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THE NEXT Nextel Cup RACE
NEWS, STATS and INFO
THE RACE: Sylvania 300
Nextel Cup Race #27 of 36 for the 2004 Nextel Cup season
Updated: often, leading up to the race
- Race: Sunday, September 19, 2004 in Loudon, NH
- TV: TNT 1:00pm/et
- Pre-Race Show/Discover Card Countdown To Green: NBC - 12:30pm/et - with host Bill Weber
- Race Re-Air: on Speed Channel
Wednesday, September 22 [Fast Forward] at 4:00pm/et;
Thursday, September 23 [Full Race] at 3:00pm/et;
Friday, Septmeber 24 [Fast Forward] at 12:00am/et
- Announcers: Allen Bestwick, Benny Parsons, Wally Dallenbach
- Pit Reporters: Bill Weber, Matt Yocum, Marty Snider, Dave Burns
- War Wagon: Bill Weber and many guests
- TV Listings and Info:
Jayski's TV Listings Page
NASCAR on TV
- Purse/Race Awards: $5,129,482 (was $4,719,296 in 2003)
Practice Dates/Times/TV
- Practice: Friday, September 17, 11:20am - 1:20pm/et; Saturday, September 18, 9:30 - 10:15am/et;
- Happy Hour Practice: Saturday, September 18, 11:10 - 11:55am/et on TV-Speed Channel - LIVE.
Qualifying Info
- Qualifying Draw: Friday, September 17, 10:20am/et
- Qualfying Order Links: moved to the race results section below
- Qualifying: 2 laps for positions 1-38, Friday, September 17 at 3:10pm/et, TV-TNT, no re-air, live via radio at MRN Radio and XM Satellite NASCAR Radio.
- NASCAR Online will have live lap-by-lap coverage of Nextel Cup qualifying via the web (NOTE: this is a paid subscription service).
- Track Specs:
Track/Race Length: 1.058 mile oval, 300 laps, 317.4 miles
Superspeedway: 1.058 mile oval
Turns: Banking: 12 degrees; Striaghts: 2 degrees
Length of Straights: Frontstretch - 1500ft; Backstretch - 1500ft
Grandstand Seating: 101,000
Estimated Pit Window: Every 95-105 laps, based on fuel mileage
.
Speed Limits: 45 mph - Pit Road; 55 mph Pace Car
- Track Website: www.nhis.com
- Last Year: see my 2003 New Hampshire Sept Race Info page.
- July's Race: see my 2004 July's New Hampshire Race Info page
GOODYEAR TIRE NOTES
Tire:
Goodyear Eagle Speedway Radials (Nextel Cup);
Goodyear Wrangler Speedway Radials (Truck Series)
Number of Tires Required:
Nextel Cup: Left - 1,150, Right - 1,150;
Truck Series: Left - 325, Right - 325
Tire Codes:
Left - D-6830; Right - D-6832
Tire Circumference:
Left - 87.4 in.; Right - 88.6 in.
Technical Inspection Inflation:
Left Front - 20 psi;
Left Rear - 20 psi;
Right Front - 30 psi;
Right Rear - 30 psi
Minimum Recommended Inflation:
Left Front - 15 psi;
Left Rear - 15 psi;
Right Front - 28 psi;
Right Rear - 25 psi
Estimated Pit Window: Every 95-105 laps, based on fuel mileage.
Notes: This is the second consecutive NASCAR Nextel Cup race that
Goodyear has brought this specific combination of left- and right-side
tires to New Hampshire . . . both the Nextel Cup and Craftsman Truck
Series will run the same tire codes this weekend . . . this is the
second of three races Nextel Cup teams will run these tire codes in
2004 . . in addition to New Hampshire, Cup teams will run these tires
at Phoenix later this season . . . Truck Series teams will run these
codes at New Hampshire and Phoenix, as well as already having run them
at Gateway, Indianapolis Raceway Park, Memphis and Milwaukee . . .
teams do not run inner liners in their tires at New Hampshire.
Goodyear Quote -- Mark Keto, Lead Engineer, Stock Car Tire
Development: "We first tested this construction here last July with
Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart. Comparing what Goodyear has previously
run at Loudon, this year's right-side compound is the same while the
left-side compound is softer. The overall construction is also
softer, continuing what we've done with the entire 2004 tire lineup."
RACE BONUS INFO
- The NASCAR Nextel Cup Leader Bonus is $70,000 at New Hampshire for leading the points and winning the race. The $360,000 annual award is paid at $10,000 per race to the point leader at the end of each event if the driver is also the winner. The award increases by $10,000 each week the it goes unclaimed. If the point leader is not the race winner at the end of the year, the balance of the award is distributed among the top-10 finishers in the drivers point standings.
2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Leader Bonus Winners:
Matt Kenseth, March 2004, Las Vegas, $30,000)
Dale Earnhardt Jr., May 2004, Richmond, $80,000
Jimmie Johnson, Pocono, August 2004, $90,000
(9-12-2004)
- MBNA Mid-Race Leader Award: The MBNA Mid-Race Leader Award is worth $10,000 to any eligible NASCAR Nextel Cup driver who leads a race at the halfway mark and displays the MBNA Mid-Race Leader Award decal on their race car. An additional $5,000 is earned if that driver also wins the race. If the race-win bonus is not earned, the $5,000 rolls into the next week’s award. Eligible drivers earn two points for winning the MBNA Mid-Race Leader Award and another point if they also go on to win the race. The driver who earns the most points during the season will win the MBNA Mid-Race Leader Award Championship.
