Week 20 Preview

Indianapolis Motor Speedway 2013

Nascar breaks from another bye week and heads to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 20th Sprint Cup running.  Last time here Jimmie Johnson crossed the fame bricks in first and also has 4 times in the last ten races at IMS. The two previous years at IMS has brought surprise winners in Paul Menard and Jamie McMurray. So the question is who will win in 2013, a favorite or a surprise winner?

With the race to get into the Chase heating up a surprise win could throw a huge curveball towards drivers on the edge of getting it, unless that is, the winner happens to be one of those guys already on the edge. Lets get right into the Good, Middle, and Bad drivers at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the last 10 races. If you need to take a peak at last years results look no further, IMS 2012.


The Good:

• Tony Stewart- Well this is a track Smoke considers his home track and it always means a bit more to him when he wins here. For Smoke, he has had those special moments two times in the last ten races here. He also has 8 top 10's and 5 top 5's while finishing in 10th in 2012. Best Chance Forecast: A track favorite and a potential summer run, look for Smoke to finish top 5 if not compete for a win if he is fast in qualifying.
• Jeff Gordon- This list could not leave off Gordon, who has one win in the last 10 (but 4 career wins here). He is tied with JJ for most wins at IMS. Best Chance Forecast: Looking for some consistancy I think Gordon can find a way into the top 10 and hang near the top 10 in points.
• Greg Biffle- Biffle's last five finishes at IMS? 3rd, 7th, 3rd, 4th, and 8th. Not too Shabby for the Biff. Add in he has a 12.1 average finish position in the last 10 starts here and you have a quality start. Best Chance Forecast: I doubt he will win, but look for him to be up front and finish top 10.

The Middle:

• Jimmie Johnson- Ok, ok, I know many people have them on there hot list, as is the smart choice and idea. But, I also want to point out his last three and bad luck that seems to follow him here. He does have a win in his last 3 but he also has finishes of 19th and 22nd, both races he finished on the lead lap. Also, in his last ten he has finishes of 39, 38, 36th all bad luck. With how good he has been you can bet he will be up front, and probably finish top 10, (and may deserve a spot in the Good category) but I also feel I have to inform the public JJ isn't transparent to bad luck.

The Bad:

• Kurt Busch- Well Kurt's last 5 starts here go a little like this: 36, 21, 10, 27, and 40th. Not so hot for a driver trying to get the one car team into the Chase. If any year was the year to bounce out of that funk this would be the one.
• Joey Logano- Well JoLo only has 4 starts here at IMS and they have brought mixed results. Normally you would think the first races would be learning curves and the next couple better. Well here are his finishes starting with his first in 2009: 12th, 9th, 25th, and 33rd last year. Last year he didn't finish on the lead lap but it still isn't the greatest stat line to have right now.
• Martin Truex Jr- 8 starts and one top ten. The upside to Truex's stats? That top 10 came just last year with an 8th place finish. Maybe he is figuring it out here? If not he has a 21.5 average finish position in his last 10 races that says he may struggle.

Who I like for the win this weekend?

• Tony Stewart. Its summer, he has to catch fire eventually right?

Dark Horse?

• Greg Biffle. Yeah he is part of my Good section, but who is really picking the Biff to kiss the bricks?

Hope everyone enjoy/enjoyed Eldora (depending on when you read this). Lets get ready to cross the bricks.