MyAFibStory.com 400
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?
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
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Race
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Date
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Cars
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Winner(s)
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St
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Make / Model
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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
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2014-27
|
9/14/2014
|
43
|
Brad Keselowski
|
25
|
Ford
|
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