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Chase History: Kansas 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.

October 8, 2011 12:00 pm CDT No Comments

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#14 Tony Stewart turn 2 Michigan International Speedway heisler sum 11

Can Tony Stewart reclaim the Sprint Cup points lead by taking his third career Kansas win? (Photo: Beth Heisler)

2011 marks the first season that Kansas Speedway has ever hosted two races at NASCAR’s highest level, but its fall race has been a part of the Chase for the Sprint Cup since the format’s inception. All but twice, its winner has been a Chase driver; in one of the exceptions, the winner, Tony Stewart, was the top non-Chase driver on the season.

Stewart, in fact, is one of only three drivers to score two wins at the track, tied for the all-time lead. His victories came in 2006, the season where he just missed the Chase, and 2009, his fourth win in his first season driving for his own team. With eight top-10s in his 11 starts, he has an average finish of 11.9 that’s good for fifth among active drivers.

But the two other drivers to win multiple races have done a bit better. He isn’t in this year’s Chase, but Greg Biffle is the defending race winner (as well as the 2007 winner, under controversial circumstances) and will start from the pole on Sunday. In five of his 10 Kansas starts, he’s led 37 laps or more; in seven of 10, he’s come home with at least a top five finish.

The gold standard, however, is Jeff Gordon, who has nine top-10s in 11 Kansas starts and lays down a consistent run every time he shows up. Gordon won the first two Kansas races, in 2001 and 2002, the first coming on the way to his fourth career championship. In each of his past five starts, he’s finished fifth or better, giving Stewart a run for his money in the 2009 race. Another strong Kansas run could be just what he needs to pull back into the Chase hunt after the first three races have left him ninth in points.

Filed under: Chase for the Cup, Greg Biffle, Jeff Gordon, Kansas Speedway, Tony Stewart

Tagged with: Chase for the Cup, Greg Biffle, Jeff Gordon, Kansas Speedway, Tony Stewart

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NASCAR Pictures: Sunday Action at Pocono Raceway

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 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.

Photo credit: Glenn Bure - OnPitRow.com

Filed under: A J Allmendinger, Brad Kesolowski, Brian Vickers, Carl Edwards, Clint Boyer, Dale Earnhardt Jr., David Ragan, David Reutimann, Denny Hamlin, Greg Biffle, Jamie McMurray, Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Joe Nemechek, Juan Pablo Montoya, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Matt Kenseth, NASCAR, NASCAR photos, NewHampshire Motor Speedway, Paul Menard, Pocono Raceway, Robby Gordon, Ryan Newman, The Busch Bros, Tony Stewart, jimmie johnson

Tagged with: Glenn Bure, NASCAR pictures, Pennsylvania 500, sylvania 300

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Rainy Day NASCAR Racing Pictures from Chicagoland Speedway

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

I am the field producer/photographer of the syndicated radio show/website ON PIT ROW. When Steve and Charlie ask me to 'jump', I say "Yeah right."

September 20, 2011 9:25 am CDT No Comments

Exclusive NASCAR driver photos from Sunday at the GEICO 400

We were there, and we got wet, but it was still fun and I did get some really interesting shots of the non-race NASCAR action at Chicagoland Speedway Sunday. Tell me what you think in the comment section and please share these with your friends on Facebook too.

Photo credit: BethAnne Heisler - OnpitRow.com

Filed under: Andy Lally, Brad Kesolowski, Brian Vickers, Carl Edwards, Chase for the Cup, Chicagoland Speedway, Clint Boyer, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Dave Blaney, Denny Hamlin, Greg Biffle, Haas CNC Racing, J J Yeley, Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Juan Pablo Montoya, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Marcos Ambrose, Matt Kenseth, NASCAR, NASCAR photos, Red Bull Racing, Regan Smith, Robby Gordon, Ryan Newman, Stewart Haas Racing, The Busch Bros, Tony Stewart, jimmie johnson

Tagged with: driver pictures, GEICO 400, NASCAR driver photos, NASCAR pictures, The Caveman

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NASCAR Pictures: Helluva Good! Sunday at MIS

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

I am the field producer/photographer of the syndicated radio show/website ON PIT ROW. When Steve and Charlie ask me to 'jump', I say "Yeah right."

June 26, 2011 5:22 am CDT No Comments

Exclusive Photos of NASCAR Action at Michigan Speedway

Sunday at Michigan International Speedway was an exciting day at the races. I got some nice photos on the track of the action.

