What You Need To Know
Track: New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, NH
Track Specs: 1.058-mile oval, banking variable at 2°-7°
Race distance: 300 laps ; 317.4 miles
Scheduled green flag time: 2:17 p.m. ET
Weather forecast: Partly sunny, high 73° with a 20-percent chance of rain
Broadcast television: ESPN with coverage starting at 1 p.m. ET
Radio: Performance Racing Network/ Sirius XM Channel 90
Things to Keep an Eye On
Brad Keselowski looks to maintain is lead in the Sprint Cup standings after winning last Sunday’s GEICO 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. Keselowski currently holds a three-point lead over Jimmie Johnson.
After winning the pole for Sunday’s Sylvania 300, Jeff Gordon looks to race his way back into title contention with a solid finish—or even a win—on Sunday. Gordon currently sits 12th in Sprint Cup points, 47 points behind.
In final practice on Saturday, Toyota drivers swept the top-five positions on the overall speed chart with Denny Hamlin leading the way. Hamlin, who will start Sunday’s race from the 32nd position after an error in qualifying, lead the way in all three practice sessions. In final practice, Hamlin was followed by: Joey Logano, Brian Vickers, Kyle Busch, and Martin Truex Jr.
Repeat winners at New Hampshire Motor Speedway are hard to come by as of late. In the past 10 races at NHMS, nine different drivers have gone to victory lane. Clint Bowyer was the only driver to repeat wins in 2007 and 2010.
Following an engine change after final practice, Brian Vickers will start Sunday’s race from the rear of the field. Vickers qualified his Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota in the fourth position on Friday.
This Weekend’s News
It was announced on Saturday that Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will compete in three of the eight remaining (following Sunday’s race at NHMS) Sprint Cup Series races in 2012. Stenhouse Jr.’s first start will come next weekend at Dover International Speedway with additional appearances at Charlotte Motor Speedway in October and Homestead-Miami Speedway in November.
According to a report by NASCAR.com, Regan Smith will not return to Furniture Row Racing in 2013. Smith currently sits 23rd in Sprint Cup points.
Fantasy Racing Picks
“A” Driver: Denny Hamlin
“B” Drivers: Clint Bowyer, Kasey Kahne
“C” Driver: Brian Vickers
Sylvania 300 Starting Lineup
1: Jeff Gordon
2: Kyle Busch
3: Tony Stewart
4: Brian Vickers*
5: Carl Edwards
6: Kasey Kahne
7: Paul Menard
8: Ryan Newman
9: Martin Truex Jr.
10: Sam Hornish Jr.**
11: Jeff Burton
12: Clint Bowyer
13: Greg Biffle
14: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
15: Brad Keselowski
16: Kevin Harvick
17: Bobby Labonte
18: Joey Logano
19: Aric Almirola
20: Jimmie Johnson
21: Marcos Ambrose
22: Regan Smith
23: Kurt Busch
24: Juan Pablo Montoya
25: Matt Kenseth
26: David Ragan
27: Scott Speed
28: Landon Cassill
29: Jamie McMurray
30: Casey Mears
31: Michael McDowell
32: Denny Hamlin
33: Travis Kvapil
34: David Reutimann
35: Reed Sorenson
36: Joe Nemechek
37: David Gilliland
38: Casey Mears
39: Stephen Leicht
40: JJ Yeley
41: Tony Raines
42: Mike Olsen
43: David Stremme
*Engine change
** Dave Blaney qualified the car for Hornish Jr. while Hornish practiced his Nationwide Series car at Kentucky Speedway.