Bonus for leading at halfway and winning at New Hampshire: $5,000
Winners for 2004 so far:
Daytona: Tony Stewart, $10,000
Rockingham: Matt Kenseth, $20,000*
Las Vegas: Matt Kenseth, $15,000*
Atlanta: Tony Stewart, $10,000
Darlington: Jamie McMurray, $10,000
Bristol: Sterling Marlin, $10,000
Texas: Kasey Kahne, $10,000
Martinsville: Jeff Gordon, $10,000
Talladega: Dale Earnhardt Jr., $10,000 [#29-Harvick not eligible]
California: Jeremy Mayfield, $10,000
Richmond: Michael Waltrip, $10,000
Charlotte: Elliott Sadler, $10,000 [#48-Johnson not eligible]
Dover: Tony Stewart, $10,000
Pocono: Kasey Kahne, $10,000 [#48-Johnson not eligible]
Michigan: Dale Jarrett, $10,000
Sonoma: Jeff Gordon, $75,000*
Daytona: Jeff Gordon, $15,000*
Chicago: Tony Stewart, $15,000*
New Hampshire: Ryan Newman, $10,000
Pocono: Casey Mears, $10,000 [#48-Johnson not eligible]
Indianapolis: Jeff Gordon, $25,000*
Watkins Glen: Tony Stewart, $15,000*
Michigan: Greg Biffle, $15,000*
Bristol: Dale Earnhardt Jr., $15,000*
California: Elliott Sadler, $15,000*
Richmond: Jeremy Mayfield, $15,000*
(* won race and bonus)
NOTE: the award goes to the eligible driver leading on the 5th consecutive green lap following a mid-race caution if one occurs.
#48-Jimmie Johnson and #29-Kevin Harvick are not on the program.
Capital One does Lowe's Credit card and doesn't wish to have MBNA on the #48
The #29 has the GM Card (Household Bank) as an associate sponsor on the B-post.
MBNA Mid-Race Leader Award Standings:
Tony Stewart 12
Jeff Gordon 11
Matt Kenseth 6
(9-12-2004)
WEATHER, TV/RADIO COVERAGE
LOCAL NEWS, TRACK/FAN INFO
IN-CAR AUDIO SITES
none listed
QUALIFYING, PRACTICE and RESULTS
news and links
- TO THE BACK [0]: no drivers had to go to the rear of the field before the drop of the green flag at the race on Sunday. No backup cars, no engine changes, no driver changes.(9-19-2004)
- Busch wins at Loudon: #97-Kurt Busch dominated and won the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway after leading 155 of 300 laps, his 3rd win of the season and 11th of his career. #17-Matt Kesneth was 2nd and co-points leader, #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. was 3rd, followed by #9-Kasey Kahne and #42-Jamie McMurray. Earnhardt Jr. and Busch are tid in the new Chase for the Nextel Cup points system with 5210 points, but Earnhardt Jr. is considered the leader as the tiebreaker is wins and Dale Jr. has 4 to Busch's 3. #31-Robby Gordon was penalized 2 laps early in the race for punting Greg Biffle, who got togehter a tad earlier in the race. The problem was, when Gordon hit Biffle, Biffle went into #19-Mayfield and #20-Stewart had no place to go and hit Biffle. Stewart finished 39th and Mayfield 35th. Good race report at ThatsRacin.com: Busch dominates at Loudon.
For race results, see:
Jayski's Loudon Race Results/Awards Page
MotorsportsOne
NASCAR.com.(9-19-2004)
- New Hampshire Race Notes:
---- Kurt Busch won the 2004 Sylvania 300, scoring his 11th career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup victory in his 141st career start. His last victory
came at New Hampshire in July, eight races ago.
---- Busch swept both
races at New Hampshire this season and posted his fourth top-10 finish
in eight races here. This is his third victory in 2004.
---- Busch
became the second driver in two years to score a sweep at New
Hampshire International Speedway. He joins Jimmie Johnson who swept
both races at New Hampshire in 2003.
---- Busch is one of the 10
drivers competing in the Chase for the 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup and
climbed from seventh to second in the point standings.
---- Busch led
three times for 155 laps including the final 36, leading the most laps
for the third time in 2004.
---- This was the ninth victory for Ford
in 2004. Chevrolet has won 15 and Dodge has three. 2004 Sylvania
300-Notebook Items The Race for the 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup
---- With
nine races remaining, first to 10th in the standings are separated by
142 points with the biggest margin occurring between eighth-place Tony
Stewart and seventh-place Mark Martin who are separated by 53 points.
---- Nine of the 10 drivers in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup
changed positions at New Hampshire International Speedway.
---- Seven
of the 10 drivers in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup posted top-15
finishes in the Sylvania 300.
---- Six drivers in the Chase for the
Nextel Cup led at least one lap in the Sylvania 300, earning the
additional five bonus points. Kurt Busch earned the extra five points
for leading the most laps.
---- All 10 drivers competing in the Chase
for the 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup scored at least one victory in the
first 26 races of the 2004 season.
---- Approximately $1 million will
be paid to the driver who finishes 11th in the final NASCAR NEXTEL Cup
point standings – an increase of more than $400,000 over one year
ago. That includes a $250,000 bonus, which will be paid to the
11th-place finisher. Additionally, the 11th-place driver will also
join the top-10 drivers on the stage at the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Awards
Banquet in New York in December. Currently, Jamie McMurray holds the
11th-place position by just eight points over 12th-place Kasey Kahne.
Drivers ranked 11th to 15th are all separated by just 149 points,
which means they can all change positions at Dover.
---- Matt Kenseth
(second) scored his 16th top-10 finish in 2004. It was his sixth
top-10 finish in 10 races at New Hampshire International Speedway. •
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (third) scored his 16th top-10 finish in 2004.
This was his third top-five finish in the last four races. This was
his fourth top-10 finish in 11 races at New Hampshire International
Speedway. Earnhardt Jr. moved from third to first in the Chase for the
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. He holds the position because he has one more
victory than Busch who also has 5,210 points.
---- Kasey Kahne
(fourth) scored his third top-five finish in the last five races. This
was his second top-10 finish in two races at New Hampshire
International Speedway.
---- Jamie McMurray (fifth) scored his 16th
top-10 finish in 2004. It was his third top-10 finish in four races at
New Hampshire International Speedway.
---- Matt Kenseth has ranked
among the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Top 10 in 62 straight races.
---- The
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Leader bonus will be worth $80,000 at Dover
International Speedway.
