pandr
10-13-2011, 10:51 AM
Unpredictable? How they roll in Charlotte
By Jim Utter
Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011
CONCORD, N.C. – The Sprint Cup races at Talladega, Ala., and Martinsville, Va., are typically touted as the “wild cards” in the Chase for the Cup each season because they produce unexpected results.
A quick look at the record book of winners at Charlotte Motor Speedway also shows the speedway’s history of producing surprises.
A year ago, Jamie McMurray outran all 12 drivers in the Chase – including eventual champion Jimmie Johnson – to win the fall race at CMS for the second time in his career.
While McMurray may not seem the most likely candidate to pull into Victory Lane following Saturday night’s Bank of America 500, there are plenty of others that could still send a shock wave through the series standings.
Qualifying for Saturday night’s race is 7:10 p.m. Thursday.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. nearly ended his career-worst winless streak in May at Charlotte, but ran out of gas while leading the final lap of the Coca-Cola 600. Kevin Harvick inherited the victory instead and both drivers find themselves battling for the championship this fall.
“I was happy to be close. It’s definitely more frustrating to be a fifth-place car, run fifth all day and finish fifth than to be leading the race at the end and having a shot to win, even if you lose the race on fuel mileage at the end,” Earnhardt said.
“Getting the white flag in the lead is exhilarating.”
Should Earnhardt be able to close the deal on Saturday, he could well put himself back into the thick of the title hunt.
Tony Stewart, who opened the Chase with two consecutive wins, has struggled the last two weeks. He has won the fall race at CMS before (2003), but the track has not been kind to him of late.
Stewart has not finished in the top 10 at Charlotte since he was seventh in the fall race in 2007.
“If we have a chance to win the championship at the end, trust me, we’re all for that and we would love nothing more than that,” Stewart said.
“But I think right now where we’re at and how many points we need to make up, I think it lets us have a go-for-broke attitude and just go out and try to do what we did at Chicagoland and New Hampshire and win races.
“I’ve always said, if you win races, the points will take care of itself.”
Carl Edwards took over the series points lead following his fifth-place finish at Kansas last week. But he, too, has had his share of issues at Charlotte. Edwards has finished better than 12th only once in his last six races at the track.
Edwards did, however, win the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte and its $1 million first prize in May.
“We struggle a lot there,” Edwards said of CMS. “It is a hit-or-miss track for us.”
C/P thats racin
By Jim Utter
Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011
CONCORD, N.C. – The Sprint Cup races at Talladega, Ala., and Martinsville, Va., are typically touted as the “wild cards” in the Chase for the Cup each season because they produce unexpected results.
A quick look at the record book of winners at Charlotte Motor Speedway also shows the speedway’s history of producing surprises.
A year ago, Jamie McMurray outran all 12 drivers in the Chase – including eventual champion Jimmie Johnson – to win the fall race at CMS for the second time in his career.
While McMurray may not seem the most likely candidate to pull into Victory Lane following Saturday night’s Bank of America 500, there are plenty of others that could still send a shock wave through the series standings.
Qualifying for Saturday night’s race is 7:10 p.m. Thursday.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. nearly ended his career-worst winless streak in May at Charlotte, but ran out of gas while leading the final lap of the Coca-Cola 600. Kevin Harvick inherited the victory instead and both drivers find themselves battling for the championship this fall.
“I was happy to be close. It’s definitely more frustrating to be a fifth-place car, run fifth all day and finish fifth than to be leading the race at the end and having a shot to win, even if you lose the race on fuel mileage at the end,” Earnhardt said.
“Getting the white flag in the lead is exhilarating.”
Should Earnhardt be able to close the deal on Saturday, he could well put himself back into the thick of the title hunt.
Tony Stewart, who opened the Chase with two consecutive wins, has struggled the last two weeks. He has won the fall race at CMS before (2003), but the track has not been kind to him of late.
Stewart has not finished in the top 10 at Charlotte since he was seventh in the fall race in 2007.
“If we have a chance to win the championship at the end, trust me, we’re all for that and we would love nothing more than that,” Stewart said.
“But I think right now where we’re at and how many points we need to make up, I think it lets us have a go-for-broke attitude and just go out and try to do what we did at Chicagoland and New Hampshire and win races.
“I’ve always said, if you win races, the points will take care of itself.”
Carl Edwards took over the series points lead following his fifth-place finish at Kansas last week. But he, too, has had his share of issues at Charlotte. Edwards has finished better than 12th only once in his last six races at the track.
Edwards did, however, win the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte and its $1 million first prize in May.
“We struggle a lot there,” Edwards said of CMS. “It is a hit-or-miss track for us.”
C/P thats racin