Darlington always a spring challenge
It was now five years ago that NASCAR made the controversial decision to strip the popular Darlington Raceway of one of its Cup Series dates each season. The Southern 500, as fans knew it, a grand Labor Day weekend tradition, was lost. Well, since 2005, the circuit has only been coming here once each year, in May, in what has become a new Mother?s Day weekend tradition. Ironically, the new Southern 500, run at the ?Lady in Black? boasts very few qualities that one?s mother does. This track is not sweet, and it is certainly not forgiving. Coming here once a year only makes matters worse, as most drivers seem ill prepared for the track dubbed ?Too Tough To Tame? each spring. Of course, for every rule there is an exception, and that man for this race is Jeff Gordon, who has scored five straight Darlington Top 3 finishes. Hence he is expected to be one of the top contenders for Saturday?s race, at 9-1 odds to win.
Though Darlington Raceway has been relegated to just a single race in recent years, it is still loaded with history and offers a brand of racing beloved by traditionalists. The track?s changing surface, egg-shape, and steep banking provide challenges unlike any other venue. Thus it is one of the more difficult tracks on the circuit for drivers and crew chiefs to master. In previous years when the circuit came here and Rockingham, a similar track, twice, teams would be much better prepared. Now, as just one of 36 season stops on the yearly slate, setups can become more of a roll of the dice. We do know it takes skill and horsepower to reach victory lane. In prior years, the track surface was known as being extremely abrasive. However, prior to last year?s Southern 500, it was repaved and drivers raved about its ?raciness?. In fact, the pole sitter for the ?08 event, Greg Biffle, broke the old qualifying mark by over 5 MPH. Luckily, the changing dynamics didn?t impact the race too greatly, as only 8 caution flags waved, an average figure for this facility. Year two could bring more surprises however, as drivers may be willing to take more chances after getting the feet wet a year ago.
Besides Jeff Gordon, who won here in 2007, Greg Biffle (in ?05 & ?06) and Kyle Busch, last year?s victor, are the only other drivers to win this new Mother?s Day weekend event. Gordon is well ahead of the active drivers? pack in total Darlington wins with seven however, as no other guy sitting in a car this weekend has reached Victory Lane more than twice. In terms of average finish, there are three drivers who?ve done well over the last four seasons despite not winning. Those are Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (6.3), Denny Hamlin (6.3), and Jimmie Johnson (6.8). One interesting fact to note about Biffle is that he has led 441 laps during that 4-year window, more than double the amount of any other driver. Hamlin is next in line in that category with 194 in three starts. Those two drivers should be prime contenders again, with Biffle sporting 9-1 odds to win, and Hamlin listed at 12-1.
Keep in mind when analyzing Saturday?s race, that in a statistical study performed in the offseason, current Driver Power Ratings proved to be the most influential factor in reaching success in this race in recent years, moreso than any other track on the circuit. That could bode well for Gordon, Kurt Busch (9-1), and Tony Stewart (10-1), one of the hottest drivers on the circuit, but still searching for that elusive trip to Victory Lane in ?09. Of course, it would be a major mistake to discount Kyle Busch, winner of last week?s race at Richmond. He is dominating the racing scene again in every series in which he competes. Last season proved how good he can be at times when hot, so he can?t be ignored as the official race favorite at 9-2 odds.
For every driver that has had ?Lady in Black? luck on his side, there are countless others who get more than their fair share of ?Darlington Stripes?, a term used to describe the mark left after brushing the walls at this track, a common occurrence. Of those drivers that have struggled here, Casey Mears is the most competitive driver with the worst average finish since ?05 at 31.5. Brian Vickers is at 31.3 and Kevin Harvick, whose disdain for this track is not hidden, owns a 26.8 average. Additionally, Mark Martin, Jeff Burton, and David Reutimann are the only current Chase contenders who haven?t paced a lap at Darlington in the last four years. However, don?t discount them in Matchup Wagers this week, as each has been running well of late.
After last week?s race at Richmond, Jeff Gordon is again atop the Points Standings in Cup Series, with 16 races to go until the Chase commences. Kurt Busch is second, 10 points back, and Tony Stewart is third, 39 behind. No one else is closer than 120 points to Gordon?s lead. Ryan Newman, Mark Martin, and Jamie McMurray all made significant moves last week upward in the standings. Matt Kenseth currently holds down the 12th place position, though he has struggled horribly since winning the season?s first two races. David Reutimann dropped out of the Top 12 for the first time in awhile and currently trails Kenseth by 31 points. Three of the drivers expected to contend for the Chase who are starting to be in trouble are Kasey Kahne (17th), Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (18th), and Kevin Harvick (23rd).
This week?s schedule fires up on Friday with qualifying, slotted for 5:15 PM ET. Qualifying is very important at Darlington, with only seven of the last 70 winners having come from outside of the Top 10 starting spots. Last year Kyle Busch started 6th, and since May of 2005, the average starting spot of the winner is 7.0. The green flag for this race is scheduled for Saturday night at 7:35 PM ET.
