Overall Winners of Rolex 24 At Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring in Same Year (January 31, 2018)

A list of drivers who have won the Rolex 24 At Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring in the same year.

List of FIA African Rally Championship Past Champions (January 31, 2018)

Here is a list of past champions in the FIA African Rally Championship, as well as the breakdown of championships they have.

Chip Ganassi Racing – 200 Victory Statistics (January 31, 2018)

Chip Ganassi had quite the weekend at Daytona International Speedway.

Ganassi was the grand marshal for the 56th Rolex 24 At Daytona, giving the command to start engines Saturday. Then Sunday, he watched his Ford GTs come home 1-2 after a dominating performance in the GTLM class. The Nos. 67 and 66 led at every hour-long mark (and a total of 774 of 783 laps) and finished two laps ahead of the closest competitor, the third-place Corvette.

With the dominating win by Ryan Briscoe, Scott Dixon and Richard Westbrook, Ganassi also achieved a 200th team victory in his career, an amazing milestone. It was the eighth Rolex 24 win for the Pittsburgh native, and sixth overall. Ironically, it was the 56th Rolex 24 that gave him his 56th sports car victory.

So what’s the breakdown of Ganassi’s wins? The 200 includes 103 victories in IndyCars, 56 in sports cars, 39 in stock cars and two in Global Rallycross.

Here are some statistics related to Chip Ganassi and his 200 team victories.

IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Driver Race Victories – 2014-2018 (January 30, 2018)

A list of driver victories by IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship drivers, by category, since the beginning of the 2014 season. The Prototype Challenge (PC) class was removed from the series following the 2017 season.

Scott Pruett – An Incredible Career (Racing Statistics) (January 30, 2018)

Scott Pruett said hi to his family at home a final time Sunday during the Rolex 24 At Daytona.

Pruett, along with Jack Hawksworth, David Heinemeier Hansson and Dominik Farnbacher, took 36th overall and ninth in class in Pruett’s final race, driving a Lexus. The five-time Rolex 24 overall champion and 10-time class winner announced his retirement earlier this month.

What has Scott Pruett done in top-level American motorsports? The better question may be what he hasn’t. Pruett won in sports cars and Indy cars, drove in NASCAR, worked as a television analyst and participated in the development for cars and tires alike. He won 11 U.S.-based sports car championships, including five in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series.

As we bid farewell to Pruett and his time in the cockpit, let’s revisit some of the marks he made in racing.

Jerry Sneva – 1949-2018 (January 29, 2018)

Jerry Sneva, a veteran open-wheel racer and 1977 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year, and younger brother of Tom Sneva, passed away Saturday, January 27, in Indianapolis. He was 69 years old. We send our condolences to his family.

A short look at his career through the following statistics.

World Rally Championship Stats - 2018 Season, Rally Monte Carlo (January 29, 2018)

The 46th season of the World Rally Championship began Thursday, January 25, with the 86th running of the Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo in Monaco and France, and ended Sunday, January 28.

The scheduled 17-stage, 394.74-kilometer event, was won by four-time defending race winner Sebastien Ogier, who has won every race at Monte Carlo since 2014. He also won the 2009 event.

Here are some statistics related to the 2018 season after Round 1 and the Rally Monte Carlo.

Rolex 24 At Daytona Stats – Winning Manufacturers, Overall (January 29, 2018)

Christian Fittipaldi, Joao Barbosa and Filipe Albuquerque put Cadillac in winner’s circle Sunday in the 56th Rolex 24 At Daytona, giving the American manufacturer its second consecutive overall victory in the 24-hour classic.

Here is the breakdown of overall victories by manufacturer (16 of them) for the Rolex 24, through the 2018 race. 

Rolex 24 At Daytona Statistics – Winners by Country (January 29, 2018)

Joao Barbosa and Filipe Albuquerque made Portugal proud by scoring the overall Rolex 24 At Daytona victory for their homeland Sunday. It was a clean sweep for Portuguese-speaking countries as Christian Fittipaldi won again for Brazil.

Here is the breakdown of overall victories by nationality (21 nations) for the Rolex 24, through the 2018 race.

2018 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Stats - Thru Round 1 of 12 (January 29, 2018)

A list of statistics following the first round of the 2018 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the Rolex 24 At Daytona at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. The next race, the 66th annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, will be Saturday, March 17, at Sebring International Raceway in Florida.