---- Jeremy Mayfield (35th) dropped from
ninth to 10th in the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup.
---- Tony Stewart
(39th) dropped from fourth to eighth in the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup.
It is Stewart's second DNF in 12 races at New Hampshire, tying his
worst finish there set in July 2002. This also is Stewart's second
DNF in 2004 and his worst finish since he finished 40th in the
Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte in May 2003.
---- Heading to Dover - Tony
Stewart has scored top-five finishes in nine of his 11 races at Dover
International Speedway, including the last four races there. He has
had only one finish outside the top 10 in those 11 races (11th-June
2002).(NASCAR Statistical Services)(9-19-2004)
- StockCarFans.com (Nextel Cup) Newsletter - Rumblings - New Hampshire:
At a track that has never lent itself to side-by-side racing, we were treated to another snoozefest today. Does it look like most of the
"Chasers" are just gonna ride around for the first nine races or was the winner just that dominant? Kurt Busch led 155 laps today at New Hampshire International Speedway to take the Sylvania 300 and make it a sweep of both events here in New England. He led 110 laps when we were here in July, so thats 265 of the 600 circuits. This was the 3rd win of 2004 for Busch and the 11th of his Cup
career. He's now in a 4-way tie for 43rd place on the all-time win list with Dale Earnhardt Jr, Dick Rathman, and Tim Richmond. Win #73 for Roush Racing was worth $237,225 from the over $5.1M in posted awards.
Todays race brings up a question: Would NASCAR have penalized Robby Gordon if the two "Chase" combatants had not been involved? Are we seeing the first steps to a "contrived" Championship? Yeah, I know, that's two questions.....
12 leaders.....but if we hadn't had a round of green-flag pit stops with about 40 to go we would have had no more than 7.
Matt Kenseth (2nd....and a Roush sweep of the top-two spots), had his best finish since he won at Las Vegas in March.
Joe Nemechek (6th) had his best finish since he was 6th at Daytona in February.
Michael Waltrip (9th) had his best finish since he was 6th here in July.
Ken Schrader (16th) had his best finish since he was 6th at Bristol in March.
Ricky Craven (17th in his swan song in the Tide Ride) had his best finish since he was 16th at Infineon in June.
Hermie Sadler (31st) had his best finish since he was 26th at Martinsville in April (only 8 races).
STREAKIN....Jamie McMurray has 5 Top-10's in a row.
The Rookie Report: Kasey Kahne (5th) is the top finishing rookie for the 15th time this season, and he's got Brian Vickers dormie (15-6 with nine to go). Kasey was followed by: Brian Vickers (22nd), Scott Riggs (26th), Brendan Gaughan (30th), and Scott Wimmer (36th).
This Week's Elevator....UP: NOBODY! It takes a 20 position move to grab this esteemed honor, but honorable mention goes to Joe Nemechek (+19). DOWN: The Big Dropper was Tony Stewart (-35), followed by Jeremy Mayfield (-26), and Ryan Newman (-23). The back end of the "Shaft" is not the place the "Chasers" want to be.....
We had 7 of the 10 "Chasers" lead a lap today.....
Kurt Busch (7th to 1st) made the best move forward in "Chase" points today, while Tony Stewart (4th to 8th) fell the most spots.
In "Classic" Points, I betcha Jamie McMurray & Kasey Kahne are wondering why "10" was the magic number! They would both be in the hunt after this race instead of in the race for the 10th loser (11th place). The best move forward was made by Kevin Harvick (14th to 11th), while Jeremy Mayfield (9th to 13th) would have reversed last weeks advance. For the record, Jamie now has an 8 marker lead over Kasey for that "all- important" 11th spot (sarcasm intended).(StockCarFans.Com Nextelcup Newsletter)(9-19-2004)
- The Sylvania 300
at New Hampshire International Speedway:
The UNOFFICIAL Top Ten (start pos in parens), lap leaders, cars out, cautions and some notes
after 300 of 300 laps:
car#, driver, starting spot
#97-Busch (7)(155 laps led)
#17-Kenseth (5)
#8-Earnhardt Jr. (3)(2 laps led)
#9-Kahne (12)(28 laps led)
#42-McMurray (11)(1 laps led)
#01-Nemechek (25)
#24-Gordon (1)(21 laps led)
#38-Sadler (6)(31 laps led)
#15-Waltrip (16)(39 laps led)
#29-Harvick (14)(1 laps led)
- Top Ten [unofficial] Drivers Points Standings after Loudon:
#8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 5210 [tie breaker to Earnhardt Jr. 4 wins to 3]
#97 Kurt Busch 5210
#24 Jeff Gordon -9
#17 Matt Kenseth -10
#48 Jimmie Johnson -30
#38 Elliott Sadler -38
#6 Mark Martin -71
#20 Tony Stewart -124
#12 Ryan Newman -136
#19 Jeremy Mayfield -142
11th: #42-Jamie McMurray, 3331
12th: #9-Kasey Kahne, -8
Standings at JAYSKI drivers/ownes points after Loudown page or
or NASCAR.com
- AND For full 'old' drivers standings, see:
MotorsportsOne or
NASCAR.com
- Cars on the lead lap: 16 (of 43 starters)
- Off track/out of race (10):
#80-Christopher (engine-out)
#72-Shelmerdine (too slow-out)
#98-G. Bodine (ignition-out);
#89-Shepherd (too slow-out)
#20-Stewart (accident-out)
#4-Spencer (suspension-out);
#21-Rudd (overheating-out);
#09-Wallace (accident-out);
#12-Newman (engine-out);
#22-Wimmer (accident-out)
- Laps Leaders Unofficial (12 with 15 lead changes):
#24-Gordon (21);
#20-Stewart (16);
#9-Kahne (31);
#15-Waltrip (39);
#41-Mears (7);
#38-Sadler (20);
#97-Busch (155, most and halfway);
#8-Earnhardt Jr. (2)
#12-Newman (4);
#42-McMurray (1);
#29-Harvick (1);
#48-Johnson (3);
- Lap leaders: #24-Gordon 1-11; #20-Stewart 12-27; #24-Gordon 28-37; #9-Kahne 38-65; #15-Waltrip 66-104; #41-Mears 105-111; #38-Sadler 112-131; #9-Kahne 132-134; #97-Busch 135-183; #8-Earnhardt Jr. 184-185; #97-Busch 186-255; #12-Newman 256-259; #42-McMurray 260; #29-Harvick 261; #48-Johnson 262-264; #97-Busch 265-300
Cautions: 7 for 30 laps
Caution 7 - Lap 277 - 280 Debris on the backstretch.
