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CUP: SPEED Crew Sets The Stage For Loudon
SPEED on-air personalities highlight the latest NASCAR news and preview New Hampshire...
New Hampshire Motor Speedway hosts the second race of the Chase. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
Round two of the Chase for the Sprint Cup is Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Below, SPEED on-air personalities highlight the latest news and set the stage for the championship battle in the coming weeks:
Q: After fighting and clawing his way into the final spot for the Chase, Jeff Gordon finds himself 47 points out of the lead after just one race. Can he rally back from that deficit to win the championship or is his fate already sealed?
“I don’t think you can put the fork in him just yet, but you can take it out of the drawer and place it on the table. Gordon is 47 points back but you can only gain 48 points in a single race. With the other 11 drivers running so strong, I don’t think making up a points deficit like that is possible.”
--Bob Dillner, SPEED reporter
“Gordon is a four-time champion, so I think it’s too early to hit the panic button just yet.”
--Matt Clark, SPEED analyst
“I don’t think Gordon is out yet. Yes, he’s in a big, deep hole, but if he can keep from having another bad race, I think he’s got a chance. That doesn’t mean he will win the title – it just means he’ll have a fighting chance.”
--Jimmy Spencer, SPEED analyst
Q: How formidable a duo do Brad Keselowski and Paul Wolfe make in the Chase?
“They make a great pair and they can win the Chase. They’re quietly billing themselves within the garage area as the ‘next coming’ of Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus. They have that chemistry. As they continue to grow together, I think they will contend and be a big factor in this Chase.”
--Matt Clark, SPEED analyst
“They make a good combination. Paul Wolfe is quiet and smart, while Brad is a little bit bold and full of bravado.”
--Bob Dillner, SPEED reporter
“I’ve said a lot about Brad the past couple of years, but I have never doubted his driving abilities. The kid can wheel a race car, but I think Paul Wolfe deserves equal credit for their success. He is very smart and not afraid to take risks with pit calls.”
--Jimmy Spencer, SPEED analyst
Q: Has Brad Keselowski become a little too bold in the way he portrays himself off the track?
“I think he has to be careful with that showmanship and how it affects other drivers. I think Brad would say he doesn’t care, but he should care what other drivers think of it because he doesn’t need payback or people wanting to lay the bumper to him.”
--Bob Dillner, SPEED reporter
“My biggest concern is that he remains a little brash but doesn’t get too cocky. I love his spirit and what he brings to the table, but I’d like to see him finish the job and then go ahead and ‘be the man.’”
--Matt Clark, SPEED analyst
Q: Can a non-Chase driver win a race in this year’s Chase?
“They absolutely can. Guys like Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Joey Logano and Ryan Newman all can win. I’d expect at least one of them to win in these last nine races.”
--Matt Clark, SPEED analyst
“I think so because they’re going for broke now and trying to win. Tony Stewart changed the complexion of the Chase last year when he won five of the 10 races. That won’t happen again this year with whoever wins the championship, but Stewart changed the way guys go after wins.”
--Bob Dillner, SPEED reporter
Q: This weekend’s stop at Loudon is only a 300-mile race. What do you think of the argument that more of the Cup Series races should be shortened to 300 or 400 miles?
“I’m not sure if shorter races are necessarily better across the board, but I think they’re better for our viewing audience today. The fuel window at Loudon is approximately 65-75 laps, and teams can almost make this race on three fuel stops. Therefore, they don’t get many opportunities to adjust on their cars. Qualifying is at a premium and drivers have to get up on the wheel and run it hard all day long. This all makes for a great, exciting race. However, I’m still in favor of 400 miles at places like Chicago and Dover, and of course, Charlotte, Daytona and Darlington shouldn’t change the length of their races because we shouldn’t mess with tradition there.”
--Larry McReynolds, SPEED analyst
“I’d like to see most race tracks take a page out of Loudon’s book and cut their races down to 300 miles, 400 at the most. The Daytona 500, Coca-Cola 600 and Darlington would be the only exceptions because of their tradition. In today’s world, most people don’t want to sit in one place for 400 or 500 miles. There’s too much else going on. Loudon usually puts on a great race and I’d love to see some other tracks follow suit.”
