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Week 1 could change the Chase completely.By the Numbers: NHMS
Week 1 win in Chase can be crucial to title implications
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Eight points. It's the margin by which Kurt Busch beat Jimmie Johnson in the inaugural Chase for the Cup in 2004.
The key to that championship? Part of it could be Busch's New Hampshire victory.
Busch is the only eventual champion in the brief four-year Chase era to begin the 10-race championship run by winning the Week 1 event. Going into that race, Busch was seventh in the standings, trailing points leader Jeff Gordon by 30 points under a different Chase format. Johnson was second at the time. After the victory, Busch vaulted to a tie for first in the standings with Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Johnson finished higher than Busch in six of the 10 Chase races of 2004, and earned four victories. It should be noted, Johnson finished 11th in that New Hampshire race. Busch scored 190 points that day to Johnson's 135.
Chase Drivers at New Hampshire
1. Kyle BuschThe points leader has three top-10 finishes in seven starts at New Hampshire, including a 2006 summer victory. He finished 25th in this year's June race.
2. Carl EdwardsJust once has Edwards finished better than 12th in his eight starts at the Loudon track; he was second in the 2006 summer race. He has led two laps at the track and finished 17th earlier this year.
3. Jimmie JohnsonJohnson has two victories at NHMS when he swept both races in 2003. He has five top-10 finishes in the last six races there and was ninth there in June.
4. Dale Earnhardt Jr.Junior has just one top-10 finish in the last five New Hampshire races, but he has led 97 laps during that span. He finished 24th there earlier this year.
5. Clint BowyerAlthough Bowyer has only finished better than 22nd at New Hampshire once, that one time was his victory to begin last year's Chase. He led 222 of 300 laps. He was 22nd there in June.
6. Denny HamlinA year ago Hamlin finished 15th at New Hampshire, his worst performance at the mile track. Otherwise, it's been top-10 finishes, including an eighth-place run there in June.
7. Jeff BurtonThe September race in 2000 has many times defined Burton's career, making him the last driver to lead a race flag to flag in his 300-lap victory. Ironically, he started that race second. He finished seventh three consecutive NHMS races before finishing 18th and 12th in the last two events there.
8. Tony StewartStewart is a two-time winner at New Hampshire. Since his 2005 summer victory, it's been the fall race in which he's thrived. His September finishes: second, second, third. He was 13th in June, leading 132 laps.
9. Greg BiffleIn the last four races at New Hampshire, Biffle hasn't finished better than 13th, although the two September races were his best of the four. Prior to that streak, he had three consecutive top-fives. He was 21st there in June.
10. Jeff GordonGordon's three New Hampshire victories came in his first eight starts at the track. His last four starts there have resulted in finishes of third, second, second and 11th.
11. Kevin HarvickHarvick won this race two years ago to kick off the Chase. A year ago, he finished 17th. His 12.7 average finish ranks fifth among Chase drivers. In the June race he finished 14th.
12. Matt KensethKenseth has a 10.9 average finish at New Hampshire in his 17 starts, and the last four races show that number is fairly accurate. His finishes: 10th, ninth, seventh, 18th -- all of which average 11.0.
Five Chase Facts
2Consecutive Chase races at New Hampshire that have been won from the pole position: Kevin Harvick (2006) and Clint Bowyer (2007). Harvick went on to finish 10th in points; Bowyer finished third.
3Former Cup champions in this year's Chase who have not won a race this year: Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth. Jimmie Johnson, who has won four races in 2008, is the fourth former champion in the Chase.
11Chase victories for two-time champion Jimmie Johnson during the last four years, more than any other driver.
12.0Average finish in New Hampshire's Chase race of the eventual Cup champions.
87.2Percent of laps led this year by drivers included in this year's Chase.
Non-Chase Nugget
490Points scored by Martin Truex Jr. in the last three New Hampshire races, more than any other driver. Ironically, he is winless at NHMS, finishing third, fifth and fourth in that span.
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New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Chase Driver Statistics
| Pos. | Driver | Starts | Wins | Avg. Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Kyle Busch | 7 | 1 | 15.7 |
| 2. | Carl Edwards | 8 | 0 | 14.1 |
| 3. | Jimmie Johnson | 13 | 2 | 10.5 |
| 4. | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | 18 | 0 | 17.8 |
| 5. | Clint Bowyer | 5 | 1 | 22.2 |
| 6. | Denny Hamlin | 5 | 1 | 6.8 |
| 7. | Jeff Burton | 27 | 4 | 13.1 |
| 8. | Tony Stewart | 19 | 1 | 12.8 |
| 9. | Greg Biffle | 12 | 0 | 19.5 |
| 10. | Jeff Gordon | 27 | 3 | 11.6 |
| 11. | Kevin Harvick | 15 | 1 | 12.7 |
| 12. | Matt Kenseth | 17 | 0 | 10.9 |
Chase finishes for Loudon winners
| Year | NMHS Winner | Chase Finish |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Kurt Busch | 1st |
| 2005 | Ryan Newman | 6th |
| 2006 | Kevin Harvick | 4th |
| 2007 | Clint Bowyer | 3rd |
Sprint Cup Series
Official Standings
| Pos. | +/- | Driver | Points | Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | -- | Kyle Busch | 5080 | Leader |
| 2. | -- | Carl Edwards | 5050 | -30 |
| 3. | -- | Jimmie Johnson | 5040 | -40 |
| 4. | -- | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | 5010 | -70 |
| 5. | +7 | Clint Bowyer | 5010 | -70 |
| 6. | +5 | Denny Hamlin | 5010 | -70 |
| 7. | -2 | Jeff Burton | 5010 | -70 |
| 8. | -- | Tony Stewart | 5000 | -80 |
| 9. | -3 | Greg Biffle | 5000 | -80 |
| 10. | -- | Jeff Gordon | 5000 | -80 |
| 11. | -4 | Kevin Harvick | 5000 | -80 |
| 12. | -3 | Matt Kenseth | 5000 | -80 |
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