: #2 Brad Keselowski Michigan International Speedway spr heisler 11

: #00 David Reutimann #32 Mike Bliss #31 Jeff Burton three wide Michigan International Speedway spr heisler 11

: #1 Jamie McMurray #24 Jeff Gordon #33 Clint Bowyer #20 Joey Logano #78 Regan Smith Michigan international Speedway spr heisler 11

: #11 Denny Hamlin #17 Matt Kenseth Michigan International Speedway spr heisler 11

: #17 Matt Kenseth #22 Kurt Busch Michigan International Speedway spr heisler 11

: #18 Kyle Busch #16 Greg Biffle Michigan International Speedway spr heisler 11

: #21 Trevor Bayne Michigan International Speedway spr heisler 11

: #24 Jeff Gordon #5 Mark Martin Michigan International Speedway spr heisler 11

: #29 Kevin Harvick Michigan International Speedway spr heisler 11

: #33 Clint Bowyer Michigan International Speedway spr heisler 11

: #48 Jimmie Johnson Michigan International Speedway spr heisler 11

: #56 Martin Truex Jr #2 Brad Keselowski #31 Jeff Burton Michigan International Speedway spr heisler 11

: #56 Martin Truex Jr #4 Kasey Kahne Michigan International Speedway spr heisler- 1

: #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr #83 Brian Vickers #39 Ryan Newman #29 Kevin Harvick #43 AJ Allmendinger Michigan International Speedway spr heisler 11

: #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr Michigan International Speedway spr heisler 11

Photo credit: BethAnne Heisler - OnPitRow.com

Filed under: A J Allmendinger, Brad Kesolowski, Brian Vickers, Clint Boyer, Dale Earnhardt Jr., David Reutimann, Denny Hamlin, Greg Biffle, Jamie McMurray, Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Jimmy Johnson, Joey Logano, Kasey Kahne, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth, Michigan International Speedway, NASCAR, NASCAR photos, Regan Smith, Ryan Newman, Trevor Bayne, jimmie johnson

Tagged with: Helluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400, NASCAR pictures

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Fantasy Pick’Em: 2011 STP 400

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

June 2, 2011 2:25 pm CDT No Comments

You know, it’s kind of bitterly ironic that I’m writing a preview for a NASCAR race in Kansas just a day after tornadoes pummeled my home state of Massachusetts. The amount of Wizard of Oz jokes that I had to put up with yesterday was simply unbearable, let me tell you. And now that the Sprint Cup Series is officially in Kansas, running its first summer race there, I’m sure that the jokes are going to go even further.

Come on, tell me that the teams are clicking their heels together and saying “there’s no place like home” after being in Charlotte for two weeks. Tell me that crew chiefs are singing “If I Only Had a Brain” after the Coca-Cola 600 became a fuel mileage race. Really, I dare you. Suck the last remaining fun I can still make out of punnery… oh, sorry, I’m just bitter right now, don’t mind me. We’ve got a race to talk about.

Kansas is one of those tracks that’s recent enough of an addition to the NASCAR schedule that some drivers have competed in all of its races, but old enough that there’s still a solid historical base with which to work as far as making predictions goes. And so:

Greg Biffle: In the past seven races at Kansas, Da Biff has finished worse than third only once. That was a 12th-place finish, back in 2006. The next year, he won the track’s only race. We’ll see if his strong showings every October will translate to June as well.

Jeff Gordon: The guy who won the first two races at Kansas has been usurped as king of the track by Biffle, but he’s still a threat every time the Sprint Cup Series swings through. Since a fuel pump gave out and ruined his 2006 race, he’s finished in the top five every time he’s raced at the track. This race could provide the perfect opportunity to regain some of that momentum lost after winning the season’s second race at Phoenix. Doesn’t that seem like an eternity ago?

A.J. Allmendinger: God, this kid is overdue for his first career win, isn’t he? But karma is on his side this week, as he drives an STP-sponsored car for Richard Petty in a race sponsored by STP. By average finish, Kansas is the ‘Dinger’s third best track, with an average run of 12.0; that’s also fifth best of active Sprint Cup drivers, topping such stars as Carl Edwards, Tony Stewart, and Kevin Harvick.

Filed under: A J Allmendinger, Greg Biffle, Jeff Gordon, Kansas Speedway, NASCAR Fantasy Gaming

Tagged with: A.J. Allmendinger, Fantasy Pick'Em, Greg Biffle, Jeff Gordon, Kansas Speedway, STP 400

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NASCAR Race Day Pictures from the Kobalt Tools 500

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

I am the field producer/photographer of the syndicated radio show/website ON PIT ROW. When Steve and Charlie ask me to 'jump', I say "Yeah right."

November 20, 2010 10:29 pm CST No Comments

Photos of NASCAR racers on the track at Phoenix Sunday

On track action from Sunday’s Kobalt Tools 500 at PIR. Congratulations again to Carl Edwards for sweeping the car races. Leave comments if you like what you see, please.