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Chase History: Dover International Speedway

by Chris Leone, Special To NASCAR commentary and driver pictures, 2011 NASCAR schedule, video, Bench Racing With Steve and Charlie

I do weekly Fantasy Pick'Em columns here at OPR, as well as the occasional opinion and analysis piece. I also provide the IZOD IndyCar Series coverage. For more on that, head to my site, OpenWheelAmerica.com. My Twitter handle is @christopherlion.

September 28, 2011 1:05 pm CDT No Comments

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Chad Knaus Jimmie Johnson Chandra and daughter on pit road Dover 10 bure

One of the toughest tracks on the Sprint Cup schedule, the concrete Dover International Speedway - “The Monster Mile” - hosts the third round of this year’s Chase for the Sprint Cup, the AAA 400, this weekend. Right now, Tony Stewart is the points leader, holding a seven-marker advantage over second-place Kevin Harvick after scoring wins in both Chase races so far.

But when it comes to Dover, Stewart hasn’t won since sweeping the track in 2000. He came close in the spring 2009 race, only to be edged for the lead by Jimmie Johnson with three laps to go. His average finish at Dover in the seven Chase races is a so-so 15.3, but the Chase isn’t about solid points finishes, it’s about winning.

If recent history is to be trusted, in fact, this should be the track at which Johnson breaks out. Johnson, like Stewart, can boast a Dover sweep in the distant past (2002), but unlike Stewart, has tasted victory more recently. He’s won the past two fall Dover races (both from pole) and three of the past five at the track overall. He used last year’s victory to set him up to take the points lead from Denny Hamlin the next weekend at Kansas. The two would continue to swap the lead throughout the Chase, in one of the best battles in the format’s history.

Johnson’s career average finish of 9.6 is second best of all active Cup drivers, with only Carl Edwards‘ 7.6 a superior mark. Edwards only has one career win at Dover, however, which came during the 2007 season. The win, inherited when dominant teammate Matt Kenseth blew an engine, put Edwards within 28 points of leader Jeff Gordon; however, a late-race crash at Kansas put a major dent in his title hopes, and he wouldn’t win again that year.

Filed under: Carl Edwards, Chase for the Cup, Dover International Speedway, Tony Stewart, jimmie johnson

Tagged with: AAA 400, Carl Edwards, Chase for the Cup, Denny Hamlin, Dover International Speedway, Jeff Gordon, jimmie johnson, Kevin Harvick, Tony Stewart

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There’s a New Kyle Coming and He’s Coming Fast

by Charlie Turner

Thanks for stopping by OnPitRow.com and the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie blog. The best NASCAR and IndyCar news and opinion, exclusive pictures and video. I'm Charlie Turner. Follow me on Twitter @onpitrow

September 27, 2011 9:22 am CDT No Comments

The racing earth shifted Saturday night, but odds are, you didn’t feel it. That’s the way earthshakes are when they originate in a cornfield in Central Ohio.

As track owner, Sprint Cup team owner and Sprint Cup Chase to the Cup points leader, Tony Stewart watched from a suite overlooking turn three at Eldora Speedway, a kid from California started kicking down some doors.

19 year old Kyle Larson did something that only one other driver has ever done in the USAC 4-Crown Nationals. He swept the midget, sprint car and Silver Crown finals. Only Larson and Jack Hewett have ever done that.

Stewart came close once, wining two of the three. Tony was so impressed that he paid Larson a $10,000 bonus - on top of the $18Gs the kid won in prize money.

Maybe that was a down payment on a future NASCAR contract. Jack Hewett, who was watching from the infield says…

“He’s the next NASCAR star without a doubt,” said Hewitt. “One day I’ll be saying, ‘Hey, me and Kyle were the only ones to have ever done it.’”

So maybe we’ll be talking about “The New Kyle” before long. Not sure if Kyle Larson has a handle like “Sliced Bread“ or “GOAT”, but The New Kyle probably wouldn’t be too bad. Robin Miller likes him and Miller is tough to please.

Kyle Larson will be a guest On Pit Row today, live at about 6 PM ET. Click here to watch.

