2007 Sharp AQUOS 500 at California Speedway

2007 Sharp AQUOS 500 at California Speedway:

This weekend at California Speedway all eyes will be on the battle for the twelfth and final Chase spot. Kurt Busch's recent string of great finishes has given him a stranglehold on twelfth. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Ryan Newman need to make up ground during this Sunday's Sharp AQUOS 500 at California Speedway if they are going to continue to have a shot at making the 2007 Chase.

Tickets:

Speedway ticket office (800) 944-7223 or 1-800-PITSHOP

Buy online from TicketsNow (direct link)

The Track:

California is a fast and wide two mile "D" oval with 14 degrees of banking in the turns and 11 degrees in the front D. Due to the wide racing surface most races in California have very few cautions. As a result many NEXTEL Cup races have come down to fuel mileage battles

Race Distance:

250 laps = 500 miles

The Big Picture:

The top five are already locked into the Chase. This weekend in California it is possible that the entire top twelve could lock in.

These drivers are in a unique position. The only way they can improve their position is to win. Everything from second place on back means nothing to their Championship hopes. They are racing solely for the shot at those ten Chase bonus points for winning.

The top twelve:

1. Jeff Gordon -0
2. Tony Stewart -349
3. Denny Hamlin -353
4. Matt Kenseth -419
5. Carl Edwards -422
6. Jimmie Johnson -523
7. Jeff Burton -528
8. Kyle Busch -558
9. Clint Bowyer -638
10. Kevin Harvick -694
11. Martin Truex Jr. -695
12. Kurt Busch -703

Storylines:

The Race to The Chase dominates the storylines this week. Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR's most popular driver, is in danger of missing the Chase. He is currently 158 points behind Kurt Busch and rapidly running out of time.

Junior had a solid top five in Bristol last week but unfortunately Kurt Busch finished sixth. This didn't allow him to make up much ground in the points.

The magic number for this week is 196. Any driver 196 or more points ahead of thirteenth place is locked into the 2007 Chase for the Cup. If Earnhardt has trouble this weekend his Race to the Chase might be over.

Media Coverage:

TV: ESPN Sunday September 2nd 7:00PM Eastern.

Radio: MRN and SIRIUS Satellite

Actual Race: 8:00PM Eastern

Posted Awards:

$6,097,134

Previously...:

Last year Kasey Kahne dominated much of the event and won the race pulling away.

Both Kurt Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. had good runs here last year. Busch sat on the pole and lead the early part of the race. Dale Earnhardt Jr. came on strong late in the race and claimed second place at the checkers. Will last year's strong run translate into good news in 2007 for the Chase hopefuls?

Predictions:

500 miles in California can be brutal on engines. We often see engine failures late in the race and sometimes they even determine the outcome of the race.

In the last four NEXTEL Cup races at California Speedway Matt Kenseth has proven that his cars can get to the finish line. Matt has two wins and two seventh place finishes. Both wins came in February, but I think this could be the year that Matt breaks the pattern and sweeps the 2007 California Speedway NEXTEL Cup events.

For my backup this week I am going with a breakthrough winner. Clint Bowyer has been steadily closing in on his first NEXTEL Cup series win. Clint finished third in this race last year and is coming off a strong run last week in Bristol. Clint Bowyer is ready for the first victory of his young career.