Chase For The Cup #2: Loudon

This 1.058 mile Oval was built in 1990. NASCAR's Premiere Series has raced here since 1993. 

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Season comes back to Loudon, but things are different.

It's the Chase race this time, as well as, being the second race in the Chase as opposed to the first in years past.

Of Course, certain Chase drivers showed muscle in the first Loudon race such as Newman, Stewart, Gordon, and Johnson. So does that mean they shall be Fantasy favorites as well? Let's get to my choices. 

The Favorites

Tony Stewart

Smoke is coming off a breakthrough win at Chicagoland last week. He instantly moved from 11th to 2nd in points heading into Loudon. At this rate, he might take the points lead after tomorrow's race. He finished 2nd in July while leading 48 laps. Smoke's long run times were said to be the ones teams should "compare" with according to Andy Petree. Expect Tony to right the wrong after last year, where he ran out of fuel as the leader. 

Jeff Gordon

Gordon has 3 wins in 33 career starts here with an average finish of 11th. Along with Stewart, Gordon had the car to contend for the race win. He led 19 laps, but battled battery issues most of the race. He was said to have passed the most cars back and forth that race. If not for that, maybe Jeff threatens Newman and Stewart for the win. Gordon believes he's got something for them tomorrow, so watch out for Car #24.

Ryan Newman

Newman in Victory Lane after leading 119 of 301 laps.

Quietly, "Rocketman" has three wins at Loudon, including winning this year's July race by leading 119 of 301 laps. Newman is primed to continue where he left off. Newman has the pole and has been hanging in the top ten in all three practice sessions. A sweep is very possible.

  

The Dark Horses

Jimmie Johnson

Ol' Five-Time stumbled to a 10th place finish after running out of fuel last week. Then again, fuel mileage was never his strong suit, so to get a top ten was still solid. But he's 8th in points; that's the problem. In his last ten at Loudon, Johnson only has two finishes outside the top ten: 39th (9/06) and 25th (9/10). He'll undoubtedly be in the top ten, but don't be surprised if "The Dominator" pulls out another Chase win to add to his resume.

Clint Bowyer

Bowyer (top) celebrates last year's race win by outlasting Stewart in fuel.

Bowyer is the defending race winner of this event as he outlasted Stewart in fuel strategy to get another Loudon win. Can he do it again? Quite possibly. After all, he's not in the Chase, so he has nothing to lose. You can bet he and the #33 team will gamble away. 

Risk Takers

Kyle Busch

Kyle finished 36th in the July event, and his car looked like a 15th place car at best. He has an average finish of 16.3. He's really hit or miss here, and judging by his Chase struggles, I foresee another miss.

I'm interested to see the drivers who'll bounce back such as Denny Hamiln, Matt Kenseth, and Jeff Gordon, after disappointing Chicago finishes. Also, can Smoke continue his new found momentum? Can Newman seal a victory and put the remaining Chase Contenders on notice? I think Newman will get the Loudon sweep ,considering he wants to be taken serious for this Championship; that'll be the best way to do so. But that's just one man's opinion.

Note: I do NOT take credit for any of these photos.