2010 NASCAR Sylvania 300 Picks & Predictions
By Anthony Rome
This week, NASCAR kicks off its Chase for the Championship with the Sylvania 300 Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
After 26 races, the field is now set and the next 12 events promise to be exciting with this year’s field more bunched together than in the past.
It’s always important for drivers to get out of the gate quickly, but at the same time they also have to think points since they really only get one bad finish during the chase. The thinking has always been that you get one mulligan during the chase, so drivers are less inclined to take any big chances early on. So don't look for much excitement from the top drivers in the standings in the first few races.
When you think of a flat track, New Hampshire International Speedway fits the bill perfectly with only a maximum of seven degrees of banking, as little as two degrees in the turns, and just one degree in the straightaway. Many good drivers struggle on this type of track while others excel, which makes it a bit easier to narrow down the list of contenders among those drivers in the chase.
Jimmie Johnson 4/1
Johnson won the last four titles because he stayed consistent throughout a 10-race stretch and Loudon is the type of track that he’s always done well at. Since switching to the COT car, Johnson has been very consistent and has never finished outside of the top 10, although surprisingly he hadn't won at Loudon until taking this year’s race earlier in the season. We think Johnson starts off the drive for his fifth consecutive Championship with a win.
Denny Hamlin 5/1
Denny Hamlin had really cooled off down the stretch until he won last week’s race. That win could be the jump-start that he and his team needed for him to capture his first championship. Hamlin has always been a master on flat tracks and is one of only five drivers in the chase to win here. Look for Hamlin to keep his hot streak alive and contend for the win again this week.
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Kurt Busch 12/1
Kurt Busch has always done well on most short tracks and Loudon is no exception. Busch has won here in the COT car and has fared well in the last five races with no finish worse than sixth. He has struggled a bit lately, but we think you should see the real Kurt Busch this week now that the chase has started.