Week 27 -- New Hampshire (Chase Round 1)
The fallout in the wake of Richmond has already started. This week we saw Jeff Gordon's crew chief resign after his driver failed to make the field of 10 with a chance to win this year's Nextel Cup. There are drivers who, like Gordon, will be throwing everything out the window on the remainder of the season and starting to work on strategy for next year. That is the aspect of the Chase that adds spice to gNA$hCAR's new format. Forget the fact that you have the 10 best drivers who are in the hunt for the title and who will be going all out at Loudon this Sunday; now you also have the also-rans with nothing to lose. Ought to make this week all the more entertaining.
This will be my last post for a couple of weeks as I will be away from the Internet for a while, so I will recap this race and next week's event at Dover when I return. In the meantime, here are the Loudin predictions:
GLENN'S TEN:
* Jimmie Johnson (winner) -- OK, the Chase is on and it's time for Jimmie to turn up the fire at a track where he has won before. JJ is long overdue for a win, and what better time to get one than the first race of the championship playoff.
REST OF THE TOP 10 (in no particular order):
* Kurt Busch -- Has been salivating over a return to the spot where he launched last year's championship drive with a victory. He could win this one too, but I'm going to bet against him.
* Jeff Gordon -- First race under his new crew chief and everyone's going to want to shine. Jeff knows how to drive this track, but he has looked plain awful in recent appearances here. He won't win, but he will be a factor for a change.
* Ryan Newman -- Ryan got his first career win here in the rain three seasons ago. He'd better step it up if he hopes to remain in the Chase through Homestead-Miami.
* Tony Stewart -- It's showtime, which is when Smoke seems to do his best.
* Matt Kenseth -- He just keeps getting better. Seems focused, which is a good thing.
* Greg Biffle -- Was mid-pack in practice, but he'[ll get it together on race day.
* Mark Martin -- More solidly in the Chase than he was a year ago. He's just out there having fun and the results show it.
* Kyle Busch -- The kid's improving rapidly. Young guns seem to do well here. Johnson and Newman both excelled here in their rookie seasons.
* Kasey Kahne -- See my note on Kyle Busch.
AND WHAT ABOUT? Rusty Wallace (Fastest in practice, but can he score the good finishes now that the pressure's on?)... Jeremy Mayfield (Stronger championship run this year than last, but this track was the start of his undoing in 2004)... Carl Edwards (Not counting him out yet, but he struggled in practice. Wait for Atlanta.).
ALSO WATCHING: Jeff Burton and Robby Gordon, who are past winners here. I give Jeff the nod as a dark horse.
