[ryan71]

"I don't care for Robby Gordon, but he's right. A lighter driver has an advantage."

"How big of an advantage can it be?"

Over 500 miles...

If the winner averaged 220 mph and the 2nd place car averaged 219.99, the 2nd place car would be 120 feet behind.

A car going 220 mph covers 323 feet per second.

So .01 mph makes a difference.

[Rodney King]

So .01 mph makes a difference.

Sure, but the fact that all of the drivers are not little elves like jockeys are would suggest that the difference is small compared to a number of other variables that determine what is or is not a good driver.