Caution 6 - Lap 177 - 181: Debris in turn 2.
Caution 5 - Lap 114 - 116: #31-Gordon got wapped in the rear by #40-Marlin and spun around on the back stretch.
Caution 4 - Lap 104 - 107: #22-Wimmer got hit from behind by #43-Green and spun around into the turn 4 wall, doing some right front damage.
Caution 3 - Lap 65 - 70: #31-Gordon punted #16-Biffle [payback?] in turn 2, Biffle spun got into the side of the #19-Mayfield, who spun and #20-Stewart hit Biffle and suffered a lot of front end damage. Mayfield's car then sat on the track as it would not run. So, 2 title contenders taken out by someone else's mess.
Caution 2 - Laps 37 - 40: Competition Yellow for the teams to check tires.
Caution 1 - Laps 18 - 21: #31-Gordon, #16-Biffle and #29-Harvick went 3 wide in turn 1 and Biffle and Gordon got together leaving Gordon spinning and backing lightly into the inside wall.
- Who got a lap back on each caution at Loudon - The Lucky Dog Pack: (and their finish)
(FOX calls it 'the Free Pass Car', NBC calls it the Lucky Dog - which I prefer)
Caution 7: #30-Burton, 15th
Caution 6: #45-Petty, 21st
Caution 5: #16-Biffle, 28th
Caution 4: none #31-Gordon was NOT allowed by NASCAR to make up a lap, no one else was a lap or more down and running at the time.
Caution 3: none, no one a lap down
Caution 2: #98-G. Bodine, 41st
Caution 1: #72-Shelmerdine, 42nd
See past races, rules, news and who has used the most Lucky Dog passes on my
Lucky Dog page.
- RACE/PIT NOTES: (as noted heard on TV or Radio)
---- on lap 259 just before he pitted, #12-Newman reported his engine was gonna blow and is smoking, they changed tires and went back on the track.
---- on lap 194, #21-Rudd coasted down pit road after losing an engine, was running in the top 10.
---- during the 6th caution, #77-Gaughan was in the pits with the hood up.
---- on lap 173, #88-Jarrett made an unscheduled pit stop as there was a vibration and had just lost a lap.
---- on lap 165, #41-Mears pitted as he ran out of fuel.
---- as of lap 163, #22-Wimmer is back on the track after the team made repairs.
---- #20-Stewart was black-flagged for running too slow [32.12 seconds, 118.58mph] and had to go to the garage.
---- while running 13th on lap 117, #4-Spencer had to pit with a flat tire.
---- #19-Mayfield came back on the track on lap 114 after the crew made repairs.
---- #20-Stewart is back on the track as of lap 112 after the crew made repairs, replaced the radiator.
---- as of lap 109, #89-Shepherd returned to the track
---- around lap 94, #31-Gordon is smoking a bit and possibly having a brake problem.
---- during the 3rd caution, #31-Gordon was penalized 2 laps for rough driving...should be a good warning to other drivers.
---- #38-Sadler is reporting a possible brake problem as of lap 50.
---- many leaders came into pit during the first caution including #8, #48, #38, and others. NASCAR will still throw the caution at lap 35.
---- unless there is an early caution, NASCAR will throw the caution around lap 30-35.
---- the cars took a few extra pace laps to warm up the cars/tires that had not been on the track since Friday's practice.
---- to the back, none?
- Where did the top 10 starters finish at Loudon?
#24-Gordon, 7th
#48-Johnson, 11th
#8-Earnhardt Jr., 3rd
#20-Stewart, 39rg
#17-Kenseth, 2nd
#38-Sadler, 8th
#97-Busch, 1st
#6-Martin, 13th
#19-Mayfield, 35th
#12-Newman, 33rd
- Pit Stall Selection: not sure if I will be able to get this every week from the track, but here are the Pit Stall Selections for each team at New Hampshire International Speedway for the Sylvania 300. Chosen how a team qualifies, pole winner picks first, 2nd fastest picks 2nd, 43rd gets the last choice or what is left.
1) #24-Gordon [picked 1st]
2) #9-Kahne
3) #21-Rudd
4) #88-Jarrett
5) #4-Spencer
6) #15-Waltrip
7) #45-Petty
8) #5-Labonte
9) #10-Riggs
10) #49-Schrader
11) #2-Wallace
12) #22-Wimmer
13) #09-M. Wallace
14) #16-Biffle
15) #50-Bodine
16) #18-Labonte
17) #89-Shepherd
18) #20-Stewart
OPENING/BREAK
19) #48-Johnson
20) #77-Gaughan
21) #40-Marlin
22) #02-Sadler
23) #01-Nemechek
24) #80-Christopher [picked last]
25) #97-Busch
26) CAMERA area
27) #12-Newman
28) #38-Sadler
OPENING/BREAK
29) #8-Earnhardt Jr. [picked 3rd]
30) #42-McMurray
31) #32-Craven
32) #99-Edwards
33) #0-Burton
34) #43-Green
35) #30-Burton
36) #72-Shelmerdine
37) #31-Gordon
38) #41-Mears
39) #98-G. Bodine
40) #29-Harvick
41) #25-Vickers
42) #6-Martin
OPENING/BREAK
43) #17-Kenseth [picked 5th]
44) #19-Mayfield [picked 9th](9-19-2004)
- Saturday Rained Out: Rain from the former Hurricane Ivan system has cancelled all Nextel Cup activities at New Hampshire International Speedway today. The Truck race looks like it will get in and be run at 5:00pm/et today, live on Speed Channel. Weather looks perfect for Sunday.(9-18-2004)
- Qualifying at NHIS for the Sylvania 300 was rained out. 16 drivers made attempts. 8 drivers missed the race, including #1-Martin Truex Jr. who was fast in practice and #46-Carl Long, who ran a very good lap in the rain-out qualifying session [16 cars ran]. The field was set by the NASCAR Nextel Cup Rules Book, 1-35 by owners points, the rest by race attempts [ties broken by owners points pos.
