFs by an active driver, in 47 starts.

17.3 -- Mark Martin's average finish in 40 starts, including zero victories.

18.4 -- Rusty Wallace's average finish in 44 starts, including zero victories.

21 -- Sterling Marlin's leading number of top-10 finishes by an active driver entered in the Pepsi 400.

Jeff Gordon

23 -- Jeff Gordon's age when he became the youngest 400-mile winner.

23 -- The number of years since Bobby Allison swept both Daytona races, in 1982.

38 -- Bill Elliott's starting position for the 1988 Pepsi Firecracker 400, the farthest back a 400-mile race winner has started.

40 -- The most cars running at the finish, in 2003.

49 -- Bobby Allison's age when he became the oldest 400-mile winner.

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57 -- Ricky Rudd's leading number of starts by an active driver.

71 -- The number of the 93 races won from starting positions inside the top 10.

142 -- The most laps led by a 400-mile race winner, by Cale Yarborough in 1968.

173.473 -- Bobby Allison's 400-mile race record average speed in miles per hour, set in 1980.

188.659 -- Jeff Gordon's Bud Pole Award winning speed, in miles per hour, set in 2004.

198.823 -- The restrictor plate Bud Pole Qualifying record lap, in miles per hour, set by Ken Schrader in 1988.

599 -- Bill Elliott's laps led.