Turn 4 Transitions

Thursday, September 24, 2009

By Natalie Anthony

 

 

 

 

AAA 400

September 27, 2009 (Sunday) 1:00 pm – ABC

 

 

 

 

 

I formulated a list before the first race of the chase at New Hampshire to include a few of the drivers that were in the chase, but did not have a chance to vie for the cup even with ten races to go.  That list included Brian Vickers (Brian squeezed into the chase by eight points, but does that really mean he has a chance to be the best; No!)  There was a toss up between Matt Kenseth or Greg Biffle making the chase and Greg was the driver out of the Roush Fenway camp to make it in.  16 or 17, makes not difference; neither has a chance to compete against the drivers who do have an option at a championship.  Juan Pablo Montoya has shown consistency through the last twenty-six (well we can include last Sunday at NHMS, so that is twenty-seven) races, but oval is just not his favorite shape just yet and the entire chase schedule is comprised of four left turns.   Ryan Newman is definitely in a good position running with a past champion as an owner and teammate for the next nine races, but his role in the chase will not be to contend for the cup, it will be to support Tony Stewart in his race to be the champion of the NASCAR Sprint Cup series.  These were my thoughts and predictions for the beginning of the chase until lap 66 of the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway when Kasey Kahne’s engine blew due to crankshaft failure.  Well, there goes another driver is his hopes to succeed in taking a trophy away from eleven other men.  That leaves the chase field with seven drivers.  It will not talk long to eliminate a few more in the next few races.  No matter what you hear or what you read, there are no do-overs or mulligans in the chase.  If a driver is faced with a DNF; his run for the cup is over.  The only way to get back into contention is for the rest of the chase contenders to face the same fate and level the playing field. 

Dover International Speedway (DIS) is named the Monster Mile for a reason.  Miles, the stone monster that reigns over DIS, will be taking out another driver whether they are prepared for it or not.  The next driver to be booted from the chase is going to be Denny Hamlin.  This assumption is based on his regular stats at DIS compared to the other drivers in the chase that still stand a chance to win the championship.  Denny finished thirty-six or worse in his last four races at Dover.  Denny is done after Dover. 

 

 

Track Stats

 

Autism Speaks 400

(May 31, 2009)          

Top 10 Results  

1.  Jimmie Johnson

2.  Tony Stewart

3.  Greg Biffle

4.  Matt Kenseth

5.  Kurt Busch

6.  Kasey Kahne

7.  Carl Edwards

8.  Ryan Newman

9.  Casey Mears

10.Mark Martin

 

 

Dover 400

(September 21, 2008) 

Top 10 Results  

1.  Greg Biffle

2.  Matt Kenseth

3.  Carl Edwards

4.  Mark Martin

5.  Jimmie Johnson

6.  Kevin Harvick

7.  Jeff Gordon

8.  Clint Bowyer

9.  Jeff Burton

10.Michael Waltrip

 

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