NASCAR Cup 2011: Official CHASE for the Cup Thread

[fieldodreams79]

Anyone object not having any more individual round threads and having a single thread dedicated to all chase races? No? Great.

As usual, the man has us covered:
Jayski Chase Page

Chase rounds will be as follows:

1) Spetmber 18 - Chicagoland Speedway, 1.5 miles
2010 race Won by #00-David Reutimann, Chase Leader - none as the race was held in July
but after the 1st 2010 Chase race, the pts leader was #48-Jimmie Johnson +12 pts
2) September 25 - New Hampshire Motor Speedway, 1.058 miles
2010 race Won by #33-Clint Bowyer, Chase Leader #11-Denny Hamlin +35 pts
3) October 2 - Dover International Speedway, 1 mile
2010 race Won by #48-Jimmie Johnson, Chase Leader #11-Denny Hamlin +35 pts
4) October 9 - Kansas Speedway, 1.5 miles
2010 race Won by #16-Greg Biffle, Chase Leader #48-Jimmie Johnson +8 pts
5) October 15 - Charlotte Motor Speedway, 1.5 miles
2010 race Won by #1-Jamie McMurray [non chaser], Chase Leader #48-Jimmie Johnson +41 pts
6) October 23 - Talladega Superspeedway, 2.66 miles
2010 race Won by #33-Clint Bowyer(2), Chase Leader #48-Jimmie Johnson +14 pts
7) October 30 - Martinsville Speedway, .526 mile
2010 race Won by #11-Denny Hamlin, Chase Leader #48-Jimmie Johnson +6 pts
8) November 6 - Texas Motor Speedway, 1.5 miles
2010 race Won by #11-Denny Hamlin(2), Chase Leader #11-Denny Hamlin +35 pts
9) November 13 - Phoenix International Raceway, 1 mile
2010 race Won by #99-Carl Edwards, Chase Leader #11-Denny Hamlin +15 pts
10) November 20 - Homestead-Miami Speedway, 1.5 miles
2010 race Won by #99-Carl Edwards(2), Chase Leader/2010 Champ #48-Jimmie Johnson +39 pts

Chasers and the points:

1 Kyle Busch 2012
2 Kevin Harvick 2012
3 Jeff Gordon 2009
4 Matt Kenseth 2006
5 Carl Edwards 2003
6 Jimmie Johnson 2003
7 Kurt Busch 2003
8 Ryan Newman 2003
9 Tony Stewart 2000
10 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2000
11 Brad Keselowski 2000
12 Denny Hamlin 2000

[fieldodreams79]

"Its 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, a 1/2 pack of cigarettes, its dark and we're wearing sunglasses."
"Hit it."
--- Elwood and Joliet Jake

Jayski Chicagoland Race Page

Practices today with Q'ing tomorrow
Race Sunday at 215EST

Weather looks like early fall should....lovely.

[fieldodreams79]

Kenseth on the pole in Chicago with Paul Menard outside.

Kurt B, Newman and Edwards round out the top 5.

FULL LINEUP

[kelvin88]

What is the weather going to do today?

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by kelvin88

What is the weather going to do today?

When I looked Thursday or Friday, the weather looked OK, but I now see that some storms are moving towards Joliet and chances of rain increase as we get further into the evening...checking MRN/PRN and I hear jet dryers and talk of being in a delay.

[rustyfan]

Where are the Chinese anti-raincloud chemicals when you need 'em?

[rustyfan]

NASCAR gave it their best shot but in the end the rain prevailed, forcing the race to be postponed until noon ET on Monday.

That's the plan, anyhow, as the initial forecasts for getting the race in on Monday isn't looking too good either.

[rustyfan]

Rather uneventful race so far. Second caution is out (first one was a competition caution on lap 30), for debris.

So far Kurt Busch looks like one of the primary contenders for the victory.

Pitstops just about to get underway.

[fieldodreams79]

Tony Stewart takes the win in the first race of the Chase at Chicagoland.

2011 Sprint Cup Driver Championship Chase Points Standings:
1) #29-Kevin Harvick [4 wins], 2054
2) #14-Tony Stewart [1 win], 2047, -7
3) #99-Carl Edwards [1 win], 2044, -10
4) #22-Kurt Busch [1 win], 2043, -11
5) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [0 wins], 2041, -13
6) #2-Brad Keselowski [3 wins], 2040, -13
7) #39-Ryan Newman [1 win], 2040, -14
8) #48-Jimmie Johnson [1 win], 2038, -16
9) #18-Kyle Busch [4 wins], 2035, -19
10) #17-Matt Kenseth [2 wins], 2030, -24
11) #24-Jeff Gordon [3 wins], 2029, -25
12) #11-Denny Hamlin [1 win], 2013, -41

[gomick]

Moved house & no foxtel = no nascar
Gonna miss the rest of the season...
Congrats to Tony - 40th career win?