2018 Rolex 24 At Daytona Statistical Recap (January 29, 2018)

Filipe Albuquerque, Joao Barbosa and Christian Fittipaldi won the 56th annual Rolex 24 At Daytona on Sunday at Daytona International Speedway, at a record pace of 119.72 mph over the course of 2876.48 miles. The pair won driving the No. 5 Mustang Sampling Racing Cadillac DPi.

Ryan Briscoe, Richard Westbrook and Scott Dixon co-won the GTLM class, while Mirko Bortolotti, Franck Perera, Rolf Ineichen and Rik Breukers co-won the GTD class.

Here are some fun and interesting statistics from the 2018 Rolex 24 At Daytona.

2018 Rolex 24 At Daytona – After 24 Hours (January 28, 2018)

Here are some statistics after the completion of the 56th annual Rolex 24 At Daytona, on the 3.56-mile, 12-turn Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

2018 Rolex 24 At Daytona – After 23 Hours (January 28, 2018)

Here are the statistics after 23 hours of the 56th annual Rolex 24 At Daytona, on the 3.56-mile, 12-turn Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

2018 Rolex 24 At Daytona – After 22 Hours (January 28, 2018)

Here are the statistics after 22 hours of the 56th annual Rolex 24 At Daytona, on the 3.56-mile, 12-turn Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

2018 Rolex 24 At Daytona – After 21 Hours (January 28, 2018)

Here are the statistics after 21 hours of the 56th annual Rolex 24 At Daytona, on the 3.56-mile, 12-turn Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

2018 Rolex 24 At Daytona – After 20 Hours (January 28, 2018)

Here are the statistics after 20 hours of the 56th annual Rolex 24 At Daytona, on the 3.56-mile, 12-turn Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

2018 Rolex 24 At Daytona – After 19 Hours (January 28, 2018)

Here are the statistics after 19 hours of the 56th annual Rolex 24 At Daytona, on the 3.56-mile, 12-turn Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

2018 Rolex 24 At Daytona - After 18 Hours (January 28, 2018)

Here are the statistics after 18 hours of the 56th annual Rolex 24 At Daytona, on the 3.56-mile, 12-turn Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

2018 Rolex 24 At Daytona - After 17 Hours (January 28, 2018)

Here are the statistics after 17 hours of the 56th annual Rolex 24 At Daytona, on the 3.56-mile, 12-turn Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

2018 Rolex 24 At Daytona - After 16 Hours (January 28, 2018)

Here are the statistics after 16 hours of the 56th annual Rolex 24 At Daytona, on the 3.56-mile, 12-turn Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

2018 Rolex 24 At Daytona - After 15 Hours (January 28, 2018)

Here are the statistics after 15 hours of the 56th annual Rolex 24 At Daytona, on the 3.56-mile, 12-turn Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

2018 Rolex 24 At Daytona - After 14 Hours (January 28, 2018)

Here are the statistics after 14 hours of the 56th annual Rolex 24 At Daytona, on the 3.56-mile, 12-turn Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

2018 Rolex 24 At Daytona - After 13 Hours (January 28, 2018)

Here are the statistics after 13 hours of the 56th annual Rolex 24 At Daytona, on the 3.56-mile, 12-turn Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

2018 Rolex 24 At Daytona - After 12 Hours, The Halfway Point (January 28, 2018)

Here are the statistics after 12 hours - the halfway point - of the 56th annual Rolex 24 At Daytona, on the 3.56-mile, 12-turn Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

2018 Rolex 24 At Daytona - After 11 Hours (January 28, 2018)

Here are the statistics after 11 hours through the 56th annual Rolex 24 At Daytona, on the 3.56-mile, 12-turn Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

2018 Rolex 24 At Daytona - After 10 Hours (January 28, 2018)

Here are the statistics after 10 hours through the 56th annual Rolex 24 At Daytona, on the 3.56-mile, 12-turn Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

2018 Rolex 24 At Daytona - After Nine Hours (January 27, 2018)

Here are the statistics after nine hours through the 56th annual Rolex 24 At Daytona, on the 3.56-mile, 12-turn Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

2018 Rolex 24 At Daytona - After Eight Hours (January 27, 2018)

Here are the statistics after eight hours through the 56th annual Rolex 24 At Daytona, on the 3.56-mile, 12-turn Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

2018 Rolex 24 At Daytona - After Seven Hours (January 27, 2018)

Here are the statistics after seven hours through the 56th annual Rolex 24 At Daytona, on the 3.56-mile, 12-turn Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

2018 Rolex 24 At Daytona - After Six Hours (January 27, 2018)

Here are the statistics a quarter of the way through the 56th annual Rolex 24 At Daytona, on the 3.56-mile, 12-turn Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

2018 Rolex 24 At Daytona – Hour-By-Hour Statistics, Thru Sixth Hour (January 27-28, 2018)

Here are some of the hour-by-hour statistics from the 56th Rolex 24 At Daytona on the 3.56-mile, 12-turn road course at Daytona International Speedway in Florida (information from live timing and scoring and live television coverage on Fox).

