Viewer's Guide: NHIS

Of course, if it's the first week of the Chase for the Nextel Cup, you can expect plenty of interview time with the top-10 drivers in Sunday's pre-race show from Loudon (12:30 p.m. ET Sun., TNT).

Especially Dale Earnhardt Jr. However, not for the reasons you may think.

	Inside the Numbers Dale Earnhardt Jr. at NHIS Race Start Finish 7/99 13 43 7/00 26 21 9/00 20 31 7/01 29 9 11/01 8 24 7/02 28 23 9/02 37 11 7/03 3 6 9/03 6 5 7/04 3 31 9/04 3 3 7/05 24 9 9/05 3 5 7/06 25 43 Average 16.3 18.9

Of course, Junior is the most popular driver in this year's Chase. However, he's also the driver with the lowest average finish at New Hampshire International Speedway, the site of Sunday's Sylvania 300.

It's 18.9, by the way.

Still, true to his nature, the always laid-back Earnhardt doesn't seem all that concerned.

"It'd be nice to get a little redemption at New Hampshire this week," Junior said. "We always run pretty good there, but never have enough to get a win. Last time we were there we were pretty decent, definitely a top-10 car, but the motor blew up.

"We're taking the same car we just ran at Richmond. Tony Jr. [crew chief Tony Eury Jr.] is cutting it up ... giving it a new right-rear quarterpanel, left-front fender and bumper cover. We found out the problem with the brakes right after the race Saturday night, and we're confident we'll do well with this car this weekend."

The experience of not making the Chase last year seems to have Earnhardt relaxed heading into this year's final 10.

"I want to win a championship bad," he said, "and being in the Chase is the first big step in doing that. I'm honored to be in the Chase.

"I'm happy for my team, because they gave me such great effort all year. They deserve this. My fans deserve it. My sponsors deserve it. Everyone who stuck with us through last year deserves being a part of this Chase for the championship, so I hope they soak it up, because I know I am."

Also on Sunday's pre-race show, the TNT crew takes a look at how important pit crews are during the Chase.

Jimmie Johnson and J.J. Yeley are the scheduled guests for Friday's Trackside from Loudon (7 p.m. ET, SPEED). If you're going to Loudon, the SPEED stage will be outside the Turn 1/Turn 2 tunnel.

In ratings news, last Saturday's Chevy Rock & Roll 400 drew a 3.2 rating and a 6 share. That's down slightly from 3.3/6.3 last season.

	MESSAGE BOARD •   Send your question to Benny and Wally

In this week's edition of "Ask Wally and Benny," several users want to know what happened to the roof hatches that were used in Nextel Cup cars a couple of years ago..

Benny Parsons answers this time:

"A couple years ago it was an option," he said. "Michael Waltrip is the only guy, I believe -- there may have been one other car -- that had the hatch installed on his car.

"What NASCAR was trying to do, because the cars had become so cramped inside, was give the driver an avenue to exit because it was difficult to get out of the doors. That's why they put the hatch in the roof -- so the driver could just flip the hatch and crawl through.

"It just never caught on. The teams did not install them in their cars, except Michael Waltrip.

"Next year, in 2007, NASCAR will debut their Car of Tomorrow. In this automobile, the roof is wider and higher and should make exiting the vehicle much easier for the drivers, therefore doing away with the need for the hatch."

Now on to this weekend's schedule.

Nextel Cup Series: Sylvania 300

Track: New Hampshire International Raceway

• 1.058-mile oval
• 12-degree banking in turns
• 2-degree banking in straights
• Length of frontstretch: 1,500 feet
• Length of backstretch: 1,500 feet

Race length: 300 laps/317.4 miles

TV schedule (All times ET)

2005 FlashbackSee Ryan Newman start the '05 Chase right Sign up for TrackPass now BUY THE NEXTEL i836

• Bud Pole Qualifying: 3 p.m. Fri., SPEED
• NASCAR Live: 4:30 p.m. Fri., SPEED
• Trackside: 7 p.m. Fri, SPEED
• Final practice: 11 a.m. Fri., SPEED
• NASCAR Live: Noon Sat., SPEED
• NASCAR Raceday: 11 a.m. Sun., SPEED
• Pre-race: 12:30 p.m. Sun., TNT
• Race: 1:30 p.m. Sun., TNT

One year ago, Ryan Newman, who barely squeezed into the Chase for the Nextel Cup, got off to a fast start in NASCAR's 10-race playoff Sunday by outdueling points leader Tony Stewart down the stretch.

The most recent checkered flag went to Kevin Harvick, who passed Kyle Busch on the last lap Saturday to win the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond.

Keep an eye on Jimmie Johnson. Johnson has two wins at NHIS and an average finish of 8.7, tops among Chasers with more than one start at Loudon.

Craftsman Truck Series: New Hampshire 200

Track: New Hampshire International Raceway

• 1.058-mile oval
• 12-degree banking in turns
• 2-degree banking in straights
• Length of frontstretch: 1,500 feet
• Length of backstretch: 1,500 feet

Race length: 200 laps/211.6 miles

2005 FlashbackWatch Crawford get his fourth career NCTS win Sign up for TrackPass now BUY THE NEXTEL i836

TV schedule (All times ET)

• Race: 2 p.m. Sat., SPEED

One year ago, Rick Crawford fought off series points leaders Dennis Setzer and Ted Musgrave to get his fourth career victory.

The most recent checkered flag went to Mark Martin, who made his early pit strategy work and then stayed out front to dominate the O'Reilly 200 at Bristol for his fourth victory in eight Truck Series races.

Keep an eye on Martin, who will make his first Craftsman Truck Series start at NHIS on Saturday. The season's four-time winner has yet to win at the 1.058-mile track.