Weekend Preview
by: Drew Hierwarter With only five races left before NASCAR’s Nextel Cup Series enters it’s self conceived “playoff” format called the “Chase for the Championship”, Jeff Gordon has little to worry about. If ever a point lead in NASCAR’s top level can be considered comfortable, Gordon’s 366-point margin over second place driver Denny Hamlin is it. And this weekend’s race on the road course at Watkins Glen, New York can only add to Gordon’s confidence as he is considered to be one of NASCAR’s better road racers with nine wins to his credit on the twisty tracks. Five of those coming at California’s Infineon Raceway, and four at the Glen. In the 21 races run so far this season, Gordon and his team have four wins and only two finishes outside the top ten.The guys with the real pressure on them this weekend are those at the bottom of the twelve-car cut-off for “The Chase”. Kurt Busch established a tenuous 7 point margin over 13th place Dale Earnhardt, Jr. by winning last week in Pocono, and people like Ryan Newman (14th), Greg Biffle (16th), and Jamie McMurray (17th) will really need to step it up if they have any hope of getting in. Road race ace, Juan Pablo Montoya will have his best chance to improve his 18th place in the standings as the former Formula 1 driver has already won a Busch Grand National series race on a road course and the Nextel Cup stop at Infineon earlier this season.
A very similar situation exists in the drag racing world as the NHRA circuit makes its annual stop in Brainerd, MN this week. The straight-line racers have only two races left before the top eight cutoff for their championship run in the three professional divisions. After a difficult first half of the season for funny car driver John Force, which included the death of teamate Eric Medlin and several DNQ’s and first round losses, the team has bounced back with a win at Bristol and Infineon. Force now sits in seventh and only needs to win a couple of rounds in the next two events to secure himself a spot in the championship chase.
The Top Fuel points situation going in to Brainerd is much more stable as five teams are already assured of a spot in the top eight with “Hot Rod” Fuller leading the way. Ninth place Melanie Troxel can still make it in from her position only 45 points out, but watch 10th place Doug Herbert who made a big move last week with a strong performance at Infineon and moved up three positions in the points.
Also on tap this weekend, the Busch Grand National Series runs on Saturday at Watkins Glen. Lots of Cup drivers are entered along with several road race “ringers” to spice up the action.
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races at the Nashville Superspeedway on Saturday night. Former series champ, Mike Skinner has a slim 77-point lead over Ron Hornaday going in to this race. Hornaday, who is also a former champion in the trucks, has been hot lately with a win last week in Indianapolis and two top fives in the last three races. With only ten races left in the season, third place driver and defending series champ, Todd Bodine’s 246-point deficit, leaves him all but out of contention.
The biggest race of the year for the exciting winged sprint cars of the “World of Outlaws” is set for this weekend in the little town of Knoxville, Iowa. The 47th running of “The Knoxville Nationals” began with preliminaries on Thursday and runs to the finals, which can be seen live on Speed TV this Saturday night. Over $900,000 dollars in prize money is up for grabs with $150,000 going to Saturday’s winner. Perennial “World of Outlaws” champ Steve Kinser is among the favorites along with Donny Shatz, Danny Lasoski, last year’s second place finisher Joey Saldana, and a stellar field of the best sprint car drivers in the nation. Don’t miss it!
There are more than 800 short tracks in the United States and just about all of them will be running races this weekend. Local short track racing is among the best racing that you’ll see anywhere. Find a track in your area and get out and go to the races!