Celebrate Australia Day with Australia Racing Statistics (January 25/26, 2018)

Happy Australia Day, the official National Day of Australia! The day commemorates the arrival of the British at Port Jackson, New South Wales, in 1788. While it may be a day early in the U.S. (January 25), the time difference lands the publication of this blog in Australia on Friday morning, January 26. (Posted Friday from the United States would mean Australia Day would be over/almost over in Australia, which defeats the purpose.)

Australia has been immensely important in the history of motor racing around the world. The country has played host to many of the top sanctioning bodies in the world, and produced some of the best drivers and team members in those forms of racing. Jack Brabham won three Formula 1 World Championships (1959, 1960, 1966) and developed and raced his own cars. Alan Jones joined Brabham as an F1 champ from the Land Down Under with his 1980 title.

More recently, Will Power won the 2014 IndyCar Series championship for legendary car owner Roger Penske, who has teamed with Supercar Series legend Dick Johnson to field cars in Australia’s top series.

Speaking of Supercars, the series dates back to 1960, with a one-off, winner-takes-all race/championship, as part of the Australian Touring Car Championship. The series would eventually turn into a multi-race, calendar-long season that has produced exciting racing with competitive, high-performance cars and equally as competitive drivers. And since that 1960 debut, Australians have won all but one title. Allan Moffat, the Canadian-born driver who spent the majority of his life and racing career in Australia, received Australian citizenship in 2004; Shane van Gisbergen, the 2016 titlist, is from New Zealand.

Of course, Aussies don’t just play on pavement. A number of top-level open-wheel stars have joined the U.S.-based World of Outlaws circuit over the past many seasons. The circuit actually has sanctioned a number of races in Australia.

The Australian National Drag Racing Association was established in 1973 and includes a multitude of classes, similar to those in the United States. Teams and driver frequent the United States as well, competing on the NHRA circuit.

The World Sportscar Championship, contested between 1953 and 1992, first visited Australia in 1984, with the running of the Sandown 1000 at Sandown Raceway. A few Australians won overall and in their class in some of the biggest sports car races in the world during 40 years of WSC competition.

While it’d be near impossible to list every Australian achievement in motorsports (or at least it’d take a very long time to compile), here’s a look at some of interesting facts, figures and statistics surrounding Australian motorsport history and those that support it.

World Rally Championship, Rally Monte Carlo – 2018 Season/Event Previews (January 24, 2018)

The 46th season of the World Rally Championship begins Thursday, January 25, with the 86th running of the Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo in Monaco and France. The scheduled 17-stage, 394.74-kilometer event will serve as the season-opening event for the seventh consecutive WRC season.

Here are some statistics related to the 2018 season and Rally Monte Carlo.

Rolex 24 At Daytona – Overall/Class Winners (Drivers)

Hurley Haywood and Scott Pruett have each won the Rolex 24 At Daytona five times overall, an astonishing feat considering all that goes into winning - and what could go wrong during - a day-long endurance sports car race.

But that’s just overall victories. Pruett has amassed twice that many when you look at class wins, victories awarded to those in each individual category. In addition to his five overall wins – all in Daytona Prototypes – Pruett has 10 class wins. His first Rolex 24 win came in the 1987, when he topped the GTO category with Bill Elliott, Lyn St. James and Tom Gloy in a Ford Mustang. In fact, he didn’t win the race overall until 1994, which accounted for his fifth-class victory.

In addition to his five overall wins, Haywood achieved victory in the GT2500 category in 1972, driving with Peter Gregg, the first of three wins together for the Brumos Racing pair. Gregg also has six class wins – four overall and two others.

A total of 131 drivers have topped the overall leaderboard in 55 previous runnings of the Rolex 24, and 512 have been atop their classes when the checkered flag flew.

