Loudon preview
Micah Roberts
The NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Loudon, New Hampshire this weekend has already been played out somewhat because of what we have seen at two separate tracks already this season. The future can be seen as well as any combination of tracks on the circuit by observing what happens on the three similar tracks of New Hampshire, Richmond, and Phoenix.
All three of the tracks are varied in shape and size, but the one common denominator is that they are all relatively flat. The successful crew chiefs always bring the same chassis that did well on one of those particular tracks to the next on the mid-flat track circuit. The history at Loudon shows that if you are good on one of the three tracks, you’ll likely be good on all three no matter what era or model of car.
Last season, the first year of the COT proved to be just as predictable as the old models with Jimmie Johnson winning 3 of the 6 combined spring and fall races at each track. In 2006 Kevin Harvick put on a show dominating in 4 of the 6 races. In fact, of all the years of having two races at New Hampshire, only 2001 stands out as a year where there was no multiple winners by one driver.
Kurt Busch held the title belt for a while passed on from Dale Earnhardt Jr, Johnson again, Matt Kenseth, Jeff Burton, Tony Stewart, Burton again, and Dale Jarrett. Prior to those drivers, Terry Labonte, Rusty Wallace, and Davey Allison were paving the way for modern day teams as they tied together the similarities between Phoenix and Richmond, the blue print of which still exists today.
Having exhausted myself with all that fanatical ranting, the driver to look at this week is a driver that hasn’t even won yet at Phoenix or Richmond. Jimmie Johnson and Clint Bowyer visited the winners circle in those races, but the car that perhaps may have been the most dominant combined in both races was Denny Hamlin’s.
Hamlin finished 3rd in the fuel gambled win by Johnson at Phoenix and then led 381 laps at Richmond until his tire went flat. When Hamlin was taken out of the mix, Kyle Busch battled Junior for the win and almost wrecked each other. When they wobbled and slowed, Bowyer swooped in with the cherry pickin’ win.
So if you look at the actual races and what happened and see who dominated them, or at least did well in both, you should have a good head start at possibly snagging a good price. Junior falls into that category because he ran very well at both without the final results saying so plus he’s got several combined wins at Phoenix and Richmond during his career.
Another driver that fits criteria is Mark Martin who was leading at Phoenix before having to pit at the end of the race. He finished 5th there and then came back with a 3rd at Richmond. The issue this week is that this is one of the races Martin steps aside for rookie Aric Almirola. The car will be good and Almirola presents a decent long shot chance of winning. No one will give him shot just because he’s Aric Almirola so his odds will likely be pretty high. He’ll also fare well in matchups against lesser opponents that drive below average cars.
The other good car at D.E.I. is Martin Truex Jr who has taken his car to two top ten finishes in the two races run, being one of only five drivers in the two races to finish in the top ten in both.
Kyle Busch will likely be Hamlin’s toughest competition this week. In 6 Loudon starts he has 3 top 5 finishes that include one win. If it comes down to the two at the end of the race, I’d look for Kyle to take a back seat to Hamlin if Hamlin is up front late. Hamlin won’t buy that theory though because he knows Kyle will bump anyone if it gets him in the win, so Hamlin will have to drive like it’s the plague chasing him.
TOP 5 Finish prediction:
1-#11 Denny Hamlin (8/1)
2-#18 Kyle Busch (7/1)
3-#88 Dale Earnhardt Jr (12/1)
4-#1 Martin Truex Jr (20/1)
5-#07 Clint Bowyer (10/1)
VegasInsider.com
Driver Highlights - New Hampshire
VegasInsider.com
Note: All driver statistics that follow are from New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The Loop Data statistics – Driver Rating, Average Running Position, etc. – in this release, however, cover the last six races at New Hampshire. NASCAR’s scoring loops began collecting data for statistical purposes in 2005.
Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M’s Toyota) 6/1
# One win, three top fives
# Average finish of 14.2
# Average Running Position of 13.0, 10th-best
# Driver Rating of 96.2, eighth-best
# 95 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most
# Average Green Flag Speed of 124.388 mph, seventh-fastest
# 1,213 (67.1%) Laps in the Top 15, eighth-most
# 148 Quality Passes, eighth-most
Jeff Burton (No. 31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet) 20/1
# Four wins, seven top fives, 12 top 10s
# Average finish of 13.2
# Average Running Position of 12.1, fifth-best
# Driver Rating of 94.6, ninth-best
# 373 Green Flag Passes, tied for 10th-most
# 1,241 (68.6%) Laps in the Top 15, seventh-most
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 Amp Energy/National Guard Chevrolet) 12/1
# Four top fives, seven top 10s
# Average finish of 17.5
# Average Running Position of 12.7, ninth-best
# Driver Rating of 99.5, sixth-best
# 91 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most
# 307 Green Flag Passes, fifth-most
# Average Green Flag Speed of 124.666 mph, third-fastest
# 1,328 (73.5%) Laps in the Top 15, fifth-most
# Series-high 198 Quality Passes
Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet) 13/1
# Three wins, 12 top fives, 15 top 10s; three poles
# Average finish of 11.6
# Series-best Average Running Position of 7.1
# Driver Rating of 108.7, second-best
# 162 Fastest Laps Run, second-most
# 273 Green Flag Passes, tied for 10th-most
# Average Green Flag Speed of 124.717 mph, second-fastest
# Series-high 1,600 (88.5%) Laps in the Top 15
# 187 Quality Passes, third-most
Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Toyota) 7/1
# One win, two top fives, three top 10s
# Average finish of 6.5
# Average Running Position of 10.3, third-best
# Driver Rating of 102.4, fourth-best
# 986 (81.6%) Laps in the Top 15, third-best percentage
# 151 Quality Passes (average of 37.8 per race), series-best average
Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet) 20/1
# One win, three top fives, eight top 10s; one pole
# Average finish of 12.6
# Average Running Position of 10.6, fourth-best
# Driver Rating of 102.0, fifth-best
# 96 Fastest Laps Run, third-best
# Average Green Flag Speed of 124.459 mph, fifth-fastest
# 1,298 (71.8%) Laps in the Top 15, sixth-best
Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet) 7/1
# Two wins, three top fives, seven top 10s
# Average finish of 10.7
# Average Running Position of 12.6, seventh-best
# Driver Rating of 96.7, seventh-best
# 70 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most
# 1,422 (78.7%) Laps in the Top 15, fourth-most
# 186 Quality Passes, fourth-most
Ryan Newman (No. 12 Alltel Dodge) 20/1
# Two wins, five top fives, nine top 10s; four poles
# Average finish of 11.1; Finished ninth in September
# Average Running Position of 12.4, sixth-best
# Driver Rating of 102.7, third-best
# 92 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most
# Average Green Flag Speed of 124.484 mph, fourth-fastest
# 1,448 (80.1%) Laps in the Top 15, third-most
# 157 Quality Passes, sixth-most
Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Toyota) 12/1
# Two wins, 10 top fives, 11 top 10s; one pole
# Average finish of 12.8
# Average Running Position of 9.6, second-best
# Series-best Driver Rating of 117.9
# Series-high 189 Fastest Laps Run
# Series-fastest Average Green Flag Speed of 124.790 mph
# 1,498 (82.9%) Laps in the Top 15, second-most
# 192 Quality Passes, second-most
Odds and Ends - New Hampshire
VegasInsider.com
New Hampshire Motor Speedway
History
# Groundbreaking for the New Hampshire Motor Speedway was Aug. 13, 1989. It was the first superspeedway to be constructed in the United States since 1969.
