Chicago, the “Windy City,” known for its baseball with the northside Cubbies and southside White Sox, is the home to this weekend’s NASCAR racing. A track that might be known more for the bend of the back “straightaway” than its finishes.
When it was added to the shcedule in 2001, races in Chicago started late in the afternoon, on Sundays. Now, in reverse to the way Indianapolis has become, (and that’s right folks, 15 days until the green drops at Indy) this race is now run on Saturday evening.
There are plenty of storylines heading into the race this evening, and most center around everyone’s favorite villain, Kyle Busch. But, I look further than that (and even a little into the past) in this race preview. Enjoy.
1. Daytona’s finish is still big news
Kyle Busch didn’t comment to the media—or anyone else for that matter—after the wreck that ended last Saturday’s Coke Zero 400. He did, however, open up Thursday to discuss what he felt was Stewart intentionally bumping him out of the way in order to win the race.
“NASCAR can take steps to look at it,” Busch said. “If the second-place driver dumps the leader, then black flag his ass. He doesn't get the win. If he’s up along side the leader and dumps him, give the third-place car the victory.”
This comment caught my eye. By Kyle’s logic that would have made the most popular driver in NASCAR the victor at Talladega in April and three-time defending Cup champ Jimmie Johnson the winner a week ago. Conspiracy theorists unite; the only way NASCAR listens to this complaint from Busch is when they realize they would have given their biggest name a win at Talladega (the black flag to Keselowski is something that I was very quick to point out immediately after the race, ask my father).
Until we’ve seen every possible ending at a restrictor plate track (and since 2007 I think we might have) we’ll never know what the powers to be up in the NASCAR control room will do. All I know is, when it happens, there’s a more than likely chance that it will involve Mark Martin. And, he’ll once again get the short end of the stick, I guarantee it.
2. Will Matt Kenseth get back on track at Chicago?
In my admittedly sad blog post on Thursday (and some of you are thinking, ‘How many times is he going to write “admittedly” this week?’) I tried to say that Matt will have success in the next two races—both this weekend at Chicago and in two weeks at Indy.
Matt has had considerable success at the 1.5 mile track in Joliet, Illinois ever since NASCAR started racing there in 2001. In 2006 he led 112 of the 270 laps, and was leading late in the race when Jeff Gordon dumped him. After the race he said, “I know for sure that it was intentional.”
In 2005 Kenseth led 176 of the 267 laps in Chicago, but got beat out by NASCAR’s most popular man, Dale Earnhardt Jr. “Little E” took two tires on the final stop and was able to—according to most reports I read—“steal” a victory from the 2003 Cup champion.
So, in eight runs at the track, Kenseth has four top tens (two seconds and two sevenths) and no finish worse than 22nd (the year he was spun out with five to go by Gordon). His average finish of 9.8 is fifth among all drivers who have competed at Chicago. Not too shabby.
I’m not predicting a Matt Kenseth victory at Chicago this weekend, but given his track record at the place, it’s tough to not predict a good, solid, top ten run for the #17 car tomorrow evening.
3. Does anyone remember this debacle?
No, it doesn’t have to do with tires, or an orange flying across the track during qualifying…
When it was added to the shcedule in 2001, races in Chicago started late in the afternoon, on Sundays. Now, in reverse to the way Indianapolis has become, (and that’s right folks, 15 days until the green drops at Indy) this race is now run on Saturday evening.
There are plenty of storylines heading into the race this evening, and most center around everyone’s favorite villain, Kyle Busch. But, I look further than that (and even a little into the past) in this race preview. Enjoy.
1. Daytona’s finish is still big news
Kyle Busch didn’t comment to the media—or anyone else for that matter—after the wreck that ended last Saturday’s Coke Zero 400. He did, however, open up Thursday to discuss what he felt was Stewart intentionally bumping him out of the way in order to win the race.
“NASCAR can take steps to look at it,” Busch said. “If the second-place driver dumps the leader, then black flag his ass. He doesn't get the win. If he’s up along side the leader and dumps him, give the third-place car the victory.”
This comment caught my eye. By Kyle’s logic that would have made the most popular driver in NASCAR the victor at Talladega in April and three-time defending Cup champ Jimmie Johnson the winner a week ago. Conspiracy theorists unite; the only way NASCAR listens to this complaint from Busch is when they realize they would have given their biggest name a win at Talladega (the black flag to Keselowski is something that I was very quick to point out immediately after the race, ask my father).
Until we’ve seen every possible ending at a restrictor plate track (and since 2007 I think we might have) we’ll never know what the powers to be up in the NASCAR control room will do. All I know is, when it happens, there’s a more than likely chance that it will involve Mark Martin. And, he’ll once again get the short end of the stick, I guarantee it.