24 Statistics on the History of the Rolex 24 At Daytona (January 22, 2018)

The 56th annual Rolex 24 At Daytona is this Saturday and Sunday, January 27-28, at Daytona International Speedway in Florida. A total of 50 cars is expected to compete for victories in four classes of the opening-race of the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship.

With some specifics and statistics on competitors in this year’s race coming later in the week, here are 24 interesting, random tidbits that have occurred during the first 55 races.

All-Time Dakar Rally Champions, Through 2018 Race (January 21, 2018)

The 2018 Dakar Rally ended Saturday, January 20, in Cordoba, Argentina. Three competitors added to their Dakar Rally overall victory total, while two drivers won the race for the first time.

Eduard Nikolaev (Russia) won his third race in the truck category, while Carlos Sainz (Spain) and Ignacio Casale (Chile) became two-time Dakar Rally champions in cars and quads, respectively. Matthias Walkner (Austria) and Reinaldo Varela (Brazil) won the race for the first time in their careers.

A total of 62 competitors have now won at least one Dakar Rally, and 27 have won more than once. Here is a list every driver who has won the Dakar Rally at least once.

2018 Dakar Rally Statistics, Stage 14 and Overall Winners (January 20, 2018)

The 2018 Dakar Rally concluded Saturday, January 20, with three competitors adding another victory to their credit and two others triumphing for the first time in the prestigious rally raid through three countries in South America.

Eduardo Nikolaev (Russia) took his Kamaz to victory in the truck category, giving him a third career win in the Dakar Rally as a driver and fourth total (one as a mechanic), while two-time World Rally Championship titlist Carlos Sainz (cars) and Ignacio Casale (quads) topped their respective categories for the second time. Matthias Walkner (bikes) and Reinaldo Varela (SxS) triumphed in their races to score maiden Dakar victories.

2018 Dakar Rally Statistics, Stage 13 (January 19, 2018)

The penultimate stage of the 2018 Dakar Rally took place Friday, January 19, in Argentina, with the running of the 13th stage (12th stage running), a long journey from San Juan to Cordoba. Cars, SxS vehicles and trucks completed a distance of 929 kilometers. Bikes and quads completed a marginally shorter distance of 907 kilometers, a day after the stage for those categories was canceled. The event will end Saturday with a much shorter, 284-campaign in the Cordoba area.

All five of the leaders heading into the stage left with solid showings and heading into the final stage with strong leads. Eduard Nikolaev (Russia) took a decisive victory in the truck category, winning his category-high fourth stage. Federico Villagra, who was behind by only a second heading into Friday’s event, abandoned the event altogether with mechanical problems. Now running second is Siarhei Viazovich (Belarus).

Nasser Al-Attiyah (Qatar; cars) took his fourth win and Patrice Garrouste (France; SxS) his fifth, both category-bests, respectively. Al-Attiyah also moved to second overall behind Carlos Sainz (Spain), while Garrouste remained second to Reinaldo Varela (Brazil).

Toby Price (Australia; bikes) and Jeremias Gonzalez Ferioli (Argentina; quads) each took their second stage victories of the event Friday. Matthias Walkner (Austria) and Ignacio Casale (Chile) lead the bike and quad categories overall, respectively. Walkner recently took command of the bikes while Ignacio Casale has led the entire event for the quads.

2018 Dakar Rally Statistics, Stage 12 (January 18, 2018)

The 2018 Dakar Rally continued in Argentina on Thursday, January 18, with the 12th stage (11th stage running). Competitors made the 791-kilometer journey from Fiambala/Chilecito to San Juan.

The biggest story for the bikes and quads was that their stage was canceled. The scheduled 722-kilometer journey was canceled “following the study of the safety conditions for bikes and quads,” according to race organizers.

Eduard Nikolaev (Russia) reclaimed the trucks lead by a single second over Federico Villagra (Argentina) following Thursday’s stage, in which he claimed third to Villagra’s fourth. Ton Van Genugten (Netherlands) won the stage – his third, all since last Friday’s rest day – by just over four minutes in his Iveco. Villagra had taken command overall following Wednesday’s event, by just 67 seconds.

Carlos Sainz (Spain), the car category leader, lost ground with problems and was ninth in Thursday’s stage, more than 18 minutes behind stage winner Nasser Al-Attiyah (Qatar), earning his category-high third triumph. However, Sainz remains ahead overall, his one-hour lead from Wednesday dropping to a 44-minute plus advantage over Stephane Peterhansel (France), also a third-time stage winner this year. Peterhansel was second in Thursday’s stage.