# The official opening was June 5, 1990 with the first race being a NASCAR Nationwide Series race on July 15, 1990.
# The track’s first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race was held on July 11, 1993. Notebook
# There have been 26 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway; one a year from 1993 through 1996 and two-a-year since.
# Four drivers have competed in all 26 races: Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte and Joe Nemechek.
# Mark Martin won the first NASCAR Sprint Cup pole.
# Rusty Wallace won the first NASCAR Sprint Cup race.
# There have been 14 different pole winners, led by Ryan Newman (four).
# 17 different drivers have posted victories led by Jeff Burton (four).
# Jimmie Johnson (2003) and Kurt Busch (2004) are the only drivers that have posted season sweeps. Those are also the only back-to-back winners.
# Roush Fenway Racing and Hendrick Motorsports have each won six races, more than any other organization.
# Chevrolet has won 12 New Hampshire races – including five of the past six.
# 14 of 26 races have been won from the top 10 starting positions, including four from the pole.
# The deepest in the field that a race winner started was 38th, by Jeff Burton in 1999.
# There has been one postponed/re-scheduled race at New Hampshire. The 2001 fall race – the season finale – was run in November, after being rescheduled following the September 11 terrorist attacks.
# Qualifying at New Hampshire has been canceled three times: September 2001, July 2003 and September 2004.
# Prior to this weekend’s race, all NASCAR Sprint Cup races at New Hampshire have been scheduled for 300 laps. This Sunday’s race is scheduled for 301 laps.
# Jeff Burton led all 300 laps raced in the 2000 fall race.
# Denny Hamlin has an average finish of 6.5 in four races at New Hampshire – the best of any driver with more than one race there. He has one victory, three top-10s and a worst finish of 15th. Hamlin has led in three of his four races.
# The driver that led the most laps has won the race at New Hampshire in 12 of the 26 races, including three of the last four.
# There have been seven different pole winners in the past eight New Hampshire races (qualifying was canceled once in the eight-race period).
# There have been seven different race winners in the past seven New Hampshire races.
NASCAR in New Hampshire
# There have been 26 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in New Hampshire – all at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
# 13 NASCAR drivers in the three national series (all-time) have their home state recorded as New Hampshire.
# There has been one race winner from New Hampshire in NASCAR’s three national series:
New Hampshire Motor Speedway Data
Race #: 17 of 36 (6-29-08)
Track Size: 1.058 miles
Race Length: 318.458 miles (301 laps)
Driver Rating at New Hampshire
Tony Stewart 117.9
Jeff Gordon 108.7
Ryan Newman 102.7
Denny Hamlin 102.4
Kevin Harvick 102.0
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 99.5
Jimmie Johnson 96.7
Kyle Busch 96.2
Jeff Burton 94.6
Mark Martin 92.1
Note: Driver Rating compiled from 2005-2007 races (6 total) at New Hampshire.
Qualifying/Race Data
2007 pole winner: Dave Blaney (129.437 mph, 29.426 seconds)
2006 race winner: Denny Hamlin, 108.215 mph, 7-1-07)
Track qualifying record: Ryan Newman (133.357 mph, 28.561 secs., 9-12-03)
Track race record: Jeff Burton (117.134 mph, 7-13-97)
Estimated Pit Window: 70-78 laps, based on fuel mileage.
Driver to win the Loudon Industrial Tools 301
Kyle Busch +500
Denny Hamlin +650
Jimmie Johnson +700
Carl Edwards +700
Dale Earnhardt Jr +900
Tony Stewart +900
Jeff Gordon +1000
Kevin Harvick +1400
Matt Kenseth +1400
Greg Biffle +1600
Clint Bowyer +1600
Martin Truex Jr +1600
Jeff Burton +2500
Kasey Kahne +2500
Brian Vickers +2500
Ryan Newman +3500
Kurt Busch +3500
David Ragan +4000
Field +2200
TheGreek.com
RacingOne Power Rankings
RacingOne.com
Kyle Busch might be back on top of the RacingOne Power Rankings, but look out for Roush Fenway drivers Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards, who have been on a tear over the past seven races. RacingOne's rankings are based on a combination of season-to-date loop data, season standings and staff selections by Jeff Wackerlin and Rachael West.
1. Kyle Busch: Busch is back on top in the rankings after he captured his first Sprint Cup Series road course win at Infineon. He still holds the best season-to-date driver rating (111.1) thanks in part to his series leading five victories in 2008. Now Busch heads to New Hampshire, where he won in 2006, and will look to make it the first track where he has won multiple times in the Cup Series.
Last Week's Rank: Fourth
2. Matt Kenseth: Kenseth moved into second in the rankings after he finished eighth at Infineon, which marked his sixth consecutive top 10 of the season. In that span, Kenseth has put together an average finish of 5.8 and has jumped from 22nd to 12th in the standings. This weekend he will look to continue his hot streak at New Hampshire where he has an average finish of 10.5 in 16 starts.
Last Week's Rank: Third
3. Carl Edwards: Like his teammate Kenseth, Edwards has been on a tear in the last seven races. His ninth-place finish at Infineon gave him an overall average finish of 6.4 in that span. He still remains the only driver that has completed over 4,000 laps in the top 15 this season. Edwards has started seven races at New Hampshire, capturing one top 10, a second-place finish in 2006.
Last Week's Rank: First
4. Dale Earnhardt Jr: Earnhardt Jr. dropped a few spots in the rankings after finishing 12th at Infineon. And although he still holds the third best driver rating on the season at 103.7, Junior will need to reclaim the "magic" at New Hampshire to get back in front of Kenseth and Edwards in the rankings. In 17 starts at NHIS, Earnhardt Jr. has posted seven top 10s with a best finish of third in 2004.
Last Week's Rank: Second
5. Jeff Burton: Burton kept his streak of finishing in the top 15 in every races this season alive after finishing 13th at Infineon. His 8.5 average finish in 2008 still ranks number one among all drivers in the 16 races. Burton stands a good chance of keeping his streak alive at New Hampshire where he has finished in the top 15 in seven of the last eight races.
