NASCAR returns to its heartland after a week on the "Left Coast" to the Saturday night lights of Lowe’s Motor Speedway in the fifth race in the "Chase for the Championship." One of the major storylines is whether or not any of the competition has anything for Jimmie Johnson to preclude his quest for a record fourth consecutive Cup championship.
TRACK FACTS
Charlotte Motor Speedway opened for NASCAR Grand National Competition on June 19, 1960. Joe Lee Johnson was the winner that day in the World 600. Johnson piloted his Chevrolet to a speed of 107.735 miles per hour.
This track has had its share of triumphs (Jimmie Johnson’s photo finish of .027 over Bobby Labonte in the 2005 Coca- Cola 600 in 2005 for one) and tragedies (headlining a list of drivers who’ve lost their lives here is Fireball Roberts in 1964). 101 Cup races have run at LMS.
The track is 1.5 miles in length. There’s 24 degrees banking in the turns and five on the straightaways. The front stretch measures 1.980 feet in length, the back stretch, 1,500 feet.
The grand stand seating for Lowe’s is 165,500.
TOP PERFORMANCES
Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip hold the all-time record for wins at this track with 6 each. Among active drivers, Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson have 5 wins apiece. David Reutimann won the rain-abbreviated Coca- Cola 600 in May, Jeff Burton was the winner in last October’s race.
The record for the fastest 500 mile race is held by Jeff Gordon. He ran the 1999 UAW- GM Quality 500 in 3 hours, 7 minutes and 31 seconds. His speed? He clocked in at 160.306 miles per hour.
The qualifying record is held by Elliott Sadler. In qualifying for the 2005 UAW- GM Quality 500, he turned a lap at a speed of 193.216 miles per hour. His time? 27.948 seconds in a Ford owned by Robert Yates. The record for number of poles is 14 (!) held by David Pearson. Among active drivers, Jeff Gordon and Ryan Newman are tied with 7.
The record for lead changes is 59, set on May 27, 1979 in a race won by Darrell Waltrip. Only 2 (!) lead changes occurred in the World 600 won by David Pearson.
There were also no caution flags in that May, 1961 race, and that’s (well, duh) the record for fewest caution flags. When Jimmie Johnson won the Coca- Cola 600 in May of 2005 there were a record 22 yellows coming out that day.
42 drivers finished the 2009 Coca- Cola 600 (or should I really say the Coca- Cola 340), only 10 were around for the end of the 1961 World 600 in 1961.
WHEN AND WHERE TO TUNE IN
SPEED’S NASCAR Raceday gets underway at 5:00 pm Eastern, 2:00 pm Pacific. John Roberts, Kenny "Herman" Wallace and Jimmy "Mr. Excitement" Spencer are your hosts.
A brief NASCAR Countdown gets underway on ABC at 7:25 pm Eastern, 4:25 Pacific. Allen Bestwick, Rusty Wallace, Brad Daugherty and Tim Brewer host.
The green flag will wave at 7:41 pm Eastern, 4:41 pm Pacific. Dr. Jerry Punch gives the call, with Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree. Dave Burns, Shannon Spake, Jamie Little and Vince Welch serve as pit reporters.
Radio coverage is furnished by Performance Radio Network (PRN) and XM Sirius Satellite Radio.
FEARLESS FORECAST
The script looks suspiciously familiar. Jimmie Johnson hangs around in the points until Chase time, Jimmie Johnson starts winning and catches fire, Johnson takes the points lead, Jimmie Johnson wins the Chase. To hear some commentators tell it, this Chase is over.
Oh really? Tell that to Mark Martin, who trails by 12 points. Tell that to Juan Pablo Montoya, who has five top fives in the Chase. Are Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon really finished? I don’t think so. Do Kurt Busch and Denny Hamlin still have a chance? Statistically, yes they do.
Yes, Johnson was fastest in first practice. Yes, Johnson won the pole with the fastest qualifying lap of the 2009. He’s darn hard to beat when he’s this good, and he’s darn hard to beat on this track.
By the same token, I think it’s disrespectful, in a way, to suggest that Johnson wins just by showing up, and furthermore, it’s disrespectful to the 42 others in the field who’ll make him earn it if he does indeed win.
If Johnson does indeed make history in 2009 with his fourth consecutive crown, he will have earned it, because the competition is stiffer than ever. He’s received challenges from differing drivers, but we’ve never had a year quite like this year, where the usual suspects are right there with him every week. All the drivers mentioned previously are once again poised to run with him again. Martin starts on the outside of the front row, Kasey Kahne (who swept the track in 2006) is in the second row, cagey veteran former champ Matt Kenseth (who’s still quite competitive though out of the Chase) is fourth, plus chasers Tony Stewart (not normally a good qualifier), teammate Ryan Newman and Jeff Gordon have all ran well enough to start in the top ten.
Some guys who, uh, have the potential to make things interesting are also close to the front. Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski and Mike Bliss- they’ve got nothing to race for but a win- do you think they’re really going to give way to the Chase guys? They won’t and the fans are glad for it.
It will be intriguing to see how this plays out. This race has been won from as far back as 37th. Guess who won it? Jimmie Johnson. Only 13 pole sitters have won at Lowe’s, but keep in mind that is somewhat skewed by the 600 miler, and endurance race, where fuel mileage and pit strategy play into things.
Even as I’ve sat here and tapped this out, I’ve changed my mind twice already. At first, I was ready to pick Juan Montoya for his first oval win. But…..I’d like his chances a little better if he were closer to the front. Until two minutes ago, I was going to bow to conventional wisdom and pick Jimmie Johnson. He’s been the New England Patriots of NASCAR. BUT, two things give me pause to consider another possibility. Number one, the luck won’t last forever. Sooner or later, a mechanical failure or a wreck will catch, and this could be one of those places. Number two, while Johnson has a monster pit crew, the others have been equal or better. Given the track and distance, pit strategy may play into the finish, and while the "48" team is great, they’re not perfect.
The cerebral Jeff Burton won here last October by running a smart race. Yes, Johnson can run those races, but so can Gordon, Martin and Kenseth. So can Tony Stewart.
I’m almost tempted to go with Mark Martin ,who has won 4 races in Charlotte. He will run a good race. I think he will regain the points lead after this race.
But the winner this time will be……Tony Stewart.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
The guy that is 2nd in points, starting 2nd will win the race and the championship. And who is that the “Old Man Mark Martin.” Go Mark
Quote “Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, & Mike Bliss-they’ve got nothing to race for but a win-do you think they’re going to give way for the chase guys? They won’t & the fans are glad of it.”
I haven’t been following things too carefully. Lets hope that Mike Bliss has the funding to run the entire race. Of all the new “shoe string” teams this year they have shown the most promise. Mike deserves a full time Cup ride, but alas-he can’t even keep one in Cup lite. Given the limitations with the 71 team. A top 20 would be equivalent to a victory.
If Brad has a NASCAR license, (he dose) A fast car, (ditto) & is able to run up front with the leaders,(I think he will.) Then he should be able to get in & mix it up, trying for his second victory. Let’s hope NASCAR doesn’t see it differently!