news-record.com

Ten races. Twelve drivers. One champion. Consider it new math, NASCAR style. With The Chase for the Championship adding two drivers this year and NASCAR taking away Jeff Gordon's huge points lead, this year's title run could be among the most intriguing. Here are a few issues to ponder before The Chase begins Sunday at New Hampshire.

1. WHAT IS THE KEY TRACK IN THE CHASE?

Talladega has always been looked upon as the wildcard -- the points leader has changed twice in three years there -- and will be even more so this year.

The Car of Tomorrow makes its superspeedway debut in the Oct. 7 race. The car handles differently in the draft than the previous car. Some say side drafting, a key component where cars get a push by running alongside another, doesn't matter as much. Others predict bump drafting could be more prevalent.

Either way, Denny Hamlin says that Talladega "should be way wilder than anything we've ever seen."

2. WHO IS THE KEY PERSON IN THE CHASE?

The drivers can only do what the car gives them. That makes the crew chief's setups and pit calls vital. Half of the 10-race Chase uses the Car of Tomorrow. NASCAR allows little room to add exotic touches to them.

The person who could have the greatest impact on The Chase is Pat Tryson, crew chief for Kurt Busch. Tryson is one of three crew chiefs -- Chad Knaus and Robbie Reiser are the others -- who have been in The Chase all four years. Tryson has transformed Busch's team into a contender since joining it this summer.

"It's been like playing poker," Busch said. "We've had good cards all along; we just didn't know how to bet them. That's what Pat has done for us -- he's taking our good cards and helping us win good hands with them."

3. WHO IS THE WILDCARD?

Martin Truex Jr. The Chase opens at New Hampshire where he finished third in July. Then, the series goes to Dover where Truex won in June. Those two races could give him the shot at the start of The Chase.

"Nine out of the 10 tracks in The Chase we're really confident at," Truex said. Martinsville, he added, is the exception.

One key, though, is Dale Earnhardt Inc. engines. Truex has failed to finish two races because of engine failures. Teammates Dale Earnhardt and Paul Menard fell out of six races between them because of engine woes. If those problems persist, then Truex won't have any kind of a shot.

4. WHO HAS THE MOST TO LOSE?

Tony Stewart. He's back after missing last year's Chase. But Joe Gibbs Racing is switching to Toyota next season, and some wonder if he'll even be in The Chase next year.

It's a big deal because Stewart is 36. Most drivers see their victory totals and title hopes drop when they hit 40. If the switch to Toyota goes poorly and Stewart misses The Chase, the window of opportunity for his third title gets that much smaller.

Stewart's not into numbers, so he won't see it this way. He just races. Maybe it won't matter, but no doubt he has a hunger this time after missing last year's Chase.

5. WHO WILL WIN?

Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon are the favorites. They've won 10 of the first 26 races. Four of those victories came at tracks in The Chase.

Then there's Tony Stewart, who has won three of the last eight races. And don't forget Kurt Busch, who has not finished worse than 11th in his last nine races.

All are good choices -- and the Hendrick duo is an easy choice. Stepping out on a limb, the pick, though, is Carl Edwards.

The Roush Fenway Racing driver has been strong in the recent Car of Tomorrow races -- he won at Bristol, led at Richmond and was a good pit stop away from winning at New Hampshire in July.

Edwards also has been good on the 1.5- and 2-mile banked ovals. He has scored top fives in the last four such races (California, Michigan, Chicago and Michigan). Also, Edwards tied for second in the 2005 Chase. This year, in perhaps the strongest field, Edwards will move a spot up and claim his first Cup title.

Contact Dustin Long at 373-7062 or dlong@news-record.com

Burning Questions

5

Questions

Ten races. Twelve drivers. One champion. Consider it new math, NASCAR style.

With the Chase for the Championship adding two drivers this year and NASCAR taking away Jeff Gordon's huge points lead, this year's title run could be among the most intriguing. Here are a few issues to ponder before the Chase begins Sunday at New Hampshire International Speedway.

1. WHAT IS THE KEY TRACK IN THE CHASE?

Talladega has always been looked upon as the wildcard --the points leader has changed twice in three years there --and will be even more so this year.

The Car of Tomorrow makes its superspeedway debut in the Oct. 7 race. The car handles differently in the draft than the previous car. Some say side drafting, a key component where cars get a push by running alongside another, doesn't matter as much. Others predict bump drafting could be more prevalent.

Either way, Denny Hamlin says that Talladega "should be way wilder than anything we've ever seen."

2. WHO IS THE KEY PERSON IN THE CHASE?

The drivers can only do what the car gives them. That makes the crew chief's setups and pit calls vital. Half of the 10-race Chase uses the Car of Tomorrow. NASCAR allows little room to add exotic touches to them.

The person who could have the greatest impact on the Chase is Pat Tryson, crew chief for Kurt Busch. Tryson is one of three crew chiefs -- Chad Knaus and Robbie Reiser are the others -- who have been in the Chase all four years. Tryson has transformed Busch's team into a contender since joining it this summer.

"It's been like playing poker," Busch said. "We've had good cards all along; we just didn't know how to bet them. That's what Pat has done for us -- he's taking our good cards and helping us win good hands with them."

3. WHO IS THE WILDCARD?

Martin Truex Jr. The Chase opens at New Hampshire where he finished third in July. Then, the series goes to Dover where Truex won in June. Those two races could give him the shot at the start of the Chase.

"Nine out of the 10 tracks in the Chase we're really confident at," Truex said. Martinsville, he added, is the exception.

One key, though, is Dale Earnhardt Inc. engines. Truex has failed to finish two races because of engine failures. Teammates Dale Earnhardt and Paul Menard fell out of six races between them because of engine woes. If those problems persist, then Truex won't have any kind of a shot.

4. WHO HAS THE MOST TO LOSE?

Tony Stewart. He's back after missing last year's Chase. But Joe Gibbs Racing is switching to Toyota next season, and some wonder if he'll even be in the Chase next year.

It's a big deal because Stewart is 36. Most drivers see their victory totals and title hopes drop when they hit 40. If the switch to Toyota goes poorly and Stewart misses the Chase, the window of opportunity for his third title gets that much smaller.

Stewart's not into numbers, so he won't see it this way. He just races. Maybe it won't matter, but no doubt he has a hunger this time after missing last year's Chase.

5. WHO WILL WIN?

Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon are the favorites. They've won 10 of the first 26 race. Four of those victories came at tracks in the Chase.

Then there's Tony Stewart, who has won three of the last eight races. And don't forget Kurt Busch, who has not finished worse than 11th in his last nine races.

All are good choices -- and the Hendrick duo is an easy choice. Stepping out on a limb, the pick, though, is Carl Edwards.

The Roush Fenway Racing driver has been strong in the recent Car of Tomorrow races -- he won at Bristol, led at Richmond and was a bad pit stop away from winning at New Hampshire in July.

Edwards also has been good on the 1.5- and 2-mile banked ovals. He has scored top fives in the last four such races (California, Michigan, Chicago and Michigan).

Don't forget that Edwards tied for second in the 2005 Chase. This year, in what is perhaps the strongest field, Edwards will move a spot up and claim his first Cup title.

Contact Dustin Long at 373-7062 or dlong@news-record.com