Last Week's Rank: Fifth
6. Jeff Gordon: Gordon jumped to sixth in the rankings after he notched his seventh top five of the season with a third-place finish at Infineon. The finish wasn't easy for Gordon as he had to rebound from falling deep in the running order early in the race. This weekend Gordon stands a good chance of making up more ground at New Hampshire Motor Speedway where he has captured two runner-up finishes in the two Car of Tomorrow races contested there.
Last Week's Rank: Ninth
7. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson qualified second at Infineon, but battled a tight race car to a 15th-place finish in the Toyota/Save Mart 350. This weekend Johnson will look to extend his season leading average starting position of 7.4 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, a track where he holds two victories.
Last Week's Rank: Sixth
8. Tony Stewart: Stewart twice rallied his way from deep in the field at Sonoma and recovered from a spin in the final laps to finish 10th. It was his second straight top-10 finish and eighth of the season. Stewart is a two-time winner at Loudon and three-time runner-up. His average finish is 12.8 and he has the best pre-race driver rating of 117.9.
Last Week's Rank: 10th
9. Brian Vickers: Vickers wasn't able to bring Team Red Bull another top-10 finish last weekend, but his 14th-place result was music to the team's ears. Vickers and the new team failed to qualify for the event in 2007. He enters the New Hampshire race 104 points out of the top 12. Last year at NHMS, Vickers failed to qualify in this event and finished 43rd in the fall. He has one top 10 at the track while driving for Rick Hendrick, a fifth in the fall of 2006.
Last Week's Rank: Seventh
10. Clint Bowyer: Bowyer jumped back into the power rankings after finishing fourth in Sonoma. It was his best finish since capturing the race win at Richmond in the beginning of May. After battling through three bad finishes at New Hampshire, Bowyer won his first career Cup race at there last fall from the pole position.
Last Week's Rank: N/R
11. Greg Biffle: Biffle had a car good enough to lead at Sonoma, but a mistake on a turn early in the race caused him to spin and drop to 30th. He was able to work his way back up to 11th, earning him the seventh spot in the standings. Biffle had a run of three straight top-five finishes in 2005 and 2006 at New Hampshire, but since then has finished three times outside the top 10. His average finish there is 19.4.
Last Week's Rank: 11th
12. Kasey Kahne: Kahne started from the pole at Sonoma but because of a loose car wasn't able to capitalize on the position and finished 33rd. He dropped two spots in the standings to ninth. At New Hampshire, Kahne has a 15.6 average finish and hasn't posted a top 10 there since this event in 2006.
Last Week's Rank: Eighth
13. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin posted a mediocre 27th-place finish at Sonoma and dropped another two spots in the standings to eighth. He's the defending winner at New Hampshire and has an average finish there of 6.5. With four finishes of 15th or better there, Hamlin has the fourth best pre-race driver rating of 102.4.
Last Week's Rank: 13th
14. David Gilliland: Gilliland surprised everyone with a runner-up finish at Sonoma from the 31st starting position and earns his third appearance in the power rankings. The finish was his best Cup finish to date in 67 starts. But as quickly as he popped into the rankings, he may just as quickly fall off as he's got a 34.3 average finish in three starts at New Hampshire.
Last Week's Rank: N/R
15. Casey Mears: With the news that he might be out at Hendrick next season, Mears went out and had one of his best road course races to date in the Cup Series. His fifth-place finish was his first top 10 in Sonoma and second top five on a Cup road course (fourth, 2004 Watkins Glen). It was also his best finish this season. Mears is coming off his best New Hampshire finish of eighth last fall. It is his only finish inside the top 15 in 10 starts.
Last Week's Rank: N/R
LENOX Industrial Tools 301 PreQ
Although he was one of the favorites to win at Infineon last weekend Jeff Gordon’s #24 DuPont Chevrolet was virtually garbage. The team battled all day long with handling issues and managed to end the day with a 3rd place finish. Those are the types of runs the team needs if they are to compete for the championship this season. Gordon, who has yet to get to victory lane this season, ranks as the No. 1 driver on our PreQ forecast thanks in part to that solid finish as well as a 10th place average finish over the 20 races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Gordon has just one win in that span but recorded a pair 2nd place runs last season with 12 top 10s. He is desperately seeking his first win of the season and has a good shot this weekend in Loudon, NH.
In the beginning of May, after a 38th place finish at Richmond, Matt Kenseth found himself sitting outside the top 20 in the point standing with many around the sport wondering what was wrong with the #17 DeWalt Ford team. Kenseth was unsure himself but felt the team just needed a little bit of good fortune. He has had more than good fortune as Kenseth finds himself in the top 12 in the point standings after recording the first top 10 finish of his career on a road course. Kenseth posted an 8th place finish at Infineon giving him his sixth consecutive top 10 finish. The team is on a roll and heads to a track in which Kenseth has run well at in his career. In 16 starts he has 11 top 10s with a 10th place average finish. Kenseth is poised for a win and will be contending for the top spot this Sunday afternoon.
It has been a rough go of it lately for Denny Hamlin. In the last six races Hamlin has just two top 10s with four finishes outside the top 20 while averaging a 20th place finish. He is in desperate need of a good run. With New Hampshire up next things should turn around for the #11 FedEx Toyota as Hamlin is the defending race champion. In four career starts at the track Hamlin has three top 10s with an average finish of 6th place. He is among the best drivers on the speedways averaging a 12th place finish in 18 career starts on the speedways with 11 top 10s. Hamlin should be able to turn things around this weekend in the LENOX Industrial Tools 301.
It is been a solid season for Dale Earnhardt Jr. this season. He currently sits third in the point standings and ended a two year winless streak at Michigan a couple races ago. He had a respectable 12th place finish at Infineon and has just two finishes outside the top 15 on the year. Junior, however, has not had the greatest of luck at New Hampshire. In 17 starts he is averaging an 18th place finish with seven finishes coming outside the top 20. We’re not saying that Junior will have a bad day in Loudon – just that he may not be contending for the win at the end of the day. You may want to look elsewhere when selecting a top tier driver.
It was an unbelievable day in Sonoma, CA for David Gilliland who posted a 2nd place finish. He ran up front all day long after never finishing better than 25th in three career road course starts. It was Gilliland’s second top 10 of the year as he sits 21st in the point standings. Don’t expect much out of Gilliland at New Hampshire though. In three career starts at the track he has never finished in the top 25 with an average finish 34th place. Gilliland does not have a top 10 finish in 13 speedways starts with an average finish of 26th place. While he produced a solid finish at Infineon he is not worthy of a roster spot in Loudon.
profantasysports.com
LENOX Industrial Tools 301 Preview
Kyle Busch will be looking to add to his series-leading win total on Sunday when he arrives at New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the 2008 LENOX Industrial Tools 301.
Busch is coming off a victory in the Toyota/Save Mart 350 on the road course at Infineon Raceway. That win was the fifth of the season for Busch, and he has 10 Top-5 results and 11 Top-10 finishes so far this year. Busch was also able to extend his lead in the driver standings with the win in Sonoma; he's now 103 points up on Jeff Burton.
