Conditions a factor again at New Hampshire

LOUDON, N.H. -- It's unlikely that competitors in Sunday's NASCAR Winston Cup New Hampshire 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway will be plagued with track conditions as vile as existed in July.

	Tough conditions in the July race at New Hampshire sent several cars skidding. Credit: Autostock

But chances are the winner will be the driver that adapts the best to the flat, 1.058-mile oval over 300 laps (NBC, MRN Radio 12:30 p.m. ET).

New England native Jerry Nadeau went so far as to say the track in July was the worst he had ever raced on.

"I don't know what the track surface will be like this weekend, but who does?" Nadeau said. "It's going to be a big guessing game. Nobody can predict what has happened in the last two months since we've been here, so we are just going to have to see what we've got. I just hope the track will be better -- that's for sure."

In an attempt to create an additional racing groove, owner Bob Bahre laid new asphalt in the two 12-degree banked corners of the track prior to the NASCAR Busch Series weekend in May. The track seemed better then, but Turns 3 and 4 had to be repaved in June, only weeks before the New England 300 on July 21.

On a typically hot race day, a combination of pebbles being literally pulled from the track's new surface and rubber buildup off the cars' wide, sticky, Goodyear tires combined to create a gravelly surface in one end of the track.

Matt Kenseth, who leads the series with four wins, looked like he had a fifth victory in the bag before a cut tire ended his threat with less than 10 laps to go. Rusty Wallace was another who was affected, though he came through with a fourth-place finish.

"A lot of teams had horrendous days because of all the loose stuff and cut tires and all," Wallace said. "We had a flat, but didn't get into the wall like many of the other guys did. We were very fortunate that we didn't get bit by it and came away with a top-five for the day."

	Dale Jarrett says qualifying is important at New Hampshire. Credit: Autostock

Dale Jarrett, who won at New Hampshire in July 2001, battled his way to third place in July, behind Ward Burton and second-place Jeff Green.

"As a racer, we enjoy racing at places where there's more than one racing groove," Jarrett said. "When we raced here last time there really wasn't much of a groove just inches outside the one we ran all day. A lot of people had problems between 3 and 4."

Even with the track difficulties, July's race had 23 lead changes among 12 drivers -- which ties the highest total in 15 Winston Cup races at NHIS. The July 1996 Jiffy Lube 300, won by Ernie Irvan, also had 23.

The 45 entrants trying to make the 43-car field will get two hours of practice Friday morning, beginning at 11:20 ET. Bud Pole Qualifying is at 3:05 p.m. Wallace is the track record holder with the 132.089 mph, 28.835-second lap he laid down July 7, 2000.

"Passing at New Hampshire is tough so it makes the qualifying package a little more important than it is at other places we race," Jarrett said. "We started in the back of the field in July and you could pass someone once their handling went away but it was tough on fresh tires."

In fact, the top-three finishers in July all started worse than 30th.

"It's not impossible to win from the back," Jarrett said, "but it makes your work that much tougher. You really have to have an almost perfect day if you're going to win at a place like New Hampshire. This is a tough place. Three hundred laps doesn't seem like a lot, but you work your tail off every lap."

Teams will make their final set-up changes in two 45-minute practice sessions Saturday morning, covered live by RaceCast at 9:30 and 11:15 ET.

NEW HAMPSHIRE 300  •  Entry List  •  Race Facts  •  Track Page: NHIS

One of the most intriguing aspects of what is shaping up as a very interesting weekend is the NASCAR Winston Cup Leader Bonus, which has reached a record $220,000. Six drivers are eligible for the bonus if they can lead the Winston Cup standings after winning at NHIS.

Five drivers are within 118 points of first-place Sterling Marlin, and even sixth-place Wallace has a mathematical shot at the prize, though it's not likely he could make up 146 points in one race.

Marlin, who has led the standings for 25 races, last won the bonus with his victory at Darlington Raceway in March -- 21 races ago. Marlin leads Mark Martin by nine points. Martin has not been this close to the leade this late in the season since 1990.

Three-time NHIS winner Jeff Burton, who led all 300 laps here in September 2000, is the race record holder with his winning average speed of 117.134 mph, set on July 13, 1997.