Kentucky: The missing track for Chevrolet drivers – Nascar

Of the 23 tracks that currently host one or more NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events, Kentucky Speedway remains the only venue that hasn’t seen a Chevrolet driver celebrating in Victory Lane.

The 1.5-mile track, which will host Saturday night’s Quaker State 400 Presented (7:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) held its’ first Sprint Cup race in 2011. This weekend’s race will be just the sixth premier series event at the facility, which is owned by Speedway Motorsports Inc.

Kyle Busch (Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Toyota) has a pair of victories there, as does Brad Keselowski (Team Penske No. 2 Ford). Matt Kenseth (JGR No. 20 Toyota) is also a former Kentucky winner.

Keselowski, last week’s Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola winner at Daytona International Speedway, won at Kentucky in a Dodge (in 2012) as well as a Ford (2014).

The lack of success at the track isn’t something Chevrolet officials and teams take lightly.

“Our teams are very aware that we haven’t won at this race track,” said Alba Colon, program manager for Chevrolet in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. “It’s a big deal.”

Chevrolet drivers have finished second twice, Kasey Kahne (Hendrick Motorsports) in 2012 and Jamie McMurray (Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates) the following year. But perhaps the automaker’s most difficult loss to swallow was the ’13 race, one that saw Jimmie Johnson dominate only to lose the lead, and the race, following a late caution.

Johnson (HMS) led 182 of 267 laps before a fuel-only stop by Kenseth put the JGR driver out front on a restart; Johnson’s chances faded when the No. 48 entry spun moments later.

There are tracks where Chevrolet teams have been dominant. They have won six straight at Phoenix International Raceway, for example, and 12 of the past 13 events at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Thus far, Kentucky has been a tougher nut to crack.

“We have had only five races so far (at Kentucky),” Colon said, noting runnerup finishes by McMurray and Kahne. “We’ve won the pole three times. Top-five and top-10 finishes. We haven’t been able to close it.”

That could change this weekend. For just the second, and final, time this season teams will be competing with a lower downforce aerodynamic package. The track has been repaved and Turns 1 and 2 have been reconfigured with the banking increased three degrees.

“I really believe that with the new rules and everything being so equal right now … this is a great chance for us to do it,” Colon said.

Fourteen teams tested at Kentucky June 13-14. Fastest through the two days of practice was the Chevrolet entry of 2014 series champion Kevin Harvick and his No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing team.

Harvick has yet to lead a lap at the track, but has finished 10th or higher in his last three starts there.

It’s one of only four tracks, along with Pocono, Sonoma and Texas, where he has yet to win. Ditto for Johnson, who counts Kentucky, Watkins Glen, Homestead and Chicagoland as tracks where he has yet to visit Victory Lane.

And three-time champ Tony Stewart is winless at only two current tracks – Kentucky and Darlington. The three-times series champion will close the book on his Sprint Cup Series career at season’s end. Going out with a win at each track, he said, would make his departure all the more memorable.

Chevrolet teams have 758 wins in NASCAR through the years, most of any automaker.

“But it’s a goal,” Colon said, “to have a win at every track.

“We have been very successful. And we still have one more track to win.”