[rustyfan]

Yep it was win no. 40 for Tony. He now has the same number of wins as Mark Martin.

[fieldodreams79]

the Magic Mile hosts a 300 miler for the second round in the Chase for the Cup. Not one of my liked tracks.

JAYSKI

Ryan Newman is on the pole hoping for better luck than he had in the Modified race. Speaking of which, I wish the Cup cars would put on as good as a show as the Modifieds do at NH.

Full Lineup

Green flag at 215 Sunday....

[Axeman444]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

Ryan Newman is on the pole hoping for better luck than he had in the Modified race.

and Ryan Newman gets the kiss of death. Can you give that to one of the drivers in your fantasy team next week, instead of mine?

Stewart makes it 2 from 2...

[MJ_N_09]

One thing is for certain. Hamlin is screwed. 2 disastrous races for them in a row.

[FIRE]

Tony is going for 10 out of 10?

[JHamilton]

Tony is really fat.

Why are there two races at NH and why is one of them in the Chase?

[fieldodreams79]

I enjoy when NASCAR comes down fuel mileage; sucks for those who run out but good for the fans, as there wasn't much going on in this race except for JJ and Kyle banging off each other.

Originally Posted by JHamilton

Tony is really fat.

Why are there two races at NH and why is one of them in the Chase?

Hey! I understand where Tony is coming from; I've just about given up too.

I still think they should adjust the schedule to have better tracks/races in the chase. I mean, Chicagoland, New Hampshire and Kansas don't really do anything for me and the are in the "playoffs"? They are more "mid season, I'd rather be fishing listening MRN making it sound exciting" race tracks. They do have the country covered, at least.

[Clive Brown]

Originally Posted by JHamilton

Tony is really fat.

OK, Tony might not be the most sylph-like of Sprint Cup drivers, but fat? He was at least thin enough to fit into a McLaren F1 car earlier this year, so unless McLaren monocoques are now made of rubber rather than carbon fibre....

Just entertaining for one moment the slightest possibility that Smoke might not be exactly snake-hipped, at least he carries most of his fat below his neck, unlike the majority of #88 fans, who carry theirs between their ears!

[rustyfan]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

I still think they should adjust the schedule to have better tracks/races in the chase. I mean, Chicagoland, New Hampshire and Kansas don't really do anything for me and the are in the "playoffs"? They are more "mid season, I'd rather be fishing listening MRN making it sound exciting" race tracks. They do have the country covered, at least.

While I agree New Hampshire might not be the most exciting track out there, I do believe it has a place in the chase seeing as it's not a cookie cutter track. A true Champion should be able to perform on all types of tracks, including a somewhat flat, true oval.

If it was up to me - and we should probably all be glad it isn't - I'd throw Kansas and ChicagoLand out of the Chase and replace them with Road America and Rockingham or Darlington.

[Axeman444]

Originally Posted by rustyfan

A true Champion should be able to perform on all types of tracks, including a somewhat flat, true oval.

and a road course, like RA as you mention

Originally Posted by rustyfan

If it was up to me - and we should probably all be glad it isn't - I'd throw Kansas and ChicagoLand out of the Chase and replace them with Road America and Rockingham or Darlington.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by rustyfan

While I agree New Hampshire might not be the most exciting track out there, I do believe it has a place in the chase seeing as it's not a cookie cutter track. A true Champion should be able to perform on all types of tracks, including a somewhat flat, true oval.

Very "true", no pun intended. Not being a cookie cutter is why I started accepting Phoenix...

[fieldodreams79]

The AAA 400 at Dover.

JAYSKI Race Page

[rustyfan]

Martin Truex Jr. on pole with Kurt Busch (9th in points) alongside him on the front row.

The rest of the Chasers line up as follows:

4th - Carl Edwards (4th in points)
5th - Kyle Busch (6th in points)
6th - Jimmie Johnson (10th in points)
11th - Denny Hamlin (12th in points)
15th - Brad Keselowski (3rd in points)
18th - Matt Kenseth (7th in points)
20th - Ryan Newman (11th in points)
21st - Dale Earnhardt Jr. (8th in points)
22nd - Kevin Harvick (2nd in points)
28th - Tony Stewart (1st in points)
34th - Jeff Gordon (5th in points)

I'd say this is a make-or-break race for Jimmie Johnson. Another bad result and I just don't see him coming back to have a shot at a sixth straight title.

[rustyfan]

The engines have fired and we're just about to get Chase Race no. 3 started.

Due to rain it's a green race track and there will be a competition caution at lap 40. The skies are a bit dark but hopefully they'll get the race in without any rain spoiling the fun.

[rustyfan]

First caution, Allmendinger gets tagged into a spin... but rides it out and saves the car, no contact.