2007 USG Sheetrock 400 Preview:
Chicagoland Speedway has been hosting NEXTEL Cup racing since 2001. This 1.5 mile 'D' has not yet seen many great races but as the track matures the groove is slowly getting wider. Last year Jeff Gordon spun leader Matt Kenseth and then survived the green-white-checkers finish to win the USG Sheetrock 400. Maybe this will be the year that Chicagoland burts on the scene with a truly great 400 miles.
Tickets:
Speedway ticket office 815-727-RACE
The Track:
Chicagoland Speedway is a 1.5 mile D-shaped oval. This is a fan-friendly speedway with great sightlines from nearly every seat. Being newer on the schedule Chicagoland hasn't had the opportunity to create its history and differentiate itself from the others. Given time this fine facility will also host some memorable NASCAR moments.
Race Distance:
267 laps = 400 miles
The Big Picture:
Jeff Gordon posted another top five finish last week while second place Denny Hamlin was caught up in an early wreck. This allowed Gordon extended his already strong lead.
The top twelve remains the same from last week but Jamie McMurray moved up into thirteenth place. McMurray is just 49 points behind Dale Earnhardt Jr. who holds down the twelfth and final Chase spot.
The top twelve:
- Jeff Gordon -0
- Denny Hamlin -277
- Matt Kenseth -383
- Jimmie Johnson -407
- Jeff Burton -428
- Carl Edwards -465
- Tony Stewart -539
- Kyle Busch -583
- Kevin Harvick -601
- Martin Truex Jr. -616
- Clint Bowyer -631
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. -733
Storylines:
On Tuesday morning Dr. Bruce Kennedy was killed in a plane crash near Daytona Beach, Florida. Dr. Kennedy was NASCAR Board Member and President of the International Speedway Corp Leesa France Kennedy's husband. The plane was registered to a company affiliated with NASCAR and the pilot was a Sr. Captain with NASCAR Aviation.
In addition to Dr. Kennedy, the pilot and three people on the ground were also killed in the crash.
Media Coverage:
TV: TNT Sunday, July 15th, 4:00PM Eastern.
Radio: MRN and SIRIUS Satellite
Posted Awards:
$6,056,938
Last Year:
For the second year in a row Matt Kenseth lead the most laps and dominated most of the race. However, with five laps to go Jeff Gordon reeled in Kenseth and made a race out of it. As they drove into turn one with four laps to go Jeff Gordon got into the back of Kenseth's car and spun him out. Jeff Gordon then survived a green-white-checkers finish for the win.
Gordon was loudly booed by the fans and had to avoid flying beer cans during his victory lap after this aggressive win.
Predictions:
For the last two years Matt Kenseth has had the car to beat but fate has kept him from finishing the task. Two years ago he finished second to a good strategy call. Last year he was punted out of the lead with just four laps to go.
Kenseth has a knack for being fast at Chicagoland and his Roush Fenway Racing team has a great setup to put under him. 2007 could be the year that Matt Kenseth finally gets the job done in Chicago.
The most obvious backup pick is last year's winner and this year's dominator Jeff Gordon. Gordon clearly will be a factor in Sunday's race. However I'm going to dig a bit deeper this week for my backup.
Jeff Burton finished second here last year and has been having a good 2007 in his Richard Childress Racing Chevy. If the top two favorites stumble Jeff Burton could find himself in the winner's circle on Sunday.
