From Loudon, New Hampshire it’s the first race of the ten race Chase to the Championship.
Nextel Cup, Sylvania 300, Sunday, September 18, 12:30 pm airing on TNT HDTV
Bud Pole Qualifying on Saturday, September 17 on TNT at
12:10 pm
Craftsman Truck series Sylvania 200, Saturday, September 17 on SPEED at 3 pm
Be sure to check your local listings and NASCAR.com for updates. There has been inclement weather already this week.

Eight fall races ran here:
Last year’s winner: Kurt Busch
Qualifying Record: Ryan Newman, 2003, 133.357 mph
Most wins: Jeff Gordon – 1997 & 1998
But check this out: 1999-Joe Nemechek, 2000-Jeff Burton, 2001-Robby Gordon, 2002-Ryan Newman, 2003-Jimmie Johnson
So it looks like it could be ANYBODY’S race.

The History: Forget all the junk: who’s in the chase, who’s not. I’m all for let’s get out there and see some real racing. I’m tired of the namby-pamby, tip-toeing around the track just to keep your points. I say: NO GUTS, NO GLORY. New Hampshire International Speedway is the first stop on the 10 race for the Nextel Cup Championship. Last year won by Kurt Busch. No other history matters at this time.

The Track: This track is 1.058 miles of elongated oval. You got your 12 degree banking in the turns and that 2 degree banking down those long straight-aways.

The Tradition: Only one other race ran there of this significance I can’t see that there was any real traditions started. It’s the first race to the chase. Anybody want to share some?

The Prediction: Take your pick out of the top ten. I really want to see some hard racing from the whole line up. Tony Stewart has a good chance of winning this one. Out of 12 races here, he won one and finished in the top five 6 times and top ten 7 times. Don’t count out the “Rouschcateers”. Guaranteed which ever of them are running in the front they will all take turns getting that five bonus points for leading a lap. If one of them winds up loosing the Championship to a team mate by 5 or less points, someone’s gonna be pissed---team or no team. I’m really not a fan of that sort of thing. Let them get ahead because they raced ahead of you. Watch people like Dale, Jr., Jeff Gordon, Elliot Sadler. These guys have got nothing to loose, so they can just stick it out there and go flat out.

Watch the “girls” in the Craftsman Truck series race this weekend too:
Kelly Sutton, #02, Team Copaxone Chevrolet
Deborah Renshaw, #8, Heritage Dodge
Nothing but good things to you this weekend!!

NOTE: If any of my readers will be at the track this weekend, please e-mail me with some of your thoughts about the crowd, the race, etc. Since this is a volunteer gig, I can only go to races that are close to me. Fresh eyes at another track would be great.