David Gilliland was second at Infineon, with Jeff Gordon, Clint Bowyer, and Casey Mears following him across the finish line. Juan Montoya, Ryan Newman, Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards, and Tony Stewart rounded out the day's Top 10, while Greg Biffle ended up in 11th spot, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. came in just behind him with a 12th-place result.
Burton lost ground in the driver standings by finishing 13th at Infineon, while Jimmie Johnson had to settle for a 15th-place result. Martin Truex Jr. wound up in 16th place, Denny Hamlin was 27th, Kevin Harvick was 30th, and Kasey Kahne was back in 33rd.
The top five drivers in the standings remain unchanged from last week, with Earnhardt Jr., Edwards, and Johnson following leaders Busch and Burton. Gordon jumped three spots into sixth place in the standings with his result in the Toyota/Save Mart 350, while Biffle actually moved up one spot to seventh. Hamlin and Kahne both fell two spots to eighth and ninth place, with Bowyer, Stewart, and Kenseth now rounding out the Top 12.
Harvick dropped out of the Top 12 with his finish in Sonoma; he's now in 13th place, two points behind Kenseth. David Ragan sits 14th in the standings, with Brian Vickers 15th.
Harvick, though, has won at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in the past; he took the checkered flag there in the Sylvania 300 in 2006. Burton has had the most past success on that track - he won races there in four straight years from 1997 to 2000. Gordon has three career wins at New Hampshire, but his most recent win there came back in 1998.
Other drivers with multiple New Hampshire wins on their resume include Newman (2005 and 2002), Stewart (2005 and 2000), Kurt Busch (twice in 2004), and Johnson (twice in 2003). Kyle Busch won the LENOX Industrial Tools 300 back in 2006, while Bowyer and Hamlin visited victory lane in the two races held in New Hampshire in the 2007 season.
The Vegas oddsmakers like Kyle Busch's chances of earning yet another win this weekend, as he's been pegged as the 6/1 race favorite. Johnson, Bowyer, and Hamlin are each sitting at 7/1, with Edwards at 8/1, and Stewart and Kahne just behind at 10/1.
Gordon and Earnhardt Jr. are each listed with 12/1 odds to score a win at New Hampshire on Sunday, with Kenseth at 15/1, Burton at 18/1, and both Biffle and Truex Jr. at 20/1. Kurt Busch and Harvick round out the top tier of contenders; they're at 25/1.
Kyle Busch also continues to lead the way atop the Sprint Cup odds list, as he's pegged as the 5/2 favorite to be crowned the series champion this season. Earnhardt Jr. is behind him at 3/1, with Edwards at 7/2, Johnson at 5/1, and Hamlin at 7/1. Gordon is listed with 10/1 odds, while each of Stewart, Biffle, and Burton are just behind at 12/1.
After racing in the LENOX Industrial Tools 301 the drivers of the Sprint Cup Series will move on to Daytona International Speedway for the Coke Zero 400 on July 5. The schedule then features the LifeLock.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on July 12, and the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 27.
LENOX Industrial Tools 301 Driver Rating
Tony Stewart has turned things around nicely. He leads NASCAR’s driver ratings headed into the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He has back-to-back top 10s, which have moved him up to 11th in the point’s race. Stewart finished 3rd in this event last season, and has led 26% of the laps ran at New Hampshire in the past three years. This may be a very interesting week for Stewart, as Yahoo Sports reported that “details have leaked out which point to Stewart assuming either a majority or full ownership of Haas/CNC Racing, which is currently a satellite team of Hendrick Motorsports. Reports surfaced last week that Stewart toured the Hendrick shop”. Smoke is always entertaining.
Denny Hamlin hasn’t been very consistent all season. That’s not the case at New Hampshire. In four career starts there, he has an average finish of 6.5, including a victory last season. Hamlin has dropped to 8th in the Sprint Cup standings, and need a couple solid runs to lock up a spot in the Chase.
Things have started to go very bad for Kevin Harvick. He’s on the outside looking in at the Chase after falling to 13th in the Sprint Cup standings. After a nice start to the season, Harvick has failed to finish in the top 10 for six consecutive races. He must be trilled to be going to New Hampshire. Harvick has an average finish of 10.5 at the track and has led nearly 11% of all laps ran there over the past six races.
profantasysports.com
LENOX Industrial Tools 301 HOT! Sheet
Even the rigors of a road course couldn’t stop Matt Kenseth from continuing his surge up through the standings. Despite starting way back in 33rd at Sonoma, he weaved all the way up to 8th at the end. It was his sixth top 10 in a row dating back to the race at Darlington. As our chart shows, his average finish is 5.83 in this run. In his last 11 trips to Loudon, NH he has posted 10 top 10s, so look for that trend to continue.
Some people think just because Jeff Gordon hasn’t won a race yet that he’s having a bad season. In actuality, he’s having one of the more successful and consistent seasons of any driver. The “rainbow warriors” have put together three top 5s in the last five weeks. His average finish in that span is about 7th. Last year here he posted a pair of runner-up finishes. Don’t be surprised if he ups that by one and finally gets to victory lane.
It’s been a while since we’ve seen the back flip, but that doesn’t mean Carl Edwards hasn’t been running well. In fact, he has led at least two laps in each of the last four races, and that’s resulted in top 10 finishes in each. At Dover he was runner-up. Then at Pocono he came in 9th. In Michigan he was scored 7th, and then last week he came in 9th. New Hampshire is very similar to the Milwaukee Mile, a place he just won a race at last weekend, so look for him to be a factor.
Not too long ago, it looked as though Robby Gordon was comfortably inside the top 35 in the standings. But now he finds himself battling to stay there and also stay out of the cellar of our hot sheet. As you can see, his average finish in the last three races is about 37th. At Pocono he never found a rhythm and finished a lap down in 36th. He was involved in a wreck at Michigan that sent him home 40th. High hopes last week were shattered as various problems took him way back to 36th. He may end up throwing his helmet here again this weekend like he did a few years ago.
Despite a nice rebound last week, Ryan Newman is still towards the bottom of the list this week. That’s because before finishing 7th at Sonoma, in his previous four events his average finish was about 24th. In three of those previous four, he failed to finish on the lead lap. Michigan was the worst when his engine gave way and only completed about half of the race and ended up 42nd. This track has been kind to him in the past, so we’re not saying bench him. But he does get our “buyer beware” label this week.
profantasysports.com
LENOX Industrial Tools 301 Odds and Predictions
by Christopher G. Shepard
NASCAR will go the extra mile this weekend as teams travel across the country to New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon for the LENOX Industrial Tools 301, televised by TNT on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. with the green flag set to wave at 2:16 p.m.
