Week 19 -- New Hampshire
It's a new seaon (well, the start of the second half of it at least) and time for a new attitude. Frankly, I'm tired of losing. Maybe not as tired of it as Jeff Gordon, who may be close to making vacation plans for the Chase, but I'm fed up with this 4-for-10 business. I haven't had a six or better weekend with my predictions since... since... I think it was something like Vegas. It has been downright embarrassing. I'd love to turn that around Sunday at Loudon.
This is one of those confounded impound races, where they qualify Saturday night and then lock the cars away so that no adjustments can be made until race time. That means the teams that hit their race setups right for qualifying may not have shown well for the pole, but they just might claw their way through the pack and lead all afternoon. This has been a good thing for the Roush drivers. Roushites have won most of the impound races so far this year, and Kurt Busch comes in with back-to-back wins at Loudon.
I can do better. I must do better. Will i do better? Let's see...
GLENN'S TEN:
* Jimmie Johnson (winner) -- The #48 swept the 2003 races at this track and is always a threat to do it again. There is a lot at stake for Hendrick right now, what with Jeff Gordon's woes, and you can make book on their drivers turning up the heat this weekend. I'm banking on Jeff to have a good race, and if he does then Johnson certainly should.
REST OF THE TOP 10 (in no particular order):
* Jeff Gordon -- Desperation has set it. Frustration has peaked. No one steps up to a challenge like Super G. Jeff desperately needs to finish top 5 from here on if he has any gasp of a chance at the Chase. He'll break through today -- from the 21st spot on the grid.
* Ryan Newman -- Starts "only" fourth, which tells me the team was perfecting its race setup before qualifying. Look out.
* Kurt Busch -- Won't make it three in a row, but he'll be near the front.
* Brian Vickers -- On the pole. He'll back it up this week.
* Kyle Busch -- Vickers' teammate benefiting from the same car development program. And he's starting 7th.
* Greg Biffle -- Let's not forget the Roushers, especially the number 2 guy in the points.
* Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- I know, I know... I said Junior stinks on flat tracks. But I gotta feeling he'll find a way to finish in the top 10 because he's on a positive vibe and it's his only chance to make the Chase.
* Tony Stewart -- He'll either lead a hundred laps or he'll be mired in the 20s all afternoon.
* Mark Martin -- We thought he was retiring this year. So did he. Now we aren't so sure. But we are sure that he is capable of a good run at New Hampshire.
ALSO WATCHING: Kasey Kahne (Starts 2nd and ought to run well here)... Rusty Wallace (As much as I hate to acknowledge it, Rusty is poised to make a championship run)... Carl Edwards (Bad luck ruined a potential winning day at Chicagoland)... Joe Nemechek (He says this is one of his favorite tracks, but he starts 22nd).
