The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup heads into its third race, at Kansas Speedway on Sunday – the Price Chopper 400. The NASCAR Nationwide Series also will run at Kansas, with Saturday’s Kansas Lottery 300.
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series has an open week, returning to action Oct. 23 at Martinsville Speedway.
The GRAND-AM Road Racing season, meanwhile, is complete, with the Rolex Series and Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge looking to the 2011 season-opening races at Daytona International Speedway Jan. 28-30.
NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
Big-Time Battle At Top Of Standings
The top four in the standings this week consist of two former series champions (Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch) and two younger guys (Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch) who many consider champions in waiting. They’re separated by only 59 points.
Johnson Looming Large
Four-time defending series champ Jimmie Johnson won this past Sunday at Dover, vaulting to second in the points. As if anybody needed a reminder, he is, after all, the champ – until somebody proves differently.
Bad Blood Has Surfaced Between Hamlin and Harvick
Clint Bowyer won the first Chase race at New Hampshire to advance to second in the points. Then a 150-point penalty moved him back to 12th and likely out of contention.
Then Denny Hamlin made some caustic comments about Bowyer’s team contesting the penalty. Whereupon Bowyer’s teammate, Kevin Harvick, slammed into Hamlin on the race track during practice at Dover. And finally, Hamlin and Harvick got into a heated exchange in the Dover garage area.
Welcome to the Chase, everyone.
An important footnote: Bowyer’s team has appealed the penalty. Their appeal will be heard on Wednesday by the National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel.
Home Cooking
Carl Edwards and Clint Bowyer both consider Kansas Speedway their “home track” – Edwards is from Columbia, Mo. and Bowyer is from Emporia, Kan.
The fact that both are in the Chase obviously adds to their inherent enthusiasm this weekend.
Kansas in 2011: Let’s Play Two
Kansas Speedway, which opened in 2001, has annually had one NASCAR Sprint Cup race per year since then.
Starting next year it’ll have two: June 5 and Oct. 9.
Watch Out For Spoilers At Kansas
Spoilers – drivers outside the Chase field – have had good success at Kansas since the Chase format began in 2004, with non-Chase drivers winning three out of six times.
Some potential spoilers to watch out for this weekend:
Juan Pablo Montoya, fourth last year at Kansas.
Mark Martin, whose Kansas Driver Rating of 100.1 is fourth best in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
Brad Keselowski, 13th last year at Kansas.
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