Quitting the Craftsmen Truck Series paid immediate dividends for Kyle Busch, who won his first road race last week at Sonoma after starting 30th on the grid. Busch increased his points lead over Jeff Burton to 103 points with his fifth win of the season and his ninth of his career. With his win at Infineon Busch has now won on every kind of course on the Sprint Cup circuit; super speedway, short-track, intermediate, and road. It appears that nothing will keep Busch from winning not only Sprint Cup but also the Nationwide series as well.
Who will win the LENOX Industrial Tools 301?
Don't look now but creeping up the standings and slowly improving with each race is two-time defending Sprint Cup champion, the driver of the No. 48 car, Jimmie Johnson. While he hasn't done much since winning the Subway 500 back in April he has stayed on course and managed to remain in fifth place, 326 points behind Busch. Johnson actually led last week before the caution early on in the race and then succumbed to Busch and was never able to rally. He started the race in second place and finished 15th. It has been a long-time (five years) since Johnson won back-to-back races at NHMS but the drought could end on Sunday.
Joe Gibbs Racing, however, certainly has an excellent stable of drivers this year and will look to put another driver in the winner's circle whether it be Kyle Busch, Tony Stewart or Denny Hamlin. While defending race champion Hamlin is definitely a candidate to finish this race in the top-five and perhaps the top-three, I think there are other drivers better suited to winning this race (if you exclude his teammate in the No. 18 car).
Gamblers looking for an edge should be aware that a Chevrolet has won at NHMS the past five consecutive races and seven of the last 10. Another recent trend is that two of the last three winners have started from the pole.
Pick: Jimmie Johnson, No. 48. 7/1
LENOX Industrial Tools 301 Solid Gold Picks
Sportsbook.com has listed many matchups on the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 this weekend. Last weekend due to the late availability of match-ups we were unable to provide a pick. We did mention how much we liked Juan Pablo Montoya. JPM was in contention to challenge Busch for the win at Infineon until he was spun out in lap 75 of the 110 laps. While he fell to 18th he rallied to finish the race in sixth. He beat most of the matchups and did not finish ahead of Jeff Gordon's third place as I figured would happen. My record Over-the-Wall is .500 at 10-10 with -1.20 units on the season after 16 of 36 Sprint Cup races have been completed.
Long Odds Value Pick
Clint Bowyer has quietly had a good year and is sitting comfortably in 10th place in the Sprint Cup standings, 484 points behind Kyle Busch. Last week at Sonoma he started 19th and managed a fourth-place finish good enough to move him up two places in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. The last time he won a race for Richard Childress Racing was this year at Richmond for the Dan Lowry 400 (when he just beat Kyle Busch). On the season Bowyer has notched four top-five and eight top-10 finishes and has been competitive in a handful of other races. He had not had a DNF all year. Bowyer won the Sylvania 300 at NHMS last year and holds the track record for average lap speed in a race at 110.475 mph. This is good enough for me to invest a portion of my economic stimulus check on the 07 Jack Daniels car.
Pick: Clint Bowyer, No. 07, (15/1)
Square Tire Pick
Tony Stewart, No. 20, (-1.35)/Dale Earnhardt, Jr., No.88, (+1.05)
Last week I warned about Tony Stewart's awful luck this year and how it could negatively rub off sports investors' bankrolls. And what happened? With just five laps to go in the race Stewart was positioned in third, fighting Jamie MacMurray for second place and then disaster struck as Kevin Harvick lost control going into turn 12 and took out Stewart and MacMurray. The beneficiaries of the accident were the No. 38 Ford of David Gilliland and No. 24 Jeff Gordon who finished the race second and third, respectively. Junior sits in third place in the Sprint Cup standings and a mere 152 points behind the M&M driver. This week I look for Junior to pick up where he left off two weeks ago and continue his momentum as he chases the No. 18 car around the one-mile oval. In 16 starts this year Junior has one off track. With questions still lingering about what he'll do in the future with Joe Gibbs racing we are backing NASCAR's most popular driver.
Pick: Dale Earnhardt, Jr., No. 88, (+1.05)
LENOX Industrial Tools 301 Odds
Sun, Jun 29th (12:30 p.m. EST)
New Hampshire Motor Speedway, NH
AJ Allmendinger100/1
Aric Almirola 60/1
Bobby Labonte 100/1
Brian Vickers 35/1
Carl Edwards 7/1
Casey Mears 100/1
Clint Bowyer 15/1
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 8/1
Dario Franchitti 150/1
Dave Blaney 100/1
David Gilliland 100/1
David Ragan 40/1
David Reutimann 100/1
Denny Hamlin 7/1
Elliott Sadler 60/1
Greg Biffle 15/1
J.J. Yeley 150/1
Jamie McMurray 75/1
Jeff Burton 20/1
Jeff Gordon 10/1
Jimmie Johnson 7/1
Joe Nemechek 150/1
Johnny Sauter 150/1
Juan Pablo Montoya 80/1
Kasey Kahne 25/1
Kevin Harvick 15/1
Kurt Busch 35/1
Kyle Busch 5/1
Marcos Ambrose 150/1
Martin Truex Jr. 18/1
Matt Kenseth 15/1
Michael McDowell 150/1
Michael Waltrip 100/1
Patrick Carpentier 100/1
Paul Menard 100/1
Reed Sorenson 100/1
Regan Smith 150/1
Robby Gordon 150/1
Ryan Newman 35/1
Sam Hornish Jr. 100/1
Scott Riggs 150/1
Terry Labonte 200/1
Tony Raines 150/1
Tony Stewart 8/1
Travis Kvapil 100/1
*Odds courtesy of Bodog.
Docsports.com
Could Tony Stewart be ready to make a move?
Speculation is reaching a fever pitch over which NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers might change teams next year.
The rumors -- none confirmed so far -- were widespread at Sonoma last weekend and picked up momentum as the series headed to Loudon, N.H., for its race Sunday.
Here's a sampling: Tony Stewart will buy out of his contract at Joe Gibbs Racing and become a co-owner/driver of another team. Hotshot teenager Joey Logano will then move into Stewart's No. 20 Toyota at Gibbs -- maybe.
Casey Mears, meanwhile, is rumored to be out of the No. 5 Chevrolet at Hendrick Motorsports and could join Richard Childress Racing, which plans to add a fourth car in 2009.
That opens the door for veteran Mark Martin -- who is sharing the No. 8 Chevy with youngster Aric Amirola at Dale Earnhardt Inc. this year -- to take over the No. 5 car, or to reprise his mentor role at Hendrick by sharing the car with another young driver, perhaps Brad Keselowski.
Speculation also has Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Newman, Clint Bowyer, Reed Sorenson and David Reutimann possibly leaving their teams.
Then again, none of this could happen.
Matt Kenseth hopes to extend his sparkling rebound at the 1.1-mile New Hampshire oval to help secure a berth in the series' 12-driver Chase for the Cup championship playoff.