--Jimmy Spencer, SPEED analyst
Below, SPEED on-air personalities highlight the latest news and set the stage for the championship battle in the coming weeks:
Q: After fighting and clawing his way into the final spot for the Chase, Jeff Gordon finds himself 47 points out of the lead after just one race. Can he rally back from that deficit to win the championship or is his fate already sealed?
“I don’t think you can put the fork in him just yet, but you can take it out of the drawer and place it on the table. Gordon is 47 points back but you can only gain 48 points in a single race. With the other 11 drivers running so strong, I don’t think making up a points deficit like that is possible.”
--Bob Dillner, SPEED reporter
“Gordon is a four-time champion, so I think it’s too early to hit the panic button just yet.”
--Matt Clark, SPEED analyst
“I don’t think Gordon is out yet. Yes, he’s in a big, deep hole, but if he can keep from having another bad race, I think he’s got a chance. That doesn’t mean he will win the title – it just means he’ll have a fighting chance.”
--Jimmy Spencer, SPEED analyst
Q: How formidable a duo do Brad Keselowski and Paul Wolfe make in the Chase?
“They make a great pair and they can win the Chase. They’re quietly billing themselves within the garage area as the ‘next coming’ of Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus. They have that chemistry. As they continue to grow together, I think they will contend and be a big factor in this Chase.”
--Matt Clark, SPEED analyst
“They make a good combination. Paul Wolfe is quiet and smart, while Brad is a little bit bold and full of bravado.”
--Bob Dillner, SPEED reporter
“I’ve said a lot about Brad the past couple of years, but I have never doubted his driving abilities. The kid can wheel a race car, but I think Paul Wolfe deserves equal credit for their success. He is very smart and not afraid to take risks with pit calls.”
--Jimmy Spencer, SPEED analyst
Q: Has Brad Keselowski become a little too bold in the way he portrays himself off the track?
“I think he has to be careful with that showmanship and how it affects other drivers. I think Brad would say he doesn’t care, but he should care what other drivers think of it because he doesn’t need payback or people wanting to lay the bumper to him.”
--Bob Dillner, SPEED reporter
“My biggest concern is that he remains a little brash but doesn’t get too cocky. I love his spirit and what he brings to the table, but I’d like to see him finish the job and then go ahead and ‘be the man.’”
--Matt Clark, SPEED analyst
Q: Can a non-Chase driver win a race in this year’s Chase?
“They absolutely can. Guys like Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Joey Logano and Ryan Newman all can win. I’d expect at least one of them to win in these last nine races.”
--Matt Clark, SPEED analyst
“I think so because they’re going for broke now and trying to win. Tony Stewart changed the complexion of the Chase last year when he won five of the 10 races. That won’t happen again this year with whoever wins the championship, but Stewart changed the way guys go after wins.”
--Bob Dillner, SPEED reporter
Q: This weekend’s stop at Loudon is only a 300-mile race. What do you think of the argument that more of the Cup Series races should be shortened to 300 or 400 miles?
“I’m not sure if shorter races are necessarily better across the board, but I think they’re better for our viewing audience today. The fuel window at Loudon is approximately 65-75 laps, and teams can almost make this race on three fuel stops. Therefore, they don’t get many opportunities to adjust on their cars. Qualifying is at a premium and drivers have to get up on the wheel and run it hard all day long. This all makes for a great, exciting race. However, I’m still in favor of 400 miles at places like Chicago and Dover, and of course, Charlotte, Daytona and Darlington shouldn’t change the length of their races because we shouldn’t mess with tradition there.”
--Larry McReynolds, SPEED analyst
“I’d like to see most race tracks take a page out of Loudon’s book and cut their races down to 300 miles, 400 at the most. The Daytona 500, Coca-Cola 600 and Darlington would be the only exceptions because of their tradition. In today’s world, most people don’t want to sit in one place for 400 or 500 miles. There’s too much else going on. Loudon usually puts on a great race and I’d love to see some other tracks follow suit.”
--Jimmy Spencer, SPEED analyst
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