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By Pat DeCola
LOUDON, N.H. -- New Hampshire Motor Speedway treated fans to yet another thrilling, technical race on Sunday that showed a sneak preview of what we'll see when drivers return to Loudon for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race in September. Here's what we’ll be taking away from the New Hampshire 301, and how it may impact the Chase.
LOUDON, N.H. -- New Hampshire Motor Speedway treated fans to yet another thrilling, technical race on Sunday that showed a sneak preview of what we'll see when drivers return to Loudon for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race in September. Here's what we’ll be taking away from the New Hampshire 301, and how it may impact the Chase.
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'Un'-happy Harvick
On the surface, Kevin Harvick's top-five finish would seem to be a positive. Nope.
'I'm disgusted to tell you the truth,' Harvick said after multiple pit road issues. 'It's the same thing every week. We just make mistake after mistake and until we clean that up, we don't have a chance to win races putting ourselves in a hole every time we make a mistake. It sucks because the cars are plenty fast, but we are just not executing. ... There is no way we can win a championship like this unless they straighten some of this stuff out.'
On the surface, Kevin Harvick's top-five finish would seem to be a positive. Nope.
'I'm disgusted to tell you the truth,' Harvick said after multiple pit road issues. 'It's the same thing every week. We just make mistake after mistake and until we clean that up, we don't have a chance to win races putting ourselves in a hole every time we make a mistake. It sucks because the cars are plenty fast, but we are just not executing. ... There is no way we can win a championship like this unless they straighten some of this stuff out.'
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Firming up the bubble
With Dale Earnhardt Jr. sitting out Sunday's race at New Hampshire to recover from concussion-like symptoms, his absence offered a few drivers an opportunity to firm up their respective placement on the Chase Grid. Austin Dillon (14th) and Jamie McMurray (15th) both passed Junior, who now sits on the bubble at 16th.
'We are getting better at the right time,' McMurray said after notching his third top 10 in the past five races. '(The team has) made our cars a lot better.
With Dale Earnhardt Jr. sitting out Sunday's race at New Hampshire to recover from concussion-like symptoms, his absence offered a few drivers an opportunity to firm up their respective placement on the Chase Grid. Austin Dillon (14th) and Jamie McMurray (15th) both passed Junior, who now sits on the bubble at 16th.
'We are getting better at the right time,' McMurray said after notching his third top 10 in the past five races. '(The team has) made our cars a lot better.
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Them Roush boys
Prior to Daytona, Greg Biffle did not have a top-10 finish, but the veteran driver has notched three in a row with Sunday's fifth-place showing being the best yet. It comes at a good time for him and Roush Fenway Racing teammate Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who also earned a top 10, as the duo is grinding to move up in the standings with the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup cutoff looming.
'We finally had a chance to race with those guys a little bit,' Biffle said. 'We are still working hard on these cars to get them faster.'
Prior to Daytona, Greg Biffle did not have a top-10 finish, but the veteran driver has notched three in a row with Sunday's fifth-place showing being the best yet. It comes at a good time for him and Roush Fenway Racing teammate Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who also earned a top 10, as the duo is grinding to move up in the standings with the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup cutoff looming.
'We finally had a chance to race with those guys a little bit,' Biffle said. 'We are still working hard on these cars to get them faster.'
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What the Ell?
Since a nine-race stretch that included eight top-10 finishes, Chase Elliott has yet to finish in the top 20. In the past three races, the Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender has not even finished on the lead lap.
Sunday saw a tire go down on the No. 24 -- not necessarily Elliott's fault -- but the team will be searching for answers as the regular season begins to draw to a close and these hiccups become more costly.
Since a nine-race stretch that included eight top-10 finishes, Chase Elliott has yet to finish in the top 20. In the past three races, the Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender has not even finished on the lead lap.
Sunday saw a tire go down on the No. 24 -- not necessarily Elliott's fault -- but the team will be searching for answers as the regular season begins to draw to a close and these hiccups become more costly.
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Toyota's going places
A Toyota driver has won at Loudon in six of the past eight Sprint Cup Series races. Kenseth has scored three of those wins. The stable led 299 of the race's 301 laps on Sunday, split up between Joe Gibbs Racing's Matt Kenseth (38, race-winner), Kyle Busch (133) and Denny Hamlin (five) and Furniture Row Racing's Martin Truex Jr. (123).
A Toyota driver has won at Loudon in six of the past eight Sprint Cup Series races. Kenseth has scored three of those wins. The stable led 299 of the race's 301 laps on Sunday, split up between Joe Gibbs Racing's Matt Kenseth (38, race-winner), Kyle Busch (133) and Denny Hamlin (five) and Furniture Row Racing's Martin Truex Jr. (123).
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5,503 for 5,503
Only one driver has completed each and every lap of the Sprint Cup Series season -- Kurt Busch.
While the steady consistency has only resulted in one win, the 2004 series champion is tied with his Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Kevin Harvick for a series-leading 15 top-10 finishes -- in just 19 races.
Only one driver has completed each and every lap of the Sprint Cup Series season -- Kurt Busch.
While the steady consistency has only resulted in one win, the 2004 series champion is tied with his Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Kevin Harvick for a series-leading 15 top-10 finishes -- in just 19 races.