For the lineup and some notes until qualifying got rained out, see:
Jayski's Loudon Qualifying/Starting Grid Page or/and
Motorsports One
FoxSports
NASCAR.com.(9-17-2004)
- Qualifying at NHIS for the Sylvania 300 was rained out. 16 drivers made attempts. 8 drivers missed the race, I had #1-Martin Truex Jr. missing the race as he had 6 race attempts and #80-Christopher's team has 14 race attempts [unless the #80 was a Post Entry, but has been on the Entry List since it came out early in the week], and if the #80 was a Post Entry, then next in line was the #37 team with Kevin Lepage with 12 race attempts. No idea why the NASACR.com lineup had Truex Jr. 43rd and the #80 and #37 teams missing the race????.
the field is set by the rules book:
#1) - First 35 by current Owner Points
#2) - Last Years Cup Champ or the Event Champion if not already in the field [n/a]
#3) - Car Owners whose team has won in the previous and current season not already in the field [n/a]
#4) - Drivers who have won in the previous and current season not already in the field
#5) - Past Nextel Cup Champions not in by 1 thru 4 [n/a]
#6) - Qualifying Attempts with Owners points as the tie breaker [used to fill out the field]
#7) - Qualifying Order Position [not needed]
(all above apply as long as the team was entered by the entry deadline - usually 7-13 days before the race)
THREE Different Lineups:
NASCAR.com has #1-Truex Jr. making the race and #80-Chistopher missing it
ThatsRacin.com has #4-Jimmy Spencer [??] and Truex Jr. missing the race and
#80-Christopher and #37-Lepage making the race
Unless the #4 is a Post Entry [highly Unlikely]
It is the top 35 in owners points
THEN if no former winners or champs are out, it is by TEAM RACE attempts, ties broken by Owners Points standings
here is what I have after 35th:
36th: #50-T Bodine, 26 attempts, tie breaker is owners points, 37th
37th: #72-Shelmerdine, 26 attempts, 41st
38th: #4-Spencer, 25 attempts
39th: #98-G Bodine, 24
40th: #89-Shepherd, 23
41st: #09-M Wallace, 20, 38th
42nd: #02-Sadler, 20, 42nd
43rd: #80-Christopher, 14
missing the race:
#37-Lepage, 12 attempts
#1-Truex Jr., 6, 44th in owners points
#33-Sauter, 6, 49th
#13-Sacks, 4, 62nd
#00-McGlynn, 4, 63rd
#46-Long, 3 attempts
#92-Raines, 1, 73rd in owners points
#79-Boyd, 1, 75th.
OK....as of 6:20pm/et all the lineups [as unofficial posted here when the rain-out announement came and on MotorSportsOne had] now match as shown above.
For the lineup and some notes until qualifying got rained out, see:
Jayski's Loudon Qualifying/Starting Grid Page or/and
Motorsports One
FoxSports [had #80 in 43rd and Truex missing the race]
NASCAR.com.(9-17-2004)
- StockCarFans.Com - Ramblings - New Hampshire: We got 16 cars in on time, then that nasty old Ivan (and I've had quite enough of him, thank you) made an appearance and we had another wash out today at New Hampshire International Speedway for Sunday's Sylvania 300. Since we didn't finish qualifying, we'll line 'em up by points for the event, and that means the Top-10 in the "Chase" will start up front....and you won't hear any complaints from the guys in Daytona Beach, I'd bet. This was the third time this season we've lost quals to the weather, and they've all occured in the last 6 weeks.
You'll notice I've spent little time talking about the "Chase" in my twice weekly missives....and with good reason. I didn't like it when
they announced it and my opinion hasn't changed. Seems like most everybody else's has tho.... Saw one column this week that said the "Chase" winner would be a "True Champion". Well, to paraphrase a somewhat infamous former President....that depends on what your definition of "True" is. If a True Champion is a driver that accumulates the most points in the final 10 events of the season, then you're happy with that. If it's the standard our sport has used for 50+ years, then you're gonna hear a lot of arguing....or a lot of the old time fans will just start paying less and less attention. And, I'm afraid it'll be the latter. They're just gonna have a tough sell if somebody who would have been 400+ points behind ends up atop the "Chase" come Homestead. Course, with their willing "media partners", they can sell almost anything. Since you asked....
Mr. Lead Lap is not in the "Chase" (now you're learning the real reason why I don't like it....our hero is not in the hunt!). He's mired in
22nd place in the standings with an average finish of only 19.9. That "Lucky Dog" thang ain't helping him either.
No Best Sinces this week....
STREAKIN....Jeff Gordon has 6 Top-10 starts in a row.
Jeremy Mayfield has 5 Top-10 starts in a row.
