Here's a look at the Chasers going into the race this weekend at Kansas Speedway(stats provided by NASCAR):
1 - Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet) 5575 points, 2008 Rundown:
Five wins, 12 top fives, 17 top 10s
Average finish of 11.4
Led 23 races for 1,299 laps
Talladega Superspeedway Outlook:
Driver Rating of 86.7
One win, four top fives, five top 10s; one pole
Average finish of 17.5
Finished 13th in April
2 - Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford) 5565 points, 2008 Rundown:
Six wins, 14 top fives, 22 top 10s
Average finish of 9.3
Led 17 races for 813 laps
Talladega Superspeedway Outlook:
Driver Rating of 70.5
One top five, three top 10s
Average finish of 24.0
Finished 40th in April
3 - Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford) 5545 points, 2008 Rundown:
Two wins, 11 top fives, 14 top 10s
Average finish of 13.0
Led 14 races for 428 laps
Talladega Superspeedway Outlook:
Driver Rating of 68.0
Average finish of 25.3
Finished 18th in April
4 - Jeff Burton (No. 31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet) 5454 points, 2008 Rundown:
One win, five top fives, 15 top 10s
Average finish of 12.0
Led 10 races for 74 laps
Talladega Superspeedway Outlook:
Driver Rating of 80.2
Two top fives, 10 tops 10s
Average finish of 19.1
Finished 12th in April
5 - Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet)
5439 points, 2008 Rundown:
Six top fives, 15 top 10s
Average finish of 13.0
Led six races for 169 laps
Talladega Superspeedway Outlook:
Driver Rating of 75.9
Three top fives, seven top 10s; one pole
Average finish of 14.3
Finished 24th in April
6 - Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet) 5432 points, 2008 Rundown:
10 top fives, 14 top 10s
Average finish of 14.4
Led 15 races for 309 laps
Talladega Superspeedway Outlook:
Driver Rating of 96.9
Six wins, 13 top fives, 16 top 10s; one pole
Average finish of 15.0
Finished 19th in April
7 - Clint Bowyer (No. 07 Jack Daniel's Chevrolet) 5411 points, 2008 Rundown:
One win, four top fives, 13 top 10s
Average finish of 15.1
Led five races for 152 laps
Talladega Superspeedway Outlook:
Driver Rating of 58.4
One top 10
Average finish of 26.0
Finished ninth in April
8 - Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet) 5385 points, 2008 Rundown:
One win, nine top fives, 14 top 10s
Average finish of 12.5
Led 19 races for 875 laps
Talladega Superspeedway Outlook:
Driver Rating of 86.6
Five wins, seven top fives, 10 top 10s
Average finish of 14.1
Finished 10th in April
9 - Matt Kenseth (No. 14 DEWALT Ford) 5383 points, 2008 Rundown:
Eight top fives, 17 top 10s
Average finish of 16.0
Led 15 races for 389 laps
Talladega Superspeedway Outlook:
Driver Rating of 83.0
Three top fives, six top 10s
Average finish of 17.5
Finished 41st in April
10 - Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Toyota) 5332 points, 2008 Rundown:
One win, nine top fives, 15 top 10s
Average finish of 15.7
Led 13 races for 701 laps
Talladega Superspeedway Outlook:
Driver Rating of 96.8
Two top fives
Average finish of 14.2
Finished third in April
11 - Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Toyota) 5320 points, 2008 Rundown:
Nine top fives, 14 top 10s
Average finish of 15.0
Led 12 races for 556 laps
Talladega Superspeedway Outlook:
Driver Rating of 94.4
Eight top fives, 11 top 10s
Average finish of 13.9
Finished 38th in April
12 - Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M's Toyota) 5264 points, 2008 Rundown:
Eight wins, 15 top fives, 17 top 10s
Average finish of 12.5
Led 21 races for 1,637 laps
Talladega Superspeedway Outlook:
Driver Rating of 70.7
One win
Average finish of 27.3
Won the April Talladega race
Here's the NASCAR Newscast: Chase Race 4 Talladega Preview
I think it's basically a roll of the dice to pick a winner here. But having said that, I'm going to go with Jimmie Johnson who has a fairly good record here.
I think Richard Petty should drive his son's car. I think a non-chaser will win this race, but hopefully Smoke will put on a show.bad luck to Red Bull.
Posted by Jacko October 3, 2008 02:44 AM
Kyle Petty will probably only be a part time driver next season, if at all. Putting his dad in the car is a great idea! A non-chase driver that the "experts" predict will win at Dega, is David Ragan.
We can all rest easy now by knowing that part of that bail out bill that may be passed contains tax breaks for just about every automobile race track. LOL!
I forgot, Jr's car this week will have 70,000 names on it. Mine's in there somewhere. I'll be looking for it.Maybe one of those names will be a lucky charm.
We'll see. Coming from the back of the pack doesn't mean you can't win. I thought Jr. was way back because of the engine blowout and the tire blow up, but he is starting 15th. Go, JR!
Guess I was wrong about the 15th starting position. I checked this morning and he was listed as fifteenth position and I couldn't understand that, given all of his bad luck yesterday. I guess I am missing something. Anyway, JR is starting way back but I hope he has a good day.
Jennifer is the newsroom
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About this blog:
I am hopeful that this will be a place where people can air their two cents' worth about a race, catch up on the gossip and share their opinions on the rules and regulations of NASCAR. I have always felt that there has been a need for such a place in Maine and that this blog helps to fill the void.