| | By Ron Buck
ESPN.com
| FAST FACTS |
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Event |
Dura Lube 300 |
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When |
Sunday, 12:30 p.m. ET (TNN) |
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Where |
New Hampshire International Speedway (oval, 1.058 miles, 12 degrees banking in turns).
Loudon, N.H.
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Distance |
317.4 miles (300 laps) |
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Defending champion |
Joe Nemechek |
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1999 Pole Sitter |
Rusty Wallace, 129.820 mph
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Qualifying |
Friday, first round, 4 p.m. ET; Saturday, second round, 11 a.m. ET.
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Track Records |
Qualifying record: Rusty Wallace, 132.089 mph (July 2000)
Race record: Jeff Gordon, 112.078 mph (September 1998)
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On the Track
Throw out the notes, it's a whole new ballgame at New Hamphire International Speedway this weekend.
In an effort to make the track a safer place for drivers, NASCAR has put one-inch restrictor plates on cars for the Dura Lube 300. While this will slow the cars down -- an average of 10 mph -- in the name of safety, it makes everything teams have learned about the one-mile flat track useless come Friday's qualifying and Sunday's race.
Does that mean Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and the other drivers who've dominated NHIS in their careers aren't favorites to once again contend for a win? Not at all. But don't be surprised to see some new teams running out front who haven't done so well in the past at NHIS.
It also could throw a serious wrench into the points race, which for all intended purposes is a three-car race into Atlanta. Bobby Labonte, Dale Earnhardt and Dale Jarrett are separated by just 164 points. None of the three have ever reached Victory Lane in Loudon, but Jarrett was fourth in this race a year ago.
Obviously, much has been made of safety concerns at NHIS following the deaths of two drivers this year in Loudon. Adam Petty and Kenny Irwin Jr. will be in every race fan's minds come Friday's qualifying and Sunday's race. All those same fans can hope for is a safe weekend of racing.
NASCAR has done what it hopes will help make that happen. And here's hoping the news remains about the winning and losing on the track, and not on the loss of lives.
Drivers to Watch
Jeff Burton: By far his most successful track, but saw his streak of three straight July race wins at Loudon ended two months ago. Has 11 top-five finishes, including two wins this year and stands fourth in the Winston Cup points standings.
Jeff Gordon: Has three career wins at Loudon and comes off a victory in Richmond last Saturday night -- his third win of the year. Won't be a factor in the championship, sitting just 10th in the standings. Finished fifth in this race last year and was also fifth in July's race of this year.
Joe Nemechek Scored his first career Winston Cup victory in this race last year. Coincidently, his first career race was at New Hampshire International Speedway in July 1993. He has only two top-five finishes in 2000, but one came in July when he finished second to Tony Stewart on this track.
Tony Stewart: Reversed his fortunes at NHIS this July with his victory in the rain-shortened New England 300, after taking Nemechek took the checkered flag under caution last fall in front of Stewart. He has three victories this year and has won one pole. Stands fifth in points -- 408 behind teammate Bobby Labonte.
Bobby Labonte: The points leader's best run at Loudon was third in this race last year. Finished ninth in July's race at the track. Despite finishing 15th at Richmond, his lead is still a considerable 158 points over Dale Earnhardt.
Dale Jarrett: The defending Winston Cup champion dropped to third place in the standings after Richmond, 164 points behind Labonte. Season-opening win in Daytona 500 remains only 2000 triumph, but he's tied with Dale Earnhardt at 20 top-10 finishes -- the most of any drivers. Has four top-five finishes in 11 starts at New Hampshire.
Rusty Wallace Won the first Winston Cup race at the track -- the Jiffy Lube 300 in 1993 -- and has always been good at Loudon with seven top-10s in 11 races. One of his eight poles this season came in July at NHIS.
Ricky Rudd: The only driver in the top-10 without a victory this year, but he's finished in the top-five in seven races and improved up to seventh in the points standings. Won second race at Loudon in 1994. He finished 10th in July's New England 300.
Mark Martin: Has never won at the 1.058-mile Loudon track, but recorded seven top-fives and eight top-10s in 11 starts. Finished second twice in both 1998 races, and third in July of this year.
Steve Park: Since winning at Watkins Glen, the No. 1 team has been strong each week. Was 28th in July, but 15th and 12th last year.
Ron Buck is ESPN.com's auto racing editor.
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