Reinaldo Varela (Brazil) padded his lead in the SxS category with a fifth stage victory, the most of any competitor in this year’s event. Varela took his Can-Am to victory by more than 11 minutes over Claude Fournier (France), and heads into Friday’s stage with a lead of more than an hour over Patrice Garrouste (France). Only six competitors in the SxS category finished the race, which took Varela more than nine hours to cover. Leo Larrauri (Argentina), a rookie, finished, but it took him more than 20 hours; he was also given a four-hour penalty.

Here are the winners/leaders and some of the statistics following the 12th stage of the 40th Dakar Rally.

2018 Dakar Rally Statistics, Stage 11 (January 17, 2018)

The 2018 Dakar Rally continued Wednesday, January 17, with the 11th stage (10th stage running). Competitors in the car, SxS and truck categories contested a 747-kilometer run, while those in the bike and quad categories made a shorter, 485-kilometer journey from Belen to Fiambala, Argentina.

The only change in the overall standings occurred in the truck category, as Federico Villagra (Argentina) earned his sixth runner-up effort to wrest the lead from Eduard Nikolaev (Russia) by a mere 67 seconds. Villagra had been cutting into the lead by about 3-5 minutes each stage, but Nikolaev experienced trouble that resulted in finishing seventh, his worst finish in 10 contested stages this event. He was 44 minutes behind Villagra, allowing the Argentinian an opportunity to take a slight lead heading into Thursday’s round, scheduled to end in San Juan.

2018 Dakar Rally Statistics, Stage 10 (January 16, 2018)

The 2018 Dakar Rally continued Tuesday, January 16, with the 10th stage (ninth stage running) – a 797-kilometer run from Salta to Belen, Argentina. The ninth stage the day before was canceled due to poor weather conditions along the scheduled route from Tupiza, Bolivia, to Salta.

83 Statistics for A.J. Foyt's 83rd Birthday (January 16, 2018)

Considered by many to be one of the greatest drivers in the history of motor racing in the United States, A.J. Foyt celebrates his 83rd birthday today, January 16.

Foyt is the all-time leader in many of IndyCar racing’s categories, including victories and championships, and was the first four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500. But, while Foyt was well-known for his IndyCar accolades, he certainly excelled in other forms of racing. He is one of two drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500 (Mario Andretti being the other); one of two drivers to win Indy and the 24 Hours of Le Mans overall (Graham Hill the other); and one of 13 Indy winners to triumph America’s top 24-hour race, the Rolex 24 At Daytona, overall.

Additionally, his 159 victories in USAC competition – spanning from IndyCars to Sprint cars, Midgets and Silver Crown cars and stock cars – are the most of any driver in the sanctioning body’s history.

Since it is Foyt’s 83rd birthday, here is a look at 83 Foyt facts, figures and statistics spanning a wide range of motorsports activity.

2018 Dakar Rally Statistics, Stage 9 (January 15, 2018)

The ninth stage of the 2018 Dakar Rally was canceled Monday, January 15, due to weather conditions that would hamper assistance crews from assisting race vehicles. The 755-kilometer journey was to run from Tupiza, Bolivia, to Salta, Argentina.

Dan Gurney: 1931-2018 (January 15, 2018)

The word legend is used erroneously in many cases to describe athletes in the modern word. But to describe Dan Gurney as anything other than a legend would be a mistake.

Gurney, one of the top drivers of his day and a leader in the motorsports world both on and off the track for decades, passed away Sunday, January 14, from complications of pneumonia. He was 86. Our condolences to his family.

Gurney was the most driver in history to win races in IndyCars, NASCAR, Formula 1 and the top-level sports car ranks. And when you see drivers spraying champagne after they win a race – credit that to Gurney too. He started the tradition after winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1967.

With all seven of his IndyCar victories, as well as one of his NASCAR wins, coming in the No. 48, here are 48 bullet points – statistics, facts and figures – on the career of Dan Gurney.

2018 Dakar Rally Statistics, Stage 8 (January 14, 2018)

2018 Dakar Rally Statistics, Stage 8

The 2018 Dakar Rally continued Sunday, January 14, with the eighth stage – a 585-kilometer run (561 km for trucks) from Uyuni to Tupiza, Bolivia. Tupiza is the last destination in Bolivia before competitors arrive in Argentina on Monday, with the first stop there in Salta.

