Behind the Wall: 2015 Week 27 Preview: Chicagoland

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Chicagoland Speedway

By Richard Tix

NASCAR finished up its 26 race regular season last Saturday at Richmond International Raceway. The race had a recipe for some drama, but for most of the night there was none to be found. Matt Kenseth came out swinging and led most of the night on the way to a dominating victory.

But, NASCAR leaves the regular season behind and heads into the 2015 Sprint Cup Chase. 16 drivers will run the next three races trying to put together the most points (or wins) that they can to be the final 8. Each round the drama ramps up as we saw last year when BK, Kenseth, Hamlin, and Gordon all had tempers that flared up.

So, who will advance this year and take that first step to the finale at Miami? Who will take that first step towards a 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship?

The Good

Tony Stewart- It has been awhile for Smoke, last year he finished 18th and in 2013 he missed this race, but before that Chicagoland was a strong stop on the schedule. From 2001-2012 he had 3 wins, 8 top 5's, and 10 top 10's in 12 races. Maybe he has lost it, but this is the place to get back on track.
Brad Keselowski- 6 career starts for BK at Chicago and four straight top 10's. Since being in the #2 he has posted a top 10. He also has two wins in the last three races here so he is a safe bet to be up front.
Kevin Harvick- In 14 career starts at Chicagoland Harvick has 2 wins, 8 top 5's, and 9 top 10's. So, if Harvick is going to finish towards the front it will most likely be a top 5.
Extra Credit- Jimmie Johnson

The Middle

Clint Bowyer- The case for Bowyer being in the middle (by middle NBTW doesn't mean around 20th, but rather a top 10 borderline guy), is that in 9 career starts here he has 7 top 10's yet only one top 5. That sounds like a guy who could end up in the top 10 but may not ever compete for the win.

The Bad

Paul Menard- Menard only has 2 top 15 finishes in 8 career starts here (1 top 10). He only has three top 20's in that same time. Menard really needs to start putting up more top 20's or top 15's to leave this category.
Jamie McMurray- Things might be turning the corner for McMurray as he finished 9th here last year, but in his career he only has 3 top 10's in 12 starts. The more worrisome part is that he only has 4 top 20's in those 12 starts.
Denny Hamlin- In 9 career Chicagoland starts Hamlin has 3 top 10's (1 top 5) and has only led a lap one time (2012 for 1 lap). His only top 10 in the last four races was last year (6th).

About the Track: Chicagoland Speedway

Track Stats

This will be the 15th NASCAR Cup stop at Chicagoland Speedway
6 drivers have started all 14 races here at Chicagoland
Their has been 10 different winners at Chicagoland in 14 races.
Only three drivers have multiple wins here (Stewart, Harvick, and Keselowski)
David Reutimann won with MWR here back in 2010
Stewart and Havrick have the most career top 5's with 8
Stewart and Jimmie Johnson have the most career top 10's with 10
Johnson has led the most career laps here with 577
114 different driver have attempted at least one race at Chicagoland

Track Info

Surface: Asphalt
Length: 1.5 miles
Banking

Turns: 18 degrees
Frontstretch: 11 degrees
Backstretch: 15 degrees

Chicagoland Speedway
Race	Date	Cars	Winner(s)	St	Make / Model
2001-18	7/15/2001	43	Kevin Harvick	6	Chevrolet
2002-18	7/14/2002	43	Kevin Harvick	32	Chevrolet
2003-18	7/13/2003	43	Ryan Newman	14	Dodge
2004-18	7/11/2004	43	Tony Stewart	10	Chevrolet
2005-18	7/10/2005	43	Dale Earnhardt, Jr.	25	Chevrolet
2006-18	7/9/2006	43	Jeff Gordon	13	Chevrolet
2007-19	7/15/2007	43	Tony Stewart	19	Chevrolet
2008-19	7/12/2008	43	Kyle Busch	1	Toyota
2009-19	7/11/2009	43	Mark Martin	14	Chevrolet
2010-19	7/10/2010	43	David Reutimann	7	Toyota
2011-27	9/19/2011	43	Tony Stewart	26	Chevrolet
2012-27	9/16/2012	43	Brad Keselowski	13	Dodge
2013-27	9/15/2013	43	Matt Kenseth	10	Toyota
2014-27	9/14/2014	43	Brad Keselowski	25	Ford