Is Roush Fenway Racing due for a victory this weekend in the Autism Speaks 400 at Dover International Speedway? Our panel of voters apparently thinks so. Carl Edwards is the winner of our weekly NASCAR writers poll with three votes, leading a trio of Roush drivers who received nods. Greg Biffle had two votes and Matt Kenseth one, hardly a surprise with all three drivers topping NASCAR’s weekly driver ratings for Dover.
And just to add a tad more pressure on Dale Earnhardt Jr., following a week in which he finished 40th in the Coca-Cola 600 and saw his cousin and friend, Tony Eury Jr., removed as crew chief, he received two votes.
Here are the writer’s picks for Dover. Who do you think will win?
Mark Beech, Sports Illustrated: CARL EDWARDS
They don’t call him “Concrete Carl” for nothing. Five straight top-three finishes at Dover should be enough to convince even his biggest critics that, whatever his problems in 2009, Edwards will still be a major factor on Sunday.
Viv Bernstein, Charlotte NASCAR Examiner: JIMMIE JOHNSON
Johnson is fourth overall in NASCAR’s driver ratings at Dover, but best among the six drivers at Hendrick Motorsports and its sister team, Stewart Haas Racing. The way Hendrick drivers are performing these days -- Earnhardt Jr. nothwithstanding -- it’s foolish to pick a driver from another team. Besides, Johnson has gone six races without a win. He’s due.
Jeremy Dunn, Atlanta NASCAR Examiner: RYAN NEWMAN
Newman is fresh off four consecutive top-five finishes, and he owns three wins at the Monster Mile. He once won a race at Dover without power steering. Look for Newman to score his first win since the 2008 Daytona 500.
Greg Engle, National NASCAR Examiner: CARL EDWARDS
This could be the week that Carl Edwards scores his first victory of the season. At Dover, Edwards has finished no lower than third since the spring of 2006 and that hot streak includes a win in the fall, 2007 Sprint Cup race. The safe bet this week without a doubt is Cousin Carl.
Dave Exum, NASCAR Scene: TONY STEWART
Stewart hasn’t won at Dover since 2000, but when you’re hot, you’re hot.
Jeff Gluck, NASCAR Scene: GREG BIFFLE
Greg Biffle is the man to win at Dover -- and not just because he went to victory lane here last September. Biffle has the highest pre-race driver rating, which is the most accurate way to predict the winner. Roush Fenway Racing teammates Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards will also be in the mix, but Biffle should prevail.
Brant James, St. Petersburg Times: DALE EARNHARDT JR.
NASCAR’s most popular driver is suddenly on the spot alone after his cousin/crew chief was re-assigned to other duties within Hendrick Motorsports. He’s had a taste for adversity with a dash of pressure in the past.
Josh Lobdell, Detroit NASCAR Examiner: CARL EDWARDS
After watching the Roush Fenway cars duel three-wide in the fall, I have to go with a Roush car this weekend and I will go with Carl Edwards.
Joe Menzer, NASCAR.com: JEFF GORDON
OK, so he hasn’t won here since 2001. But he used to own the place, winning three times in a row way back in 1995-6 -- and he’s primed to start winning more races this season.
Rick Minter, RacinToday.com: MATT KENSETH
Even though the Roush Fenway cars haven’t been up to their usual standards at many tracks this year, they’re always strong at Dover, particularly Kenseth.
Mike Mulhern, MikeMulhern.net: DALE EARNHARDT JR.
Ticket sales are down at Daytona and everywhere around the tour, so NASCAR needs Junior to win. And Junior realizes -- or better realize -- that his career is on the line here in these next few weeks.
Nate Ryan, USA Today: GREG BIFFLE
He hasn’t finished outside the top 15 at this track in five years (including four top-five finishes in the past five races) and was the most recent winner at Dover last September. Roush Fenway Racing’s slump has to end sometime.
Jim Utter, Charlotte Observer: JUAN PABLO MONTOYA
He already has a Sprint Cup Series victory but not on an oval track. In his last three races, Juan Pablo Montoya has set career-best finishes at Richmond, Va., Darlington, S.C., and Charotte.
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