Nothing changed at the top of the overall leaderboards, but two drivers – Simon Vitse (quads) and Dmitry Sotnikov (trucks) – each earned their first stage victories of the event. Reinaldo Varela (SxS) added to his stage win total and now leads all drivers across all categories with four stage wins. French drivers Stephane Peterhansel (cars) and Antoine Meo (bikes) each triumphed for a second time this event; Peterhansel recording a 40th career stage victory in cars.

2018 Chili Bowl Statistics, Night 5 (January 13, 2018)

Christopher Bell successfully defended his Chili Bowl Nationals victory from 2017 on Saturday night, January 13, picking up the lead midway through the 55-lapper at the quarter-mile dirt oval at the Tulsa (Okla.) Expo Center.

Bell became the seventh driver to win the Chili Bowl Nationals multiple times, and the third to win the race in succession, joining Kevin Swindell (four straight) and Rico Abreu (2015-2016). Bell also added another victory for the Sooner State, represented with three Golden Drillers (Bell with two and Andy Hillenburg with one). Bell also recently won the Tulsa Shootout race.

Here is a quick recap of the fifth night of action in the 32nd annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire.

2018 Dakar Rally Statistics, Stage 7 (January 13, 2018)

Following a rest day Friday, January 12, the 2018 Dakar Rally continued Saturday, January 13, with the seventh stage – a 727-kilometer journey (671 kilometers for trucks) from La Paz to Uyuni, Bolivia.

The leaderboard in the bike category switched hands again as Adrien Van Beveren retook the overall lead from Kevin Benavides after a second-place showing. And in the car category, two-time World Rally Championship titlist Carlos Sainz scored his second consecutive stage win. Coupled with a large incident by 14-time Dakar Rally champ Stephane Peterhansel, whose Peugeot hit a rock and suffered damage, Sainz holds more than an hour advantage over Nasser Al-Attiyah, also a two-stage winner this year. Those in the car category found the stage rough, with a large attrition rate – 44 of the 61 competitors that left arrived at their destination.

Ignacio Casale (quads), Reinaldo Varela (SxS) and Eduard Nikolaev (trucks) also extended their leads; Casale and Varela more than an hour ahead of their nearest competitors. Varela also earned a third stage victory, the most in the SxS class.

Spain was a big winner in the seventh stage, with Sainz and Joan Barreda Bort (bikes) both victorious. Bort’s win was his class-leading third, and brought him to within five minutes of the overall lead in the category.

Here are the winners/leaders and some of the statistics following the seventh day of the 40th Dakar Rally.

2018 Chili Bowl Statistics, Night 4 (January 12, 2018)

The 32nd annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire at Tulsa (Okla.) Expo Raceway continued Friday night, January 12, with the fourth and final preliminary/qualifying race night heading into Saturday’s big event, the 55-lap A-Main.

In parenthesis, following the name of the winning driver, is the number corresponding to the number of heats/qualifiers/features they’ve won during this event heading into Saturday’s A-Main.

Here is a quick recap of the fourth night of action in the Chili Bowl.

2018 Dakar Rally Statistics, Through Stage 6 (January 12, 2018)

Competitors in the 2018 Dakar Rally took a rest day Friday in La Paz, Bolivia, as they gear up for the second half of the annual event through three countries in South America.

A total of six stages have been completed through Friday. All stages set in Peru have been contested, with more action scheduled to take place in Bolivia before competitors reach and complete the event in Argentina on January 20.

Experience is what leads the car category. Two-time defending champion Stephane Peterhansel of France, seeking an unprecedented 14th Dakar Rally crown (and eighth in the car category), sits atop the leaderboard in cars with a healthy lead over two-time World Rally Championship titlist Carlos Sainz. Peterhansel has one stage victory – the fifth-round journey from San Juan de Marcona to Arequipa, Peru – and leads Sainz by more than 27 minutes. Both drivers are in their 50s. Five of the top six drivers in the car category are listed as legends.

The closest category is the bike category, with Kevin Benavides of Argentina leading Adrien Van Beveren by only a minute and 57 seconds. Benavides – who wrested the lead from Van Beveren after the most recently completed round from Arequipa to La Paz – has yet to win a stage but his two runner-up finishes and a third-place effort have him in front.

Other overall leaders include: Ignacio Casale of Chile (quads); Reinaldo Varela of Brazil (SxS); and three-time champion Eduard Nikolaev of Russia (trucks). All three have leads of more than a half hour, in part due to multiple stage wins (Casale and Nikolaev each have three, and Varela has two).