We had a healty car count of 51 this weekend, and it's a shame some of these guys didn't get a chance to at least make an attempt. A couple of the drivers who were among the first 16 seemed to be fast enough to make the Top-38 (Carl Long and Johnny Sauter) and with the kind of equipment you get from DEI (Martin Truex Jr)....but it was all for naught. Forecast for Sunday is better, but after what I've seen this week I'm not believing any of those weather guys anymore. I'm gonna look out the window instead.( StockCarFans.Com Nextelcup Newsletter.(9-17-2004)
- The UNOFFICIAL LINEUP
#24-Jeff Gordon, 1st in OWNERS points
#48-Jimmie Johnson, 2nd
#8-Dale Earnhardt Jr, 3rd
#20-Tony Stewart, 4th
#17-Matt Kenseth, 5th
#38-Elliott Sadler, 6th
#97-Kurt Busch, 7th
#6-Mark Martin, 8th
#19-Jeremy Mayfield, 9th
#12-Ryan Newman, 10th
#42-Jamie McMurray, 11th
#9-Kasey Kahne, 12th
#18-Bobby Labonte, 13th
#29-Kevin Harvick, 14th
#88-Dale Jarrett, 15th
#15-Michael Waltrip, 16th
#2-Rusty Wallace, 17th
#41-Casey Mears, 18th
#40-Sterling Marlin, 19th
#16-Greg Biffle. 20th
#99-Carl Edwards, 21st
#31-Robby Gordon, 22nd
#5-Terry Labonte, 23rd
#25-Brian Vickers, 24th
#01-Joe Nemechek, 25th
#30-Jeff Burton, 26th
#22-Scott Wimmer, 27th
#21-Ricky Rudd, 28th
#0-Ward Burton, 29th
#10-Scott Riggs, 30th
#43-Jeff Green, 31st
#77-Brendan Gaughan, 32nd
#49-Ken Schrader, 33rd
#45-Kyle Petty, 34th
#32-Ricky Craven, 35th
the rest of the field is set by the rules book:
#1) - First 35 by current Owner Points
#2) - Last Years Cup Champ or the Event Champion if not already in the field [n/a]
#3) - Car Owners whose team has won in the previous and current season not already in the field [n/a]
#4) - Drivers who have won in the previous and current season not already in the field
#5) - Past Nextel Cup Champions not in by 1 thru 4 [n/a]
#6) - Qualifying Attempts with Owners points as the tie breaker [used to fill out the field]
#7) - Qualifying Order Position [not needed]
(all above apply as long as the team was entered by the entry deadline - usually 7-13 days before the race)
36th: #50-T Bodine, 26 attempts, tie breaker is owners points, 37th
37th: #72-Shelmerdine, 26 attempts, 41st
38th: #4-Spencer, 25 attempts
39th: #98-G Bodine, 24
40th: #89-Shepherd, 23
41st: #09-M Wallace, 20, 38th
42nd: #02-Sadler, 20, 42nd
43rd: #80-Christopher, 14
HOWEVER
43rd: is listed on NASCAR.com as #1-Martin Truex Jr. and the #80 car as missing the race????
missing the race:
#37-Lepage, 12 attempts
#1-Truex Jr., 6, 44th in owners points
#33-Sauter, 6, 49th
#13-Sacks, 4, 62nd
#00-McGlynn, 4, 63rd
#46-Long, 3 attempts
#92-Raines, 1, 73rd in owners points
#79-Boyd, 1, 75th.(9-17-2004)
- Provisionals: my calculations have 4 of the 51 teams/drivers not eligible for provisionals:
#89-Shepherd [40th but out of provisionals] however, since this is attempt 24 for the team, he will able to use one if needed.
#92-Raines [73rd, team has only made 1 atttempt, needs 4]
#79-Boyd [75th, team has only 1 attempt]
#46-Long [60th, team has 3 attempts, provisional is available the race AFTER attempt 4]
See more on my Provisionals Page - rules, standings, DNQ's, provisional finishers.
- Friday Practice for the Sylvania 300 at NHIS is over, the fastest:
#12-Newman 133.464
#9-Kahne 132.163
#42-McMurray 131.970
#01-Nemechek 131.692
#24-Gordon 131.433
slowest: #80-Christopher 121.878 and #72-Shelmerdine 122.540
Most laps run: #20-Stewart and #19-Mayfield, 53
Best average speed [all laps averaged]
(from NASCAR.com's leaderboard service)
#12-Newman 131.571
#1-Truex Jr. 130.612
#01-Nemechek 130.297
For speeds, see or NASCAR.com.(9-17-2004)
- Qualifying Order links are up. 51 cars are entered. First driver due out is #5-Terry Labonte. Last due out is #9-Kasey Kahne.(9-17-2004)
- Qualfying Order Links at:
or
Qualifying order - NASCAR.com
- New Hampshire List the entry list for the Sylvania 300 is posted: 53 drivers [for 43 spots], some of the entries include:
#00-Ryan McGlynn
#02-Hermie Sadler
#09-TBA
#1-Martin Truex Jr.
#13-Greg Sacks
#33-Johnny Sauter [RCR car]
#37-Kevin Lepage
#46-Carl Long
#62-Larry Hollenbeck
#79-TBA
#80-Ted Christopher
#92-Tony Raines [this car has been entered a few times, then withdrawn]
#94-TBA
#98-Larry Gunselman.(9-14-2004)
UPDATE: changes, down to 52 as the #94 team was lopped off the entry list. #79 goes from TBA to Stand Boyd, #98-Larry Gunselman now has Geoffrey Bodine in the car.(9-16-2004)
UPDATE 2 - down to 51: #09-Mike Wallace, #62-Larry Hollenbeck is off the list. 51 cars doe 43 spots.(9-17-2004)
- Entry List Links:
NASCAR.com
- No Racing to the Caution Rule and Q&A/Lucky Dog
- Jayski's - 2004 Nextel Cup Race Results Page
- Jayski's - 2004 Nextel Cup Practice Leader and Links
- How to Calculate Track Speeds: use the formula Speed = Distance divided by Time. Distance is Track Length, and Lap Time into Hours. Once hour is 3600 seconds, so the calculation for a 48 second lap at Daytona(2.5 miles) would be: Speed = 2.5 x (3600/48), = 2.5 x 75 = 187.500mph. For a 19 second lap at Bristol(.533 miles): Speed = .533 x (3600/19), = .533 x 189.474 = a speed of 100.990mph
- How to break a tie during qualifying? (same speed/time) When drivers are tied for a starting spot during qualifying, it is broken by owners points standings(not drivers).
