Week 27 -- New Hampshire
OK, the Chase is on! This is the first week that we get to see what the contenders can do. But just because you've got 10 guys running for the Nextel Cup doesn't mean all will shine on the flat mile of Loudon. In fact, this will probably be where some will get tripped up severely.
The biggest factor could be the weather, if the remnants of Hurricane Ivan drift that far up the Eastern seaboard by Sunday. Even if that doesn't happen, New Hampshire is notorious for inclement weather, and we haven't had a rainout yet this season. Our fingers will be heavily crossed.
GLENN'S TEN:
* Jimmie Johnson (winner) -- The #48 has met with catastrophe four of the past five races, so my guess is that the bad luck has run its course. Time for the most dominant team so far this season to hit its stride and make a bid for its first championship.
The rest of the top 10 (in no particular order):
* Jeff Gordon -- Has dominated here in past years, but recently had share of difficulty. He won't screw up now, not with a fifth title in sight.
* Carl Edwards -- I haven't picked him up till now, but he shows signs of being a contender next season, and this track favors young guns.
* Kasey Kahne -- I did say this track favors young guns. Kasey has something to prove now after narrowly missing the cut for the Chase.
* Mark Martin -- He's on a tear. Don't write off this veteran's chances at the Cup.
* Matt Kenseth -- Yeah, gotta pick him.
* Ryan Newman -- Got his first win here and has run well every other appearance at Loudon.
* Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- Now's the time to back up the championship talk. Media and millions of gNA$hCAR fans will be cheering for the Bud car.
* Jeff Burton -- This used to be his venue. Will it be again now that he's with his new team and psyched about racing once more?
* Dale Jarrett -- He's got nothing to lose now. This starts the tuneup for a championship push in 2005.
Chasing their tails... The contenders I left out of the top 10 and why: Tony Stewart (I've got a bad feeling about this one), Kurt Busch (Not all the Roushers will make the cut), Elliott Sadler (So excited just to make the top 10 that he'll swoon the rest of the season), Jeremy Mayfield (Puhlese).
NOTE: This will probably be the last regular post for a couple of weeks as I will be losing Internet access until early October. Please check back regularly for possible updates.