Two months ago, the 2003 title winner appeared in grave danger of missing the Chase for the first time since it was implemented in 2004. He was 22nd in the standings, 204 points behind the Chase cutoff of 12th place. But over the next six races, the Ford driver finished in the top 10 each time and gained 934 points -- more than any driver -- and is now 12th in the standings.
"You race hard and try to be smart and do the right things and hopefully get some good finishes and get back in it," Kenseth said.
The IndyCar Series races Saturday night on its shortest track of the season, the 0.75-mile Richmond (Va.) International Raceway.
"I have never been in anything this fast on a track this small," said Ryan Hunter-Reay, making his first appearance at Richmond for Rahal Letterman Racing.
The series started racing at Richmond in 2001, and Dan Wheldon -- last week's winner in Iowa -- has the most top-10 finishes with five, including a victory in 2004.
It appears Formula One will not make a U.S. stop for a second year in a row. The series released its provisional schedule for 2009 and a U.S. Grand Prix was not listed despite speculation that the series and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway might reunite for the race.
The famed track held the race from 2000 through 2007, but then parted ways with Formula One when the two sides could not agree to terms on a new contract.
"We want to stress it's just a provisional schedule," speedway spokesman Ron Green said. "We continue to be interested in the return of the United States Grand Prix. Discussions will continue."
In local racing Saturday night, Toyota Speedway at Irwindale features late-model stock cars and a demolition derby, with fans age 15 and younger admitted free, while late-models and sprint cars head the program at Perris Auto Speedway.
latimes.com
Fantasy preview: New Hampshire
Roger Kuznia
I've played many versions of EA Sports' NASCAR game, and I've come to one conclusion -- driving at New Hampshire is tougher than London Broil steak.
It's tough to pass. It's tough to keep your fenders clean when you're so angry at the gaggle of cars ahead of you all hugging the bottom of the racetrack. The monotony of slamming on the gas down the straightaways and the hard braking getting into the corners makes for an unpleasant seesaw ride.
But there is inherent good in New Hampshire, and that good is this -- this track showcases more of drivers' skills than just their ability to hold their foot to the floor. And that's why you see NASCAR's best drivers consistently performing the best at New Hampshire.
Among the top 12 full-time drivers in New Hampshire driver rating, nine of them would be Chase-eligible if the season ended today. So while this race isn't particularly fan friendly (Bruton, move one of the NHMS dates to Vegas!), remember as you're watching this race that those who do well at this facility really deserve your admiration.
TOP TIER
Tony Stewart. Remember when I told you a few weeks ago that Stewart was a great pick for the long haul? Well, this week is another reminder of that. Stewart is tops in driver rating at Loudon the past six races and also has led the most laps (472) and posted the greatest number of fastest laps (189) in that span. Had Stewart not been turned by good buddy Kevin Harvick again (are they still buddies?) we'd be looking at a driver coming off consecutive top-five finishes at Michigan and Infineon.
Jeff Gordon. He didn't run well at Pocono (14th) but did run second at Martinsville. His overall history of success on flat tracks should make you believe in a good run here. He hasn't won at Loudon in 10 years, but he has finished no worse than third in the last three Loudon races.
Kyle Busch. He'd be the perfect NASCAR driver to profile if the TV series "It's Good To Be" is ever brought back. His subpar finishes at Pocono and Michigan were misnomers among a tidal wave of dominance.
MIDDLE TIER
Clint Bowyer. New Hampshire typically has been a Richard Childress Racing stronghold, and Bowyer is the organization's best bet for success Sunday. He won from the pole here last September, leading 222 of the 300 laps. He's also coming off an encouraging fourth-place finish at Infineon, which ended a streak of five finishes outside the top 10.
Jeff Burton. There's been a moderate sell-off of Burton in Sporting News' Stock Car Challenge the past three weeks, but there's no need to further that trend. He's still the only driver finishing 15th or better in all 16 races, and he's racing at a track where four of his 20 career wins have come.
Robby Gordon. If you bought him specifically because of his road course acumen last weekend, stay with him this weekend at Loudon. He could coax a top 20 run out of his car here, and he also is a sneaky sleeper pick for Daytona next Saturday.
BOTTOM TIER
Aric Almirola. Mark Martin will be in the No. 8 car next week at Daytona, meaning Almirola will have to be subbed out after this weekend. He's a sneaky add if you have the trades to burn. He qualified third at Martinsville, and DEI cars are typically good at flat tracks like Loudon.
David Gilliland. He's another good add considering Daytona is next weekend. Gilliland has proven his strength at plate tracks, so why not add him as one of your low-budget drivers? There's nothing to suggest he'll do much at New Hampshire, but maybe the euphoria of finishing second at Infineon will lead to a career-best finish this weekend. Surely he could do better than the 28th he posted in this race last year.
sportingnews.com
Driver Handicaps: New Hampshire
Racingone.com
This weekend the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to New Hampshire Motor Speedway for Sunday's LENOX Industrial Tools 301. To help you make your fantasy racing picks, RacingOne brings you our weekly detailed look at some of the field for the 301-lap event.
Who's HOT at New Hampshire
• Denny Hamlin leads all drivers with a 6.5 average finish.
• Matt Kenseth has finished in the top 10 in 10 of his last 11 starts.
• Jeff Burton leads all drivers with four wins.
• Four-time winner Jeff Gordon finished second in both races in 2007.
• 2006 September winner Kevin Harvick has 7.8 average finish in his last four starts.
• Tony Stewart has one win and three finishes of third or better in his last six starts.
Keep an Eye on at New Hampshire
• Martin Truex Jr. has the second best finishing average (4.0) in the two races with the new car at NHMS.
• 2007 September race and pole winner Clint Bowyer is the only driver to have led more than 70 laps in the two COT races at New Hampshire at 222.
• Series points leader Kyle Busch has one win and three top fives at NHMS.
• Earnhardt Jr. will be looking for some redemption with chassis No. 490. This is the car that nearly won at Richmond International Raceway before being involved a late-race accident with Kyle Busch.
• Along with Kenseth, Roush Fenway drivers Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle and David Ragan will be looking for a good showing in the backyard of Fenway Sports Group.
New Hampshire Rookie Report
Regan Smith is the only rookie candidate that has started a Sprint Cup race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Last season, Smith posted an average finish of 34.0 in his two starts. Sam Hornish Jr. failed to qualify for the September race, but will make the field this weekend as a result of being in the top 35 in owners points. Patrick Carpentier and Dario Franchitti will need to qualify on time. Marcos Ambrose will also attempt to make his second career Cup Series race on Friday. Rookie Standings
Qualifying Tidbits
Last September, Clint Bowyer became the fourth driver to win from the pole at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. In this event in 2007, Dave Blaney won the first pole for the new car at NHMS and first for Toyota overall. Ryan Newman has won four of the last nine poles when qualifying has been contested with his last coming in the 2006 July race. Newman's 2003 lap of 133.357 mph still stands as the track record. Jeff Gordon, who has two poles in 2008, saw his last of three pole at NHMS come in 2001. Qualifying has been cancelled three times over the last 15 races due to weather. In the 26 races at NHMS, 14 have been won from within a top-10 starting position. Jeff Burton won from the furthest stating position in the July event in 1999 when he started 38th.