- Links: Practice speeds, qualifying and results can be found at these sites:
NASCAR.com
TRACK RECORDS, NOTES, RULES and NEWS
TRACK/RACE NEWS
- President Bush at the New Hampshire race UPDATE 2 will NOT be at the race: President Bush is expected to make a campaign stop to court valuable "NASCAR dad" votes at the Sylvana 300 in Loudon, NH's New Hampshire International Speedway.(Union Leader)(9-14-2004)
UPDATE: President Bush's visit to New Hampshire International Speedway this weekend isn't likely to change the fans'experience. Law enforcement officials say some areas will see a beefed-up security presence, but in most areas, all will remain the same. On Thursday, a half-dozen bomb dogs will begin scouring the concessions stands. Long before the races start, metal detectors will be erected to greet ticket-holders. Every guest, along with bags and coolers, will also be subject to search. Law enforcement officials won't publicly discuss the details of the security measures, but they and the Bush-Cheney campaign office both say the president is coming for a visit. Speedway officials, however, still refuse to acknowledge what seems more than likely. According to law enforcement officials, about all that will change this weekend is the number of officers - a few more, at about 125 - specifically near the tunnel entrance to the track. Bush will fly in via helicopter and land in parking lot I, before being ushered into the track, law enforcement sources said. He is expected to announce "Start your engines!" from the media building, located inside Turn 3, they said. Then he departs for an "Ask President Bush" event in Derry, while his family plans to stay at NHIS for the race. After the event, he is supposed to stay at his compound in Kennebunkport, Maine. The only thing that might deter the trip is Hurricane Ivan, the remnants of which could leave the state soaking on Sunday, possibly canceling [actually postponing NOT cancel] the race.
Yesterday, New Hampshire officials said two areas at the track were of the most concern for security: the campground, where 30,000 people sleep in their RVs, which have not been searched, and the air. Officials said there will be a three-mile no-fly zone in effect, but it would take only a few seconds for someone with less than the best of intentions to fly over the track.(Concord Monitor)(9-16-2004)
UPDATE 2: President George W. Bush's Sunday campaign trip to New Hampshire has been postponed. The President instead will visit the Gulf coast areas hit hard by Hurricane Ivan this weekend. The President had planned a Saturday afternoon stop at the New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, where he was expected to start the NASCAR Nextel Cup race before a crowd of about 100,000. He then planned a campaign rally in Derry. The Derry event may be rescheduled for Monday afternoon.(Union Leader)(9-16-2004)
- President Bush at New Hampshire: It is more than a rumor that President Bush will return to the state for the NASCAR race at New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon on Sept. 19. He is scheduled to attend the start of the race — with its 100,000 spectators — before going to another event.(Union Leader)(9-5-2004)
- Fans Not happy with NHIS camper fees: NASCAR fans have mixed reactions to a new camping fee for New Hampshire International Speedway’s NASCAR races. Racing fans previously could park recreational vehicles on the track’s 1,000-acre property at no charge, but this year were required to pay $100 in advance or $125 at the gate. Busch Series and Nextel Cup races are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at the speedway. Track spokesman Ron Meade said about 1,700 RVs already have arrived. Some fans called the new camping fee too high. Track officials changed the fee policy after being overwhelmed by more than 8,000 large vehicles last year. Meade said about 5,000 fans had arranged for RV parking in advance for this weekend. “We were hopeful that charging a fee would give people a second thought about bringing their mobile homes,” Meade said. “Because car parking is still free.” Not all tracks charge camping fees. Some RV parking is free at South Carolina’s Darlington Raceway. But fees at other tracks are more than double New Hampshire’s.(Union Leader/AP)(7-21-2004)
- Past track news: posted in the past at Jayski's Past Track News/Rumors - New Hampshire International Raceway
DRIVER/TEAM/TESTING NEWS
- Whats Up with Ricky Craven: For the first time in 132 races, Newburgh's Ricky Craven wasn't behind the wheel of the Tide #32 car last weekend. So what was it like to watch a Nextel Cup race rather than participate in it? "Actually, I watched [daughter] Riley and [son] Everett on the Carolina Cyclone. I had promised to take them all summer," said Craven referring to a ride at a local amusement park near their North Carolina home. "To be honest, if I'm not in it, I'm not interested," said Craven. "I don't watch a lot of television." Craven and team owner Cal Wells III originally announced in July that they would part company at the end of the season. But Craven decided to leave the team last week to allow Hamilton Jr. to begin his transition. "I'll bounce back. I'm 38 and I'm feeling good. What I'm doing now is evaluating what I could have done better and where we may have failed as a team. I hope to use that to my advantage. I will also retain the things we did well. We overachieved in 2001, 2002 and the early part of 2003. We were the only single-car team to win in several years when we won [at Martinsville] in 2001 and we did it again two years later [at Darlington]," said Craven, who will make his NASCAR Craftsman Truck series debut in the No. 47 ACXIOM Chevy Silverado at the Sylvania 200 in eight days. Craven will make one more appearance in the #32 Tide Chevy for the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway in nine days. He said he has had "discussions" with Nextel Cup teams and he has enjoyed the conversations. But there isn't anything to report at this time, he said. "I still have that desire to compete. And that will continue to climb as the season winds down and I have a clearer picture of 2005. I'll come back hungrier and more determined than ever," said Craven whose wife, K.K., is expecting their third child in February. Craven likes the fact he has been able to spend more time with his family but said he would race again this season "if the circumstances are right. I want to go to a program that could either help me for next year or that will lead into next year. I'm not going to race just to race. That's of no interest to me, now. It may have been five or six years ago." He admitted it is a "hard time for me" but he knows rides will become available and he wants to put his best foot forward to land a competitive Nextel Cup ride for 2005.(Bangor Daily News)
AND Asked yesterday if he would be hesitant to join another single-car team down the road, Craven answered quickly. "Absolutely," he said. However, Craven insists he intends on remaining a part of the Nextel Cup series, NASCAR's premier level of stock car racing. He'll race in the Craftsman Truck Series at NHIS later this month as part of a once-a-year program through General Motors, but Craven said the trucks or the Busch Series don't "have my attention right now" in terms of future employment. Instead, he'll watch his Cup colleagues compete in the stretch drive of this season, looking to capitalize on what he characterizes as a lack of patience among team-leading higher-ups.(Concord Monitor)(9-10-2004)
- Enterprise to sponsor for Truex Jr. in NHIS Cup race? UPDATE: hearing Enterprise Rent-a-car will be the sponsor for Martin Truex Jr.s 'official' Nextel Cup debut next week at New Hampshire where he will drive the #1 DEI Chevy. Truex Jr. subbed for #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. at New Hampshire in July when Dale Jr. was recovering from the Sport Car fire in Sonoma where he was injured, suffering burns.