It was now five years ago that NASCAR made the controversial decision to strip the popular Darlington Raceway of one of its Cup Series dates each season. The Southern 500, as fans knew it, a grand Labor Day weekend tradition, was lost. Well, since 2005, the circuit has only been coming here once each year, in May, in what has become a new Mother?s Day weekend tradition. Ironically, the new Southern 500, run at the ?Lady in Black? boasts very few qualities that one?s mother does. This track is not sweet, and it is certainly not forgiving. Coming here once a year only makes matters worse, as most drivers seem ill prepared for the track dubbed ?Too Tough To Tame? each spring. Of course, for every rule there is an exception, and that man for this race is Jeff Gordon, who has scored five straight Darlington Top 3 finishes. Hence he is expected to be one of the top contenders for Saturday?s race, at 9-1 odds to win.
Though Darlington Raceway has been relegated to just a single race in recent years, it is still loaded with history and offers a brand of racing beloved by traditionalists. The track?s changing surface, egg-shape, and steep banking provide challenges unlike any other venue. Thus it is one of the more difficult tracks on the circuit for drivers and crew chiefs to master. In previous years when the circuit came here and Rockingham, a similar track, twice, teams would be much better prepared. Now, as just one of 36 season stops on the yearly slate, setups can become more of a roll of the dice. We do know it takes skill and horsepower to reach victory lane. In prior years, the track surface was known as being extremely abrasive. However, prior to last year?s Southern 500, it was repaved and drivers raved about its ?raciness?. In fact, the pole sitter for the ?08 event, Greg Biffle, broke the old qualifying mark by over 5 MPH. Luckily, the changing dynamics didn?t impact the race too greatly, as only 8 caution flags waved, an average figure for this facility. Year two could bring more surprises however, as drivers may be willing to take more chances after getting the feet wet a year ago.
Besides Jeff Gordon, who won here in 2007, Greg Biffle (in ?05 & ?06) and Kyle Busch, last year?s victor, are the only other drivers to win this new Mother?s Day weekend event. Gordon is well ahead of the active drivers? pack in total Darlington wins with seven however, as no other guy sitting in a car this weekend has reached Victory Lane more than twice. In terms of average finish, there are three drivers who?ve done well over the last four seasons despite not winning. Those are Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (6.3), Denny Hamlin (6.3), and Jimmie Johnson (6.8). One interesting fact to note about Biffle is that he has led 441 laps during that 4-year window, more than double the amount of any other driver. Hamlin is next in line in that category with 194 in three starts. Those two drivers should be prime contenders again, with Biffle sporting 9-1 odds to win, and Hamlin listed at 12-1.
Keep in mind when analyzing Saturday?s race, that in a statistical study performed in the offseason, current Driver Power Ratings proved to be the most influential factor in reaching success in this race in recent years, moreso than any other track on the circuit. That could bode well for Gordon, Kurt Busch (9-1), and Tony Stewart (10-1), one of the hottest drivers on the circuit, but still searching for that elusive trip to Victory Lane in ?09. Of course, it would be a major mistake to discount Kyle Busch, winner of last week?s race at Richmond. He is dominating the racing scene again in every series in which he competes. Last season proved how good he can be at times when hot, so he can?t be ignored as the official race favorite at 9-2 odds.
For every driver that has had ?Lady in Black? luck on his side, there are countless others who get more than their fair share of ?Darlington Stripes?, a term used to describe the mark left after brushing the walls at this track, a common occurrence. Of those drivers that have struggled here, Casey Mears is the most competitive driver with the worst average finish since ?05 at 31.5. Brian Vickers is at 31.3 and Kevin Harvick, whose disdain for this track is not hidden, owns a 26.8 average. Additionally, Mark Martin, Jeff Burton, and David Reutimann are the only current Chase contenders who haven?t paced a lap at Darlington in the last four years. However, don?t discount them in Matchup Wagers this week, as each has been running well of late.
After last week?s race at Richmond, Jeff Gordon is again atop the Points Standings in Cup Series, with 16 races to go until the Chase commences. Kurt Busch is second, 10 points back, and Tony Stewart is third, 39 behind. No one else is closer than 120 points to Gordon?s lead. Ryan Newman, Mark Martin, and Jamie McMurray all made significant moves last week upward in the standings. Matt Kenseth currently holds down the 12th place position, though he has struggled horribly since winning the season?s first two races. David Reutimann dropped out of the Top 12 for the first time in awhile and currently trails Kenseth by 31 points. Three of the drivers expected to contend for the Chase who are starting to be in trouble are Kasey Kahne (17th), Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (18th), and Kevin Harvick (23rd).
This week?s schedule fires up on Friday with qualifying, slotted for 5:15 PM ET. Qualifying is very important at Darlington, with only seven of the last 70 winners having come from outside of the Top 10 starting spots. Last year Kyle Busch started 6th, and since May of 2005, the average starting spot of the winner is 7.0. The green flag for this race is scheduled for Saturday night at 7:35 PM ET.
