Week 31 -- Lowe's (Chase Round #5)
This is the only Saturday night race in the Chase and frankly, I'm glad. Saturday night races are great during the summer, but come Autumn there are other things to fill my Saturday nights, like planning for Sunday's NFL picks... cruising the Internet... sleeping.
At least on the West Coast they finish with the gNA$hCAR action by bedtime, but out in North Carolina, where this race takes place, it will be close to midnight or (more likely) later.
So who will prevail in the dark on the newly resurfaced Lowe's Motor Speedway?
GLENN'S TEN:
* Jimmie Johnson (winner) -- It's time for Jimmie to do something in the Chase, and this is the track where it is most likely to happen. Jimmie has owned this track in recent seasons. I see him having a breakout night and visiting Victory Lane.
REST OF THE TOP 10 (in no particular order):
* Ryan Newman -- Won the Busch race last night and always runs well here.
* Tony Stewart -- Smoke in the dark. Have to like.
* Kyle Busch -- Nothing to lose and a track that favors those Hendrick Chevys.
* Carl Edwards -- Starts 8th. Says this is one of the tracks he likes. A lot like Atlanta, where he has already won.
* Greg Biffle -- How did he end up starting 21st? He won't stay there long.
* Mark Martin -- One of his best tracks. Maybe not a win, but top 5 seems likely.
* Rusty Wallace -- I'm finally giving Rusty his due. So what if he's starting 27th?
* Kurt Busch -- Must I pick him? Yes.
* Matt Kenseth -- Perhaps we can sneak him into the show.
ALSO WATCHING: With 9 of my 10 picks Chasers, there aren't a lot of drivers left to watch, but I'll go for Jeff Gordon (should run well here, but hasn't lately)... Elliott Sadler (starts on the pole, but I'm not convinced)... Brian Vickers (like Hendrick drivers' chances here)... and Jamie McMurray (site of first and only career victory three years ago).