UPDATE; Dale Earnhardt Incorporated and Enterprise Rent-A-Car have joined forces to enter Martin Truex Jr. in the Sylvania 300 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race next weekend at New Hampshire International Speedway, the team announced Thursday. The Sylvania 300 will be Truex Jr.'s first start in NASCAR's premier series. The current Busch Series point leader will drive DEI's No. 1 Enterprise Rent-A-Car Chevrolet at New Hampshire , where he is a Busch North Series winner. Truex, competing in his first full season in the Busch Series, leads Kyle Busch by 95 points heading into Friday night's Emerson Radio 250 at Richmond International Raceway, with nine races remaining this season. "It's still sinking in that I'm running my first Cup race," Truex Jr. said. "Enterprise Rent-A-Car and DEI have made strong efforts to give me this opportunity. Everyone at DEI rents cars from Enterprise on the weekends we race, so I'm looking forward to representing them on the track in New Hampshire ." Enterprise Rent-A-Car is also making its debut as a primary sponsor in Nextel Cup racing.(DEI Site)(9-9-2004)
- The Longest Line Rule: NASCAR officials reaffirmed in the drivers meeting that the car that gets its lap back [Lucky Dog] in a restart must start at the tail end of the longest line. That car can move up before the restart only if other cars ahead pull to the bottom of the track in a sign for series officials that they're letting the car by.(News and Record)(9-7-2004)
- DEI and Hendrick teams test at NHIS: Hendrick Motorsports teammates #24-Jeff Gordon and #48-Jimmie Johnson tested at New Hampshire International Speedway (NHIS) on Wednesday, September 1 in preparation for the SYLVANIA 300 on Sunday, September 19. Both teams have clinched spots in the 2004 "Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup". Martin Truex, Jr. tested on Tuesday, August 31 and Wednesday, September 1 in the #1 Dale Earnhardt Incorporated Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Truex, Jr. will be attempting to qualify for the upcoming SYLVANIA 300 at NHIS. For ticket and race information, please visit the Speedway online at www.nhis.com or call Speedway Guest Services at (603) 783-4931.(NHIS PR)(9-4-2004)
- Green-White-Checker OFFICIAL and: A “green-white-checkered” finish format will be used for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and NASCAR Busch Series beginning with next weekend’s races at New Hampshire International Speedway, NASCAR officials announced today. “The green-white-checkered format is an attempt to achieve everyone’s goals – a green-flag finish,” NASCAR President Mike Helton said. “This change hopefully will provide competitive finishes in the relatively rare occasions it is warranted. This format has been successful in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and considering the tight competition week in and week out in the other two national series, we feel the time is right to use the same procedure in all three national series.”
The new procedure will consist of a restart of two laps – green flag for the first lap of the restart and the white flag signaling the final lap leading to the checkered flag. All additional laps will be counted and scored. The new format will not guarantee a green-flag finish. Only one restart under the “green-white-checkered” format will be attempted. If a caution comes out during that period, the race will be complete. This procedure will eliminate the need for a red flag in the final laps to immediately stop the race in an attempt to finish under green-flag conditions. The announcement expands the single attempt “green-white-checkered” format to all three of NASCAR’s national series, beginning next week.(NASCAR PR), for the Truck Series, who have had this procedure since it started, in 48 races with a G-W-C, 6 times has the lead changed [12.5%](Speed Channel)(7-15-2004)
AND - Trucks Change too: Until now, the trucks have been allowed to run multiple green-flag restarts to determine a winner. That will end after the race at Gateway. Cup races will be allowed only one re-start, and NASCAR will enforce that rule in all three series. Thus, a finish under caution is possible if an accident occurs on the final two laps.(St Louis Post Dispatch)(7-17-2004)
- See the 2004 Team Chart which has links to past news for each team and info on each team.
PAINT SCHEME NEWS
 - USG to Continue Partnerships with NASCAR, MB2/MBV Motorsports: USG Corporation, a leading manufacturer of building materials, including the industry leading Sheetrock Brand, announced it will continue its partnership affiliations with NASCAR and MB2/MBV Motorsports. The 2004 sponsorship programs that USG Sheetrock Brand will be actively involved in are as follows:
* Primary, Associate Sponsorships with MB2/MBV Motorsports
Along with being a season-long major associate sponsor on the #01 U.S. Army/MB2 Chevrolet, driven by Joe Nemechek, USG Sheetrock Brand will also be the team's primary sponsor at four NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races in 2004 -- Las Vegas (March 7), Chicago (July 11), New Hampshire (Sept. 19) and Darlington (Nov. 14).
USG will also carry a season-long associate sponsorship with MB2's teammate, the #10 Valvoline/MBV Chevrolet driven by Scott Riggs in 2004. For more information about USG Corporation, visit the USG home page at www.usg.com.(PR)(1-27-2004)
- Special Scheme for Newman at select race and a CONTEST: A long-time supporter of NASCAR racing, ExxonMobil is marking its 14th season in 2004 as a major sponsor of Penske Racing with veteran driver Rusty Wallace and NASCAR 2003 Speed Channel American Driver of the Year Ryan Newman. The Mobil 1 brand will be featured on the hood of Newman’s #12 Dodge during five NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races in 2004:
the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway
the Tropicana 400 at Chicagoland Speedway
the Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway
the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway
and the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.(TRPR).(1-26-2004)
- More Paint Scheme news can be found on Paint Schemes Gallery
RACE /CHAMPIONSHIP ODDs
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