2. Will Matt Kenseth get back on track at Chicago?
In my admittedly sad blog post on Thursday (and some of you are thinking, ‘How many times is he going to write “admittedly” this week?’) I tried to say that Matt will have success in the next two races—both this weekend at Chicago and in two weeks at Indy.
Matt has had considerable success at the 1.5 mile track in Joliet, Illinois ever since NASCAR started racing there in 2001. In 2006 he led 112 of the 270 laps, and was leading late in the race when Jeff Gordon dumped him. After the race he said, “I know for sure that it was intentional.”
In 2005 Kenseth led 176 of the 267 laps in Chicago, but got beat out by NASCAR’s most popular man, Dale Earnhardt Jr. “Little E” took two tires on the final stop and was able to—according to most reports I read—“steal” a victory from the 2003 Cup champion.
So, in eight runs at the track, Kenseth has four top tens (two seconds and two sevenths) and no finish worse than 22nd (the year he was spun out with five to go by Gordon). His average finish of 9.8 is fifth among all drivers who have competed at Chicago. Not too shabby.
I’m not predicting a Matt Kenseth victory at Chicago this weekend, but given his track record at the place, it’s tough to not predict a good, solid, top ten run for the #17 car tomorrow evening.
3. Does anyone remember this debacle?
No, it doesn’t have to do with tires, or an orange flying across the track during qualifying…
In 2004, an orange made a lap at Chicagoland
As a kid I’d go over to my grandma and grandpa’s house once or twice a week. It was fun to sit and watch the Chicago Cubs play (because they were the only team on during the day) and talk baseball with my grandfather. Harry Caray was an all-time favorite of mine, and his renditions of “Take me out to the ballgame” were must see TV.
So, here’s video of Jeff Gordon singing “Take me out to the ballgame” at Wrigley “Stadium”:
Needless to say, he got the boos he deserved. You just don’t walk into Wrigley and butcher it that badly. Or do you? (Ozzy Ozbourne anyone?) Here’s to hoping no one butchers the race this weekend like Gordon butchered the classic 7th inning stretch.
4. Can Gordon or Mark Martin claim a $500,000 check from race sponsor Lifelock?
If Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin can finish first and second, (and we prefer that Martin finishes first with Gordon close behind, not the other way around) race sponsor Lifelock will give each driver a check for half a million bucks.
Rewind to Michigan a month ago, another Lifelock sponsored race, and Martin—who won—beat Gordon to the line. Lifelock gave each of them a check in Victory Lane for $500,000 but the catch was that they’d have to finish first and second at the Chicago race.
So, here’s video of Jeff Gordon singing “Take me out to the ballgame” at Wrigley “Stadium”:
Needless to say, he got the boos he deserved. You just don’t walk into Wrigley and butcher it that badly. Or do you? (Ozzy Ozbourne anyone?) Here’s to hoping no one butchers the race this weekend like Gordon butchered the classic 7th inning stretch.
4. Can Gordon or Mark Martin claim a $500,000 check from race sponsor Lifelock?
If Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin can finish first and second, (and we prefer that Martin finishes first with Gordon close behind, not the other way around) race sponsor Lifelock will give each driver a check for half a million bucks.
Rewind to Michigan a month ago, another Lifelock sponsored race, and Martin—who won—beat Gordon to the line. Lifelock gave each of them a check in Victory Lane for $500,000 but the catch was that they’d have to finish first and second at the Chicago race.
Gordon had a great comment about the possibility of earning the money. “I’d love for that to occur,” he said. “After his Daytona weekend, I think Mark wants a good, strong performance this weekend. And a second-place finish behind me can earn him a lot of points and a lot of dough,” Gordon joked. “We can't afford to spot him too many bonus points before the Chase begins, so I'd prefer he finish second in this instance.”
The fans of Mark Martin hope it’s the other way around. But, he continued “Seriously, I think Mark will be one of the drivers contending for the win this weekend and I hope we are battling him for that position.”
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Tune into TNT’s final race of their much balleyhooed “Summer Series” this evening. It should be great to hear Kyle Petty and Wally Dallenbach for one final time, and they’ll be once again joined by Ralph Sheheen in the booth. After this race, it’ll be time to to begin the big time countdown to the Brickyard 400. And that should be fun.
The fans of Mark Martin hope it’s the other way around. But, he continued “Seriously, I think Mark will be one of the drivers contending for the win this weekend and I hope we are battling him for that position.”
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Tune into TNT’s final race of their much balleyhooed “Summer Series” this evening. It should be great to hear Kyle Petty and Wally Dallenbach for one final time, and they’ll be once again joined by Ralph Sheheen in the booth. After this race, it’ll be time to to begin the big time countdown to the Brickyard 400. And that should be fun.
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