RacingOne Staff Picks
Jeff Wackerlin: Jimmie Johnson
Pete Pistone: Martin Truex Jr.
Rachael West: Jeff Burton
Kym Opalenik: Denny Hamlin
Top 20 Driver Notes - Based on Current Standings
1. Kyle Busch: Busch won the 2006 July race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway after leading 107 laps from the fourth starting position. It marked his second of three top-five finishes in six starts at the track. Busch's finishing average is hindered by two finishes of 27th and 38th in the 2005 and 2006 fall races after coming together with two separate drivers in each incident. Busch, who finished fourth last September in his last track start with Hendrick, has led 176 laps at the 1.058-mile track. This weekend Busch will be shooting for his sixth win of the season when he makes his first New Hampshire start with Joe Gibbs Racing.
2. Jeff Burton: On no other track has Jeff Burton scored more victories than New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He has claimed four victories at the "Magic Mile", one each year beginning in 1997. His last win there was on September 17, 2000, and he started second and went on to lead all 300 laps of the race. In his third win at the track, Burton won from the furthest back of any NHMS winner after he started 38th and led for only two laps. The track is sentimental as well for one other reason, as it was the site of his Sprint Cup debut at this event in 1993. He has started in every race at the track since, with a total of seven top fives, 12 top 10s and has led a total of 694 laps in 10 races. This weekend Burton will be driving the same car (chassis No. 204) that raced to an 18th-place finish last September at NHMS and to a victory at Bristol Motor Speedway earlier this season. To prepare for Sunday's LENOX Industrial Tools 301, Burton and the RCR team tested at The Milwaukee Mile earlier this month.
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr: Earnhardt Jr. picked up his best finish since 2004 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in this event last year after he came home fourth. The finished marked his seventh top 10 in 17 starts and it came after leading a race-high 64 laps. In the 2006 July event, Earnhardt Jr. posted his third DNF (finished 43rd) at NHMS after losing an engine. He started 25th in that race and spent 80 laps in the top 15 before the problem struck, and the result ended a streak of three consecutive top 10s. This weekend Junior will make his first track start with Hendrick Motorsports at NHMS. He tested with the team two weeks ago at The Milwaukee Mile in preparation for Sunday's race. The car (chassis No. 490) Earnhardt Jr. will race in the 301-lap race is the same one that nearly won at Richmond International Raceway before being involved a late-race accident with Kyle Busch.
4. Carl Edwards: Edwards has recorded an average finish of 13.7 in seven starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. His best finish came in the 2006 July race when he took the checkered flag in second. Edwards has completed all but one of the laps he has attempted at the one-mile speedway. Despite that fact, his 2006 finish is his only top 10. Coming off a win at Milwaukee in the Nationwide Series, Edwards hopes to score another win on a flat track in this weekend's race at NHMS. He will attempt that driving a brand new car (chassis No. RK-605).
5. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson swept both races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2003. His fifth and sixth-place finish last season pushed his top 10 total to seven in 12 career starts. In the 2006 September race, Johnson experienced engine problems early and then got caught in a chain reaction accident on lap 80 and ended up in the wall. The team made repairs to the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet, but Johnson was credited with a 39th-place in the end, marking his first finish outside the top 15. Although Johnson has yet to win a pole at NHMS, his starting average of 8.2 ranks No. 3 among all active drivers. This weekend Johnson will be driving the same car (chassis No. 424) that he has driven to three wins, including his latest victory at Phoenix in April.
6. Jeff Gordon: Gordon is the leader among all drivers in top fives (12), top 10s (15) and laps led (1,141) at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. His last of three victories at NHMS came from the pole on August 30, 1998. Gordon's worst finish in the last 10 Loudon races came in the 2005 July race when he suffered a late race problem when his brakes gave out less than 15 laps from the checkered flag. After running in the top 10 most of the day, Gordon was credited with a 25th-place finish in that event. This weekend Gordon will be shooting for his fourth consecutive top-three finish at the 1.058-mile track.
7. Greg Biffle: Biffle has four top-10 finishes and five finishes of 27th or worse, including two DNFs, in 11 starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Biffle turned his New Hampshire record around with three consecutive top fives up until the last three races when he finished 14th, 31st and 13th, respectively. This weekend Biffle will be driving the same car (chassis No. RK-546) that finished third at Las Vegas.
8. Denny Hamlin: Defending race winner Hamlin leads all drivers with a 6.5 average finish at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. His win last season was one of three finishes of sixth or better. This weekend Hamlin will look to continue his success on the flat tracks by driving. This weekend Hamlin will look to defend his win driving a brand new car (chassis No. 214). His backup car is the same one that raced at NHMS last season.
9. Kasey Kahne: This weekend will mark Kahne’s ninth career start at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. His worst non-DNF finishes at the track came last year in the Car of Tomorrow events in 25th and 20th place. After finishing 33rd last weekend on a road course, Kahne will be looking forward to getting back on an oval where he has posted an average finish of 1.5 in the last two speedway races in June.
10. Clint Bowyer: Prior to last September's race, New Hampshire Motor Speedway was Bowyer's worst non-restrictor plate track on the schedule based on his finishing average of 29.3. He turned around his performance at the 1.058-mile speedway by dominating the last race, leading 22 laps en route to his first career win. This weekend he will look for another victory when he climbs behind the wheel of chassis No. 212. This is the same car that won at NHMS and at Richmond this season.
11. Tony Stewart: In 18 starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Stewart has two wins (most recently in the 2005 July event), 10 top five and 11 top-10 finishes. Stewart, who has led in nine races for 803 laps, led a combined total of 388 laps in the two races he won. His worst finish in the last five races came in the 2006 July event when he finished 37th after a tangle with pole-sitter Ryan Newman early in the race. This weekend Stewart will pilot the same car (chassis No. 216) that appeared to be on its way to a top-10 finish at Pocono until a late-race pit road speeding penalty took him out of contention.
12. Matt Kenseth: Kenseth holds the best average finish (10.5) among all drivers that have made more than four starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. His finishing average is bolstered by 11 consecutive finishes of 14th or better. Kenseth, who has led 88 laps at NHMS, will return in the same car (chassis No. RK-606) that finished seventh at Pocono last earlier this month.
13. Kevin Harvick: This weekend Harvick will be seeking his ninth top-10 finish at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Last September, he ended a streak of three consecutive finishes of eighth or better when he crossed the finish line in 17th. Harvick's only win at New Hampshire came in the 2006 September race when he led 196 laps from the pole. On Sunday Harvick will be driving a brand new car (chassis No. 251) that was tested at The Milwaukee Mile two weeks ago.
