This weekend sees the opening round of the NASCAR “Chase For The Championship” when the stock car boys arrive at the Loudon track in New Hampshire.
I’m still undecided about this false “post season” format that restricts the championship to the top 10 in points – but it does make for some dramatic racing and definitely assists the TV ratings. As everyone else is doing it, I thought I’d add my 2c worth on the chances of the ten Chase Contenders.
- Matt Kenseth – It was Kenneth’s last championship win that prompted the change in format. He’s a strong racer and consistent, but has zero personality out of the car and that could be worrying to the media focused NASCAR.
- Jimmie Johnson – Fast and consistent all season long but I’m not sure that this Southern California racer has what it takes to win championships – yet.
- Kevin Harvick – My dark horse pick for the championship. Totally dominant in the second tier BUSCH series and coming up strong in the second half of the Cup season.
- Kyle Busch – The better racer of the Busch brothers, but still a little immature both on and off track.
- Denny Hamlin – Cup wins and making The Chase in your rookie year is impressive. He has a great future ahead of him and could even cause an upset in The Chase.
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. – While it’s great to see Junior in The Chase (and the NASCAR marketing guys must be delighted) I still don’t think this is his championship year.
- Mark Martin – He’s done everything except win The Championship and this must surely be his last chance. I doubt he’ll do it, but he’ll go down fighting – as always.
- Jeff Burton – Another good solid racer, but not really championship material.
- Jeff Gordon – Will he make it Championship #5 this year? I doubt it, but he is definitely on the way back up to his winning ways.
- Kasey Khane – Winner of the most races this season and with a more sensible scoring system he’d be at the top of the pile. He’s on a roll that could carry him to The NEXTEL Cup Championship. He may be 10th in the standings going in, but Khane is my pick for the top spot at the end of the season.
RSS Feed
Favorite
[...] Although I didn;t get to watch all the race last night I did manage to catch the last twenty or so laps of Kasey Khane’s dominent victory at Lowes. With his sixth win of the season Khane moves himself up another ppoistion in the chase, but more inportantly nearly halves the points differential to championship leader Jeff Burton. Khane was my pick for the title and as The Chase moves on to a sequence of 1.5 mile tracks where Khane dominated earlier in the season it seems as if he may have a combination of history and momentum on his side. [...]