New Hampshire Motor Speedway Mints Different Winners

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES – CAMPING WORLD RV SALES 301, SUNDAY, JULY 14, 1 P.M. EDT ON TNT

Granite State Success In July Carries Into September

New Hampshire Motor Speedway is the eighth track on the schedule that appears in both the regular season and the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™. Success in July portends success in September. In 2012, seven drivers posted top-10 finishes in both New Hampshire events. A year ago, nine of the top-10 finishers in July’s race made the Chase, the exception being Ryan Newman. Last year’s top 10 in the standings following race No. 19 all made the Chase on points.

 

New Hampshire Motor Speedway Mints Different Winners

Beginning in 2005, the Camping World RV Sales 301 has been won by eight different drivers. Kasey Kahne is the defending winner. The track boasts the current longest streak of different winners – 10 – dating to 2008. Four competitors have won the track’s July race during a championship season: Jimmie Johnson (2010), Tony Stewart (2005), Kurt Busch (2004) and Jeff Gordon (1995).

 

Furniture Row Racing, Busch Join NASCAR Sprint Cup Elite

Furniture Row Racing, the single-car Chevrolet team located in Denver, Colo., has placed a driver in the top 10 for the first time. Kurt Busch jumped to ninth place in the standings following a sixth-place finish in Saturday’s Coke Zero 400. Busch has four top-10 finishes in his most recent five races. Busch was ranked 22^nd as recently as 10 races ago. The former NASCAR Sprint Cup champion has won three times in New Hampshire including a season sweep in 2004

 

New Hampshire Might Be Hamlin’s Chase Last Stand

Denny Hamlin’s fast-fading hope of salvaging a Chase Wild Card most likely hinges upon Sunday’s race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Hamlin finished second in last year’s summer race and returned in September to claim his second victory at the 1.058-mile layout. The Virginian’s performance at NHMS was dominant to say the least. He led 343 of 601 laps with Driver Ratings of 141.2 and 149.2, respectively. Hamlin’s average finish at New Hampshire is 7.9.

 

Points Runner-Up Bowyer Likely New Hampshire Contender

Clint Bowyer’s season has come full circle from where the driver of the No. 15 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota ended last year’s campaign. Bowyer ranks second in the standings, 49 points behind leader Jimmie Johnson. The Kansan is one of just three drivers among the current top 10 without a victory and potential Chase bonus points when the standings reset for the postseason. Bowyer won his first NASCAR Sprint Cup race at New Hampshire in September 2007. He enjoyed a solid 2012 at the track with finishes of third and fourth. Other drivers currently in the top 10 without a 2013 win are Dale Earnhardt Jr. (fifth) and Kurt Busch (ninth).

 

Statistics Say Stewart Will Strengthen Top-10 Hold This Week

Daytona, not surprisingly, scrambled the Chase Wild Card picture. Tony Stewart’s second-place finish took the three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion from potential Wild Card to 10^th in the standings. Martin Truex fell out of the top 10 (11^th) but holds the first Wild card. Kasey Kahne went from Wild Card No. 1 to Wild Card No. 2 (12^th). While Stewart’s hold on 10^th place is tenuous – six points – Smoke will work from a position of strength. Over the past eight races, Stewart holds the track’s top Average Driver Rating of 111.7 and most laps led (887/18.6%). He counts three victories among 10 top-three finishes overall at NHMS.