Friday, September 18, 2015

2015 Week 28 Preview: Loudon

Sylvania 300

New Hampshire Motor Speedway


By Richard Tix

This week we are skipping right to the main focus, the preview. It's Chase race number two and the winner (if in the Chase) will move on to the next round.



The Good
  • Brad Keselowski- NHMS has been a good stop for Team Penske lately. BK probably wishes this race was in a later round (as the first round is the easiest to advance from). BK has 7 top 10's in his last 8 races (including three straight that also includes a win).
  • Kyle Busch- This years winner the fist time at NHMS, Kyle Busch has five straight top 10's including a win and four top 5's (1 win and 3 2nd place finishes).
  • Matt Kenseth- In his last six NHMS starts Kenseth has five top 10's. He has a win during that same span. As of late he has run very well here and should again this weekend.
The Middle
  • Ryan Newman- Newman has the best active average start at NHMS with 9.3, but he tends to fade a bit on race day. His average finish of 13.7 is good, but lately top 10's have been a tough come by. He only has 3 in his last 8 starts. He shouldn't have a terrible finish, but he might not be in the top 10 either.
The Bad
  • Danica Partick- Five starts at NHMS and only one top 20. Danica hasn't been terrible here, but she has been finishing around 25th, which leave a lot to be desired. A good day would be getting her back into the top 20 and maybe a top 15.
  • Kasey Kahne- Kahne has five straight finishes without a top 10. In those five races he only has two top 15's and three top 20's. Rough for a guy driving a HMS car.
  • Paul Menard- 17 races and ZERO top 10's, "even a blind squirrel finds a nut once," comes to mind. Heck, Menard only has two top 15's in that same time. Let's just say Menard is already focusing on next week.
About the Track NHMS
Track Stats
  • Rusty Wallace won the first race at Loudon in 1993. He started 33rd
  • Most cautions was the second race at Loudon, 1994, 17 for 78 laps. Ricky Rudd won the race
  • In 1999 Jeff Burton won after starting 38th (farthest back a winner has started)
  • A Cup race at Loudon has been won from the Pole position five times (Newman-2011, Clint Bowyer-2007, Kevin Harvick-2006, Newman-2002, and Jeff Gordon-1998)
  • Ryan Newman has won the Pole at Loudon an astounding 7 times in his 26 starts
  • 5 current full time drivers have 3 total wins at Loudon (Gordon, Newman, Johnson, Stewart, and Ku Busch)
  • A Chevy has not won a race at Loudon in 6 straight starts
  • The race winner has started in the top 10 the last four straight races
  • Jeff Burton has the most career wins at Loudon (4)
  • Jeff Gordon has the most career top 5's (16) and top 10's (23).
Track Info
  • Surface- Asphalt and Granite
  • Length- 1.058 miles
  • Banking
    • Turns- variable, about 12% grade
    • Straight- 1 degree
New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Race
Date
Cars
Winner(s)
St
Make / Model
1993-16
7/11/1993
40
Rusty Wallace
33
Pontiac
1994-16
7/10/1994
42
Ricky Rudd
3
Ford
1995-16
7/9/1995
41
Jeff Gordon
21
Chevrolet
1996-16
7/14/1996
40
Ernie Irvan
6
Ford
1997-17
7/13/1997
42
Jeff Burton
15
Ford
1997-25
9/14/1997
43
Jeff Gordon
13
Chevrolet
1998-17
7/12/1998
43
Jeff Burton
5
Ford
1998-23
8/30/1998
43
Jeff Gordon
1
Chevrolet
1999-18
7/11/1999
43
Jeff Burton
38
Ford
1999-26
9/19/1999
43
Joe Nemechek
11
Chevrolet
2000-18
7/9/2000
43
Tony Stewart
6
Pontiac
2000-26
9/17/2000
43
Jeff Burton
2
Ford
2001-19
7/22/2001
43
Dale Jarrett
9
Ford
2001-36
11/23/2001
42
Robby Gordon
31
Chevrolet
2002-19
7/21/2002
43
Ward Burton
31
Dodge
2002-27
9/15/2002
43
Ryan Newman
1
Ford
2003-19
7/20/2003
43
Jimmie Johnson
6
Chevrolet
2003-27
9/14/2003
43
Jimmie Johnson
8
Chevrolet
2004-19
7/25/2004
43
Kurt Busch
32
Ford
2004-27
9/19/2004
43
Kurt Busch
7
Ford
2005-19
7/17/2005
43
Tony Stewart
13
Chevrolet
2005-27
9/18/2005
43
Ryan Newman
13
Dodge
2006-19
7/16/2006
43
Kyle Busch
4
Chevrolet
2006-27
9/17/2006
43
Kevin Harvick
1
Chevrolet
2007-17
7/1/2007
43
Denny Hamlin
11
Chevrolet
2007-27
9/16/2007
43
Clint Bowyer
1
Chevrolet
2008-17
6/29/2008
43
Kurt Busch
26
Dodge
2008-27
9/14/2008
43
Greg Biffle
9
Ford
2009-17
6/28/2009
43
Joey Logano
24
Toyota
2009-27
9/20/2009
43
Mark Martin
14
Chevrolet
2010-17
6/27/2010
43
Jimmie Johnson
10
Chevrolet
2010-27
9/19/2010
43
Clint Bowyer
2
Chevrolet
2011-19
7/17/2011
43
Ryan Newman
1
Chevrolet
2011-28
9/25/2011
43
Tony Stewart
20
Chevrolet
2012-19
7/15/2012
43
Kasey Kahne
2
Chevrolet
2012-28
9/23/2012
43
Denny Hamlin
32
Toyota
2013-19
7/14/2013
43
Brian Vickers
13
Toyota
2013-28
9/22/2013
43
Matt Kenseth
9
Toyota
2014-19
7/13/2014
43
Brad Keselowski
7
Ford
2014-28
9/21/2014
43
Joey Logano
7
Ford
2015-19
7/19/2015
43
Kyle Busch
4
Toyota


2015 5-Hour Energy 301 Photo Recap













No comments: