Week 30 -- Kansas (Chase Round 4)
I don't have a good read on this race. Kansas is a place where the Hendrick drivers had been pretty good, but recently we've seen some oddball finishes such as Joe Nemechek's close win over Ricky Rudd a year ago. And I look at the starting lineup for today and see some unusual presences in Scott Wimmer and Kevin Lepage, which makes me think this will be a wild race.
So I'll give it my best shot at predictions:
GLENN'S TEN:
* Carl Edwards (winner) -- Carl rolls off 5th and has been sort of a wild card in the Chase thus far. He escaped with good-enough finishes in the first three Chase races to be in serious contention for a title, and now he says he's coming to tracks where he and the Roushers do well at. This place seems like one where Edwards should be able to win.
REST OF THE TOP 10 (in no particular order):
* Ryan Newman -- Won here two years ago. Says he won't wreck this year, which took him out of contention in 2004.
* Matt Kenseth -- Starts on the pole, which usually means he's in for a big day.
* Jeff Gordon -- One of these days he's gonna start to click with his new crew chief and start winning again at tracks where he should.
* Greg Biffle -- Figure that Chase contenders will step up.
* Tony Stewart -- See note for Biffle. Starts 9th.
* Kurt Busch -- Could he possibly suffer another downer of a day?
* Joe Nemechek -- Car not as good as the one that won here last year, but I figure if you know how to win in a place you've got a good chance of at least making the show.
* Mark Martin -- Quietly puts together solid finishes (when not racing at Talladega),
* Jimmie Johnson -- Has to step it up after disastrous say last week.
ALSO WATCHING: Elliott Sadler (Starts second, but will he be able to run well?)... Dale Jarrett (How will last week's win affect his future performance?)... Jeremy Mayfield (Always underrated, but he's still in the hunt for the championship.)... Rusty Wallace (Starts 33rd, but will he use strategy to get to the front?)