The seventh stage of the 2018 Dakar Rally is scheduled for Saturday, January 13, with a 727-kilometer journey from La Paz to Uyuni, Bolivia.

2018 Chili Bowl Statistics, Night 3 (January 11, 2018)

The 32nd annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire at Tulsa (Okla.) Expo Raceway continued Thursday night, January 11, with the third of four preliminary/qualifying race nights heading into Saturday’s big event, the 55-lap A-Main.

In parenthesis, following the name of the winning driver, is the number corresponding to the number of heats/qualifiers/features they’ve won during this event heading into Saturday’s A-Main.

Here is a quick recap of the third night of action in the Chili Bowl.

2018 Dakar Rally Statistics, Stage 6 (January 11, 2018)

The Dakar Rally continued Thursday, January 11, with the sixth stage – a journey from Arequipa, Peru, to La Paz, Bolivia. The stage was 760 kilometers. The stage saw a new leader in the bike category, with the leaders in all of the other categories staying the same, with many of the leaders holding strong advantages.

Of the 251 competitors that left Arequipa, 233 arrived at the La Paz finish, representing 92.8 percent.

Here are the winners/leaders and some of the statistics following the sixth day.

2018 Chili Bowl Statistics, Night 2 (January 10, 2018)

The 32nd annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire at Tulsa (Okla.) Expo Raceway continued Wednesday night, January 10, with the second of four preliminary/qualifying race nights heading into Saturday’s big event, the 55-lap A-Main.

In parenthesis, following the name of the winning driver, is the number corresponding to the number of heats/qualifiers/features they’ve won during this event heading into Saturday’s A-Main.

Here is a quick recap of the second night of action in the Chili Bowl.

2018 Dakar Rally Statistics, Stage 5 (January 10, 2018)

The Dakar Rally continued Wednesday, January 10, with the fifth stage – a journey from San Juan de Marcona to Arequipa, Peru. The stage was 774 kilometers for bikes and quads, and 934 kilometers for cars, SxS vehicles and trucks.

Here are the winners/leaders and some of the statistics following the fifth day.

2018 Chili Bowl Statistics, Night 1 (January 9, 2018)

The 32nd annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire at Tulsa (Okla.) Expo Raceway begin Tuesday night, January 9, with the first of four preliminary/qualifying race nights heading into Saturday’s big event, the 55-lap A Main.

In parenthesis, following the name of the winning driver, is the number corresponding to the number of heats/qualifiers/features they’ve won during this event heading into Saturday’s A Main.

Here is a quick recap of the first night of action in the Chili Bowl.

2018 Dakar Rally Statistics, Stage 4 (January 9, 2018)

The Dakar Rally continued Tuesday, January 9, with the fourth stage – a 444-kilometer journey from and to San Juan de Marcona, Peru. The day was another of high attrition, again shortening the overall field. The race also saw changes atop the leaderboard in many categories, with many favorites and leaders experiencing trouble. Here are the winners/leaders and some of the statistics following the fourth day.

2018 Dakar Rally Statistics, Stage 3 (January 8, 2018)

The Dakar Rally continued Monday, January 8, with the third stage and longest thus far – a 504-kilometer journey from Pisco to San Juan de Marcona, Peru. The stage definitely took its toll on competitors, with a high rate of attrition during the race. Here are the winners/leaders and some of the statistics following the third day.

2018 Dakar Rally Statistics, Stage 2 (January 7, 2018)

The Dakar Rally continued Sunday, January 7, with the second stage – a 279-kilometer journey (278 kilometers for cars) from Pisco to Pisco, Peru. Here are the winners/leaders and some of the statistics following the second day.

Mike McGreevy – Racing Statistics (January 7, 2018)

Mike McGreevy, a two-time USAC National Midget Series champion, passed away January 5 in Colorado. He was 92, having celebrated his birthday two days beforehand. Our condolences to his family and friends.

McGreevy topped the Midget points standings in 1965 and defended the title in 1966, becoming the third driver to win multiple Midget titles in succession (Shorty Templeman and Jimmy Davies won back-to-back-to-back championships). He added a pair of runner-up efforts in the points standings in 1967 and 1968. He recorded 30 USAC Midget victories, all within a seven-year span. He began competing in Midgets in 1947 in San Francisco.

