Week 27 Preview (Chase Race One)

Chase Race One: Chicagoland Speedway

Well this week has been a world wind of allegations and information that has left the Nascar community with spinning heads. With the dust settling and fans finding out that Martin Truex Jr was out and Ryan Newman is in we head to Chicagoland for the Chases first race.

Lucky for the Chase drivers Tony Stewart is not running, he has 10 top tens in 12 career starts at Chicagoland.  Also, the most recent winner here is not in the chase this year, that would be last years Champion Brad Keselowski.

So the question is, who has the upper hand in the first Chase race?  Lets take a look at that question in Good, Middle, and Bad this week (Only guys in the Chase). You can also check out last years Chase race at Chicagoland here.

The Good:

• Jimmie Johnson- He has 9 career top 10's in 11 career starts here and 6 top 5's, but JJ has yet to win at this track. Will this be the year he gets a win here, or will his Championship quest start out like all the rest have?
• Kevin Harvick- Well you could say Harvick is good here, he does have 2 wins, 6 top 5's, and 7 top 10's in his 12 race career here. I would say he has a great shot at getting a hot start to the Chase.
• Ryan Newman- Newman has won a Pole here, Won a race here, finished in the top 10, and top 10. He has done it all and has a career average finish of 14.9 in 11 starts.

The Middle:

• Clint Bowyer-Bowyer (Mr. Intentional Spin) has 6 top 10's in his 7 starts here, yet only one time has he finished inside the top 5. He is consistent, but he will need to push for the front if he wants to push for a title again.

The Bad:

• Greg Biffle- The Biff has 1 top 10 in his 10 starts at Chicagoland. That isn't good news to the one guy most fans are writing off as a non contender. To his defense, he does have 3 11th place finishes and a 13th place finish, so it isn't out of sight to get a top 10.

The Unlucky: (Best driver's at Chicagoland that did not make the Chase)

• Jeff Gordon- As of this article Gordon is not in the Chase (right now you never know). Jeff has 12 starts here, 7 of them being top 10's, 6 top 5's, and 1 win (plus a Pole). I can see Gordon making a big run this year during the Chase and showing Nascar fans what theyre missing out on with the #24 team missing the Chase.

Who I like here for the top 5

• Ryan Newman
• Jeff Gordon
• Kasey Kahne
• Clint Bowyer
• Jimmie Johnson

Dark Horse I like for a run at the top 10?

• Brain Vickers- Maybe even a top 5

Well after this week we will get our first taste of how the Chase will break down. This is not a make or break race but it will help mold the field. Nascar Behind the Wall's review most likely will not be up until late next week as I will be out of town on a fishing trip in Northern Minnesota.