This week’s race is the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. This track is a 1 mile oval that has 2 to 7 degrees of variable banking in the corners and 1 degrees in the front and back stretch. It is listed as a superspeedway but it seems to me to be more like a short track, a larger Martinsville if you will. If you are tired of cookie cutter tracks this is your weekend.
This track is another track where passing is difficult and track position is important. Look for pit crews and crew chiefs to earn their keep this weekend. Just like last week the crew chief also needs to watch the laps or someone will steal the race on fuel millage.
What does this mean for the Chase for the Sprint Cup? Well last week the top 12 basically got turned upside down or inside out whichever way you want to think about it. The chances being taken by the Chasers on fuel millage was impressive. I don’t think anyone will take the same chances this week. Like last week’s race everyone in the Chase has had some success here. Don’t be surprised if most if not all of the top ten finishers in this race are Chase contenders.
Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman are three time winners here so I would expect them to do well. Other Chase contenders who have won here are Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch and Tony Stewart.
The race is Sunday, September 25 at 2 PM ET on ESPN. If you are DVRing it be sure to add 90 min in case of a rain or red flag delay so you don’t miss the end. Follow me on Twitter during the race @brian_jr1. Who do you think will win? Let me know by Ranting below.
