Maybe it's a sign of balance in NASCAR these days. Or maybe the media isn't as prescient as we would like to believe. Whatever the reason, no less than 10 drivers garnered votes for this week's poll.
And in an upset of sorts, many of them do not drive for Hendrick Motorsports or its sister team, Stewart-Haas Racing. Could it be that others are finally catching up to Hendrick, as Kasey Kahne demonstrated last week when he held off Tony Stewart to win at Sonoma? Or was that merely an odd week?
Not everyone is convinced. Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon of Hendrick, and Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman of Stewart-Haas, also earned votes.
Mark Beech, Sports Illustrated: DENNY HAMLIN
There's no better place for him to get off the schneid than at New Hampshire, one of his favorite tracks. On the other hand, if he fails to contend, you can probably write him off altogether as a championship prospect.
Viv Bernstein, Charlotte NASCAR Examiner: GREG BIFFLE
Roush Fenway Racing should have more victories by now, and luck always comes around. Biffle is ahead of his teammates right now and the best bet of the Roush five.
David Caraviello, NASCAR.com: RYAN NEWMAN
It’s past time for the other half of Stewart-Haas Racing to win. New Hampshire, a flat track where Newman has won before and is usually strong, shapes up as the right place.
Liz Clarke, Washington Post: DENNY HAMLIN
I like Denny Hamlin this weekend. He’s been strong lately. He handles the track well. And Gibbs cars seem to do well at New Hampshire, too.
Shawn Courchesne, Hartford Courant: RYAN NEWMAN
The Boss got the first victory for Stewart-Haas Racing a few weeks ago at Pocono Raceway, Newman shows that both teams are ready to go chasing with his first victory for the organization.
Jeremy Dunn, Atlanta NASCAR Examiner: DENNY HAMLIN
It could come down to a battle between Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson. Rewind back to Martinsville when Johnson rooted Hamlin out of the way. If Johnson is leading with Hamlin hot on his trail late in the race, Hamlin will come out on top.
Greg Engle, National NASCAR Examiner: TONY STEWART
Look for Stewart to be the man to beat this week. He has two career wins here and led a race-high 132 laps last year only to have rain and pit strategy ruin his day.
David Exum, NASCAR Scene: MARTIN TRUEX JR.
The time has come for Truex and crew chief Kevin “Bono” Manion to finally win one at Loudon.
Tony Fabrizio, Tampa Tribune: TONY STEWART
If he gets this one, look out, because he’s heading into his favorite stretch of the season.
Tania Ganguli, Orlando Sentinel: JIMMIE JOHNSON
That is, if rain doesn’t get in the way. All bets are off if it does.
Jeff Gluck, NASCAR Scene: JEFF BURTON
This may be the last, best shot for Richard Childress Racing to get in victory lane for awhile, and Jeff Burton is just the man to do it. His success here over the years make this a crucial race for both Burton and all of RCR to show they have legitimate Chase hopes.
Brant James, St. Petersburg Times: JEFF GORDON
Just got a feeling about this one.
Tom Jensen, SPEEDtv.com: KURT BUSCH
Busch, a three-time New Hampshire Motor Speedway winner, will pick up his fourth victory on Sunday. Busch is fired up after getting wrecked last weekend in Sonoma and will be ready to roll on Sunday.
Josh Lobdell, Detroit NASCAR Examiner: CARL EDWARDS
Carl used a win in the Nationwide Series race at Milwaukee last season to get on a roll in both series. New Hampshire is the track most similar to Milwaukee so I look for him to run strong there Sunday.
Dustin Long, Landmark Newspapers: JIMMIE JOHNSON
There have been eight different winners in the last eight Cup races at New Hampshire. Johnson extends the streak to nine different winners.
Mike Massaro, ESPN: JIMMIE JOHNSON
Aside from the fact the 48 team is due, it has an incredibly strong flat-track program. This, combined with a strong starting position and impressive practice efforts, makes Johnson a favorite Sunday.
Ryan McGee, ESPN The Magazine: DENNY HAMLIN
The unluckiest man in the garage has gotten some momentum going over the last couple of weeks. And he loves the flat tracks.
Joe Menzer, NASCAR.com: JIMMIE JOHNSON
Why, you ask? Because he hasn’t won a race in awhile, and he doesn’t go very long without winning one.
Rick Minter, RacinToday.com: TONY STEWART
He seems to do well when he either gets the pole because of rain or wrecks in practice.
Mike Mulhern, MikeMulhern.net: RYAN NEWMAN
He beat Tony Stewart here in 2005 and he’ll do it again Sunday: Newman-Stewart, 1-2.
Ralph N. Paulk, Richmond Times-Dispatch: CARL EDWARDS
He can’t be as bad as he seems this season. He’ll still make the Chase. But Edwards is an elite driver who should be winning races instead of backing into the postseason.
Bob Pockrass, NASCAR Scene: GREG BIFFLE
Won here last September, so he’s got my vote now. He could have won Michigan a couple of weeks ago and is ready for a win this year.
Nate Ryan, USA Today: DENNY HAMLIN
He has the best average finish (7.1) among active drivers at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing team appears to have turned a corner with back-to-back top fives.
Jim Utter, Charlotte Observer: GREG BIFFLE
He’s shown he’s capable of winning -- moreso than his Roush Fenway Racing teammates of late -- and is New Hampshire’s most recent race winner. He’s ready for a repeat.
Ken Willis, Daytona Beach News-Journal: CARL EDWARDS
Without any other solid reason to go with, let’s keep playing the “He’s Overdue” card until it pays off.
Comments