Born January 3, 1926, McGreevy was also a three-time champion in the California-based Bay Cities Racing Association (BCRA) Midget series – in 1958, 1960 and 1962. He also won the 1965 BCRA indoor crown, and was a two-time ARA Sprint-car titlist, in 1956 and 1957.

Here are some statistics related to Mike McGreevy’s career.

2018 Dakar Rally Statistics, Stage 1 (January 6, 2018)

The Dakar Rally began Saturday, January 6, with the first stage – a 273-kilometer journey from Lima to Pisco, Peru. Here are the winners/leaders and some of the statistics following the first day.

Dakar Rally Statistics – 2018 Race Preview (January 4, 2018)

The annual Dakar Rally is scheduled to begin this Saturday, January 6, essentially kicking off the 2018 racing season. A total of 14 stages are expected to be run, commencing in Lima, Peru, crossing into Bolivia and ending Saturday, January 20, in Cordoba, Argentina. A single rest day will be observed Thursday, January 11, in La Paz, Bolivia.

This will be the 10th year in which the Dakar Rally will be contested in South America. The race’s origins began in Europe and Africa, most years beginning and/or ending in Dakar, Senegal. The race moved to South America in 2009, after concerns of possible terrorist attacks that resulted in organizers cancelling the 2008 Dakar Rally. The 2008 race was replaced, by organizers (Amaury Sport Organisation), with the Central Europe Rally.

Peru is hosting stages for the first time since 2013 and second time overall, while Argentina is part of the event for the 10th consecutive year (and fifth time as the ending point). Bolivia returns for the fifth consecutive Dakar Rally.

Below are some of the statistics related to this year’s Dakar Rally, as well as some specifics to the entry list.

Michael Schumacher - 49 Formula 1 Facts, Figures and Statistics (January 3, 2018)

Michael Schumacher – Formula 1 Statistics

Seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher was born on this day in 1969 in Hürth, Germany. He turns 49. We send out our best thoughts to him and his family.

Statistically-speaking, one can make an argument that Schumacher is the greatest driver in the history of F1. Most records for victories, pole positions, podiums – whether it be single season or career – and championships, belong to Schumi.

There are so many statistics related to Schumacher’s career that it would be difficult to list every single one. So, with this being Schumacher’s 49th birthday, here are 49 facts, figures, and statistics – most of them F1 records – related to his stellar Formula 1 career (* - denotes record as of January 2018).

Mexican Drivers – Formula 1 Statistics (January 2, 2018)

Pedro Rodríguez became the first and only driver from Mexico to win a Formula 1 World Championship race when he scored the victory in the 1967 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami, 51 years to the date of this blog (January 2). Rodríguez, driving the No. 4 Cooper-Maserati, finished about 26 seconds ahead of John Love, a native of Southern Rhodesia, the predecessor of the current state of Zimbabwe, in Africa.

Rodríguez – the older brother of Ricardo Rodríguez, the sport’s first Mexican driver – won his second and final race in the 1970 Belgian Grand Prix – the final race on the original 8.761-mile, 14.1-kilometer Spa-Francorchamps circuit – outlasting New Zealand’s Chris Amon about just over a second.

In the 47 years since Rodríguez won at Spa, other Mexican-born drivers have tried to emulate the feat. Most notably, Sergio Pérez, born in Guadalajara, became the only other Mexican driver to earn a podium spot when he finished second in the 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang International Circuit.

Here are some of the statistics in which Mexican drivers have achieved while competing in Formula 1 (in no particular order).

Jim Clark – Formula 1 Statistics (January 1, 2018)

Fifty years ago today, on January 1, 1968, Jim Clark competed in his final Formula 1 World Championship race, the 80-lap South African Grand Prix at Kyalami Circuit in Midrand. Clark averaged 107.422 mph to become the first race winner to eclipse that barrier.

Clark died as a result of an accident while competing in the Deutschland Trophäe, a Formula Two race at the Hockenheimring in Germany less than three months later, on April 7.

Of course, Clark was well-known for his driving abilities and finesse in a car, according to many drivers and analysts at the time. He won the Indianapolis 500, part of the USAC Championship Trail, in 1965, and competed in a number of Formula Two races. He contested the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times, coming close to winning on twice.

But it was Clark’s accomplishments in Formula 1 in which he was known for best. In fact, The Times, the British national daily newspaper based in London, named Clark the greatest driver in Formula 1 history in an article published in 2009.

Here are some of the statistics Clark achieved while competing in Formula 1.