Profiles Index - page 2
2005 Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway
There are only two races remaining in the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup and all eyes are focused on the drivers at the head of the pack. Tony Stewart leads by 38 points over Jimmie Johnson and the Championship will likely be decided between them. This weekend's Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway will be critical in deciding The Chase.
2005 Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway sees top speeds of over 200MPH and fast laps average better than 194MPH. Texas also has a history of many cautions which keeps the field bunched for close racing. You can never quite predict what kind of race Texas will produce, but with only three races left in the 2005 Chase you can bet that it will be worth watching. Here is the full preview of the Dickies 500.
2005 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway has a history of great finishes. Carl Edwards won here in the spring by .028 seconds over Jimmie Johnson. Kevin Harvick won here in 2001 by just .006 seconds. Will we see another great finish this weekend? With only four races left in the 2005 NEXTEL Cup season it's time to let it all hang out and go for the win. I think the odds are good that we will see another great race in Atlanta.
2005 Subway 500 at Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway hosts the only short track race of the 2005 Chase for the NEXTEL Cup as the NASCAR stars invade the flat half-mile paperclip this weekend. Can Jimmie Johnson keep his winning streak alive? Will Tony Stewart get his Championship dreams back on track? Will tire problems rear their ugly heads again?
2005 UAW-GM Quality 500 at Lowes Motor Speedway
This Saturday night's UAW-GM Quality 500 is the only race in the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup running at night in primetime. Lowes Motor Speedway is a great facility and speed records will likely fall this weekend as it is now faster than ever. Can point leader Tony Stewart keep up his torrid pace or will another driver in The Chase be able to make his move towards the NEXTEL Cup?
2005 Banquet 400 at Kansas Speedway
Kansas Speedway is one of the so-called cookie-cutter race tracks that resemble many of the other modern tracks on the circuit. Scheduled right in the heart of The Chase this is a critical race. Can Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman continue to pull away from the rest of the Chasers? Will a non-Chaser win like happened in 2004? Here is a complete look at this weekends NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race.
2005 UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega Superspeedway
This week the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup rolls on to Talladega Superspeedway. This is the final race of the year where the drivers are forced to race with restrictor plates. These plates reduce the horsepower available to the motor and place a premium on drafting skill. The multi-car wreck called The Big One that Talladega is famous for can take out 25 drivers at a time and ruin a chasers Championship hopes in an instant.
September 2005 MBNA RacePoints 400 at Dover International Speedway
Dover International Speedway is a track where you either hit the setup or you don't. It is very difficult to make effective changes during the race if you're not already pretty close to perfect. This leads to drivers winning here in bunches as they take their successful June setup and win again in September. Tony Stewart swept both races in 2000, Jimmie Johnson in 2002 and Ryan Newman in 2003. Greg Biffle won in June, can he complete the sweep and take over the point lead?
2005 Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway
The Chase for the NEXTEL Cup begins this week with the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway. This relatively flat one mile oval is fast but passing opportunities are rare. Last year Kurt Busch won this race on his way to the Championship. Who has what it takes to win this weekend and get their Chase off to a fast start?
2005 Chevy Rock and Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway
This weekend Richmond International hosts the last NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race before the Chase for the Cup. Richmond is a short track that drives like a superspeedway and provides a great venue for the cutoff race. The racing is intense on the three-quarter mile D and the groove is wide enough for truly great racing. The top ten in points after this race are locked in to battle for the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Championship. Who will race their way in and who will have to try again next season?
2005 Sony HD 500 at California Speedway
California Speedway plays host this week to the 2005 Sony HD 500. The fast, wide two-mile oval resembles Michigan International where we raced just two weeks ago. Will California Speedway see a strategic fuel mileage battle like its sister track? Or will the race come down to a high speed door-to-door shootout? California can deliver both, sometimes during the same race.
2005 Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway
This weekend the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup stars invade Bristol Motor Speedway for the single most exciting night on the schedule. The Sharpie 500 features 500 laps under the lights on the very tight high-banked half mile oval. The racing will be exciting. Tempers will overheat. The fans will see a great show during this Saturday night shootout under the lights. Who is the favorite this weekend? What will be the big story? This preview will bring you up to date and have you primed for Bristol.
2005 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard
The Allstate 400 at the Brickyard is one of the biggest events on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup schedule. The race is held on the world famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway in front of a huge crowd. Unfortunately the racing itself isn't the best, but there is no arguing the fact that this is one that everybody wants to win. Here are my preview and predictions for this weekend's NEXTEL Cup race.
2005 Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway
The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup drivers raced here just six weeks ago when Carl Edwards tamed the challenging triangular track to score the second win of his young career. Can he back up that win this weekend to sweep Pocono for 2005? Can Tony Stewart keep his hot streak alive?
2005 New England 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway
This relatively flat one mile oval is fast but the flat corners force drivers to make their cars work on the bottom. To win here requires a fast car, a great crew and a patient drivers. Passing opportunities are rare but a car that is truly working well will find its way to the front.
2005 USG Sheetrock 400 at Chicagoland Speedway
This week the NEXTEL Cup teams head to Joliet, Ill for the USG Sheetrock 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. This week's race is all about the points. There is very little to get excited about the race itself.
2005 Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway
The traditional halfway point of the NASCAR season is marked by the NEXTEL Cup drivers return to Daytona to race under the lights on Saturday night. This is the only restrictor plate race under the lights and it is truly a special event.
2005 Dodge/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway
Road races are rare on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup series schedule as only two of the 36 races require right turns. Infineon Raceway hosts one of those races this weekend on the road course in Sonoma California. This race typically features some comedy as oval drivers struggle with their 3,400 pound machines on the twisty track.
2005 Batman Returns 400 at Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway brings high speeds and three different grooves. Wide and fast can make great racing or it can make a good race to nap through. That same wide track also keeps the number of cautions down which sometimes allows the leaders to get away from the pack.
2005 Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway
The most unusual track layout on the NASCAR schedule. Pocono Raceway has a massive front straight that
often sees cars going four, five and six wide. Add the high speeds to the challenging turns and you've got a 2.5 mile
superspeedway that drives like a road course.
2005 MBNA RacePoints 400 at Dover International Speedway
Dover is one of the race tracks that often gets overlooked on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup schedule. It's not a flashy race but more of a 400-mile grind.
2005 Coca-Cola 600 at Lowes Motor Speedway
The Coca-Cola 600 is one of the most important races on the NEXTEL Cup schedule. Located in the heart of NASCAR country everyone wants to win at Lowes Motor Speedway on Memorial Day Weekend.
2005 NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge at Lowes Motor Speedway
Every year NASCAR brings out its stars under the stars at Lowes Motor Speedway for the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge. It's a dash for cash running in prime time on a Saturday night. This is where NASCAR started. It's a Saturday night shootout where there is no tomorrow to worry about because there are no points on the line. This year the race pays the winner a cool Million.
2005 Chevy American Revolution 400 at Richmond International Raceway
Richmond International is a short track that drives like a
superspeedway. Side-by-Side all night long is possible. If you are faster you can move up
or down and get the pass done. The racing is tight and fast and the finishes are usually
exciting. Saturday night racing under the lights in Richmond is NASCAR at its best.
2005 Dodge Charger 500 at Darlington Raceway
Since 1950 Darlington Raceway has hosted NASCAR racing. However the traditional Southern 500 was a
victim of schedule expansion so Darlington has been relegated to Mother's Day weekend. Traditionally NASCAR's NEXTEL Cup
series took this weekend off, but there are very few free weekends left on the calendar so this weekend now brings us the
Dodge Charger 500 under the lights on Saturday night.