Photo courtesy of Steve LaMothe

Filed under: Eldora Speedway, NASCAR, On Pit Row The Fastest Two Hours on Radio, Tony Stewart

Tagged with: 4-Crown Nationals, Jack Hewitt, Kyle Larson, Robin Miller, sprint cars, USAC

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NASCAR Pictures: Tony Stewart Wins the Sylvania 300

by Charlie Turner

September 25, 2011 7:44 pm CDT No Comments

Exclusive NASCAR photos from Victory Lane at New Hampshire

Congratulations to Tony Stewart and Stewart-Haas Racing for their win in the second race of the 2011 Chase to the Sprint Cup. Stewart got it right as leader Clint Bowyer ran out of fuel and gave Smoke the win.

Photo credit: Glenn Bure: OnPitRow.com

Filed under: Chase for the Cup, NASCAR, NASCAR photos, New Hampshire International Speedway, Tony Stewart

Tagged with: Loudon, Magic Mile, NASCAR pictures, sylvania 300

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NASCAR Pictures: Friday Qualifying for the Sylvania 300

by Charlie Turner

September 24, 2011 9:33 pm CDT No Comments

Exclusive NASCAR photos from New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Our intrepid photog Glenn Bure was there and firing on all cylinders for the Friday Sprint Cup practice and qualifying action at The Magic Mile in Loudon. Nice work Glenn.

Photo credit: Glenn Bure - OnPitRow.com

Filed under: Brad Kesolowski, Carl Edwards, Chase for the Cup, Clint Boyer, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Denny Hamlin, Jamie McMurray, Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Joey Logano, Kasey Kahne, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, NASCAR, NASCAR photos, New Hampshire International Speedway, NewHampshire Motor Speedway, Red Bull Racing, Ryan Newman, Stewart Haas Racing, The Busch Bros, Tony Stewart

Tagged with: Loudon, Magic Mile, NASCAR pictures, sylvania 300

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Chase History: New Hampshire Motor Speedway

by Chris Leone, Special To NASCAR commentary and driver pictures, 2011 NASCAR schedule, video, Bench Racing With Steve and Charlie

September 23, 2011 10:01 pm CDT No Comments

The Chase for the Sprint Cup takes us to my home track, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, for the second race of this year’s championship battle. But I wonder about the intensity of Sunday’s event. It’s no longer the first race of the Chase, after all, having been replaced in that position on the schedule by Chicagoland. Instead of seeing all of the drivers race aggressively to start off on the right foot, we may see the top drivers going for points as the bottom few race hard.

But after the start of last year’s Chase, I think us New Hampshire fans can survive.

One of the most intense finishes of the 2010 season came at Loudon. For much of the race, Clint Bowyer, who had used a sixth place finish at Richmond to eke into the Chase, held the lead. The No. 33 team was simply dominant, using its outside pole position to establish itself at the front of the pack and taking the lead for the first of seven times on lap 29.

In fact, four of Bowyer’s segments at the front of the field were for more than 10 laps. Three of them were for 45 laps or more, and between those segments no driver led for more than two laps. He was dominant, even as Jamie McMurray and last week’s winner Tony Stewart poked their noses out front.

Even though Stewart took the lead with 52 laps to go and seemed set to win, Bowyer looked to take a strong finish out of the weekend. For a team that had barely made the Chase, they couldn’t ask for much better than a second-place finish.

Then Stewart ran out of gas on lap 299. Bowyer took the win.

Of course, three days later, Bowyer’s car was found to be in major violation of NASCAR rules. He got to keep the win, but the points penalty was so harsh that he was effectively eliminated from Chase contention immediately. His best crew members were shifted to Kevin Harvick’s team, and Bowyer brought up the rear of the playoff field. But it goes to show you - some teams will do just about anything to win the first race of the Chase.

Filed under: Chase for the Cup, Clint Boyer, NewHampshire Motor Speedway, Tony Stewart

Tagged with: Chase for the Cup, New Hampshire Motor Speedway

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NASCAR Pictures: Sunday Action at Pocono Raceway

by Charlie Turner

September 22, 2011 7:14 pm CDT No Comments

Exclusive Pocono 500 NASCAR race action and Driver photos

On Pit Row photographer Glenn Bure will be at New Hampshire Motor Speedway this weekend capturing all three days Nationwide Series and Chase to the Sprint Cup action on the track and in the garage. we thought we’d give you a little taste of what to expect with some bonus images from the last Pocono weekend. Enjoy and leave Glenn some comments about his work.