14. David Ragan: Ragan posted a 17.0 average finish in his two career starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway during his rookie season in 2007. His best finish at the track came in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2006 when he took the checkered flag in 11th. This weekend will race a Boston Red Sox paint scheme on his No. 6 Ford. The chassis (No. RK-573) is the same one that finished 11th at Martinsville and 17th at Richmond.
15. Brian Vickers: Vickers failed to qualify for this event last season in his first attempt at New Hampshire Motor Speedway with Team Red Bull. After finishing 43rd with the team last September, Vickers will look to continue his solid finishing average of 8.3 in the month of June with a good run at NHMS. Prior to joining Team Red Bull Vickers made six starts with Hendrick Motorsports where he posted one top-10 finish in fifth.
16. Ryan Newman: New Hampshire Motor Speedway is the site of Newman's first career Sprint Cup victory. The win came after he won his first of his series leading four poles at the "Magic Mile" in the 2002 fall event. His second victory came again in the fall race, in 2005, after leading 66 laps from the 13th starting position. Newman has led in all but one of his 12 Loudon starts for a total of 520 laps. In September 2004, Newman lost the engine in the Alltel Dodge while leading, relegating him to a 33rd-place finish, his only DNF at NHMS. This weekend, Newman will race the same car (chassis No. PRS-570) that finished 21st in the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
17. Martin Truex Jr: Truex Jr's best finish in three starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway came in this event last season. He led 46 laps before finishing third to mark his first top 10 at the track. Later that season Truex backed up his July run with another top five in the second race at NHMS.
18. Travis Kvapil: Kvapil's best finishes at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is a pair of 27th-place finishes in 2005 and 2006. In his two other starts, he was taken out in accidents. This weekend he will start his fifth New Hampshire race with his third different Team. Yates Racing will unload chassis No. 453 for Kvapil on Friday. This is the same car that finished 18th at Martinsville in March.
19. Juan Pablo Montoya: Montoya posted a 21.0 average finish in his first two career starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2007. His best finish came in this event last year when he started fifth and battled a tight-handling car to finish 19th. This weekend Montoya will be racing the same car (chassis No. 818) that his teammate Reed Sorenson drove to a 36th-place finish with at Martinsville.
20. Jamie McMurray: The Car of Tomorrow helped McMurray lower his finishing average from 31.0 to 22.3 in his four races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway with Roush Fenway Racing. His best finish with the team came last September in 11th. McMurray's previous six starts came with Chip Ganassi Racing, where he posted three top-10 finishes. In the 2005 July event, McMurray posted his second DNF after crashing out of the race early. The incident, which was brought on by Matt Kenseth, relegated McMurray to a 40th-place finish. This weekend McMurray will race the same car (chassis No. RK-572) that finished 35th at Richmond in May.
Carpentier surprises in Loudon
Loudon, NH (Sports Network) - Patrick Carpentier took advantage of cooler conditions after a one-hour, 45-minute rain delay and captured the pole for Sunday's Lenox Industrial Tools 301 at the New Hampshire International Speedway. The top-five on the grid all qualified after the rain delay.
The No.10 Gillett Evernham Dodge driver circled the 1.058-mile oval in 29.349 seconds (129.776 m.p.h.). The pole victory was the first of the former road racer's career.
"The car was good this morning, but the guys made a few changes...and really hooked it up," said Carpentier.
Starting alongside Carpentier will be Bobby Labonte who posted a time of 29.512 seconds.
Kevin Harvick (29.531) and Scott Riggs (29.531) will make up row two.
Other drivers of note and their starting positions: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (fifth), Matt Kenseth (ninth), Kasey Kahne (14th), Carl Edwards (17th), Clint Bowyer (18th), Jeff Gordon (19th), Jimmie Johnson (23rd), Kyle Busch (27th), Tony Stewart (28th) and Jeff Burton (31st).
It was just six weeks ago that Kenseth was seemingly out of the "Chase for the Sprint Cup." Just after the race at Richmond in early May, the No.17 Roush Fenway Racing driver was mired in 22nd place more than 200 points behind the 12th and final position in the "playoffs."
But Kenseth, who along with Johnson are the only drivers to make the "Chase" in each of the first four years, began his push with a sixth-place finish at Darlington and since then has posted seven consecutive top-10s. After his eighth-place result last Sunday in Sonoma, Kenseth finds himself in 12th place and in the "Chase."
Harvick is 13th overall and just two markers behind Kenseth. David Ragan (-47), Brian Vickers (-104), Daytona 500 winner Ryan Newman (-105) and Martin Truex Jr. (-107) are all knocking on the doorstep. Even Travis Kvapil, who is 216 points behind and doing a great job in the No.28 Yates Ford, has a chance.
Last year's race was won by Denny Hamlin, who will start 12th in the 43-car field.
Tony Raines and Marcos Ambrose failed to qualify for the race.
The green flag is scheduled to drop on Sunday around 2 p.m. (et).
NASCAR: LENOX Industrial Tools 301
Even a road-course race can’t stop Kyle Busch. NASCAR’s new bad boy went into last week’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 with his lead atop the driver standings dwindling and with the odds against him driving on the road-course track at Infineon. Instead of finally buckling, Busch quickly shut up all the doubters and contractors with a dominating win in the 350. The surprising victory, Busch’s series-leading fifth win of the season, gave his lead in the driver standings a much-needed boost and he now leads second-place Jeff Burton by 103 points.
Of course Busch is the favorite in this weekend’s LENOX Industrial Tools 301 at +400. Busch’s season record makes him a definite favorite, while his win in this race back in 2006 only adds more fuel to the fire for bettors thinking about dropping a few bucks on Busch.
Busch may have won this race in 2006, but the last person to take the checkered flag in the LENOX Industrial Tools 301 was Denny Hamlin last year. Right now Hamlin checks in at +600. Hamlin finished well back in 27th place last week at Infineon, but back on the oval he should challenge for top spot at New Hampshire.
A couple of drivers have multiple career victories at New Hampshire, including Jeff Burton and Jeff Gordon, but neither of them has won recently. Burton is a four-time winner at New Hampshire, which includes winning the LENOX Industrial Tools 301 in three straight years from 1997 to 1999. Burton’s other victory at New Hampshire came in 2000 in what was then called the Dura Lube 300. Burton has one win under his belt so far this season and he’s a +1000 underdog to add another on this weekend.
Gordon has three career wins at New Hampshire, but they all took place back in the ‘90s. Gordon is due for a win after failing to cross the finish line first even once so far this season. Despite Gordon’s struggles to put a win on the board this season, he’s still up near the top of the odds this week at +600.
The green flag drops at 12:30 pm ET on Sunday with TNT handling the coverage.