• Race: Sunday, September 14, 2008 in Loudon, NH
  
  
• Title Sponsor: Sylvania 300
  
  
• Track: New Hampshire Motor Speedway
  
  
• Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 2:17pm/et
  
  

• TV: ABC 2:00pm/et
  
  
• NASCAR Countdown: ABC - 1:00pm/et
  
  
• SPEED's NASCAR Raceday Pre-Race Show: 11:00am/et with John Roberts, Jimmy Spencer, Kenny Wallace
  
  
• Scheduled Race Re-Air Dates/Times:
  Monday, September 15 at 3:00am/et on ESPN2
  Monday, September 15 at 1:00pm/et on ESPN Classic
  Thursday, September 18 at 12:00pm/et on SPEED and
  Thursday, September 18 at 5:30pm/et on HD Net
  
  
• Announcers: Dr. Jerry Punch, Dale Jarrett, Andy Petree
  
  
• Pit Reporters: Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Mike Massaro, Shannon Spake
  
  
• Studio: Allen Bestwick, Rusty Wallace, Brad Daugherty
  
  
• TV Listings, Links and Info:
  Jayski's TV Listings Page
  NASCAR on TV
  Race Fan TV
  
  

• This Week - Performance Racing Network (PRN) and Sirius Satellite
  
  
  • goprn.com
    
    
  • sirius.com
    
    

• Practices:
  Friday, September 12, 12:00 - 1:30pm/et, TV-ESPN2;
  Saturday, September 13, 9:00 - 9:50am/et, TV-ESPN2
  
  
• Happy Hour Practice: Saturday, September 13, 11:30am - 12:30pm/et on TV-ESPN2 6:00pm/et via tape delay
  
  

• Qualifying Draw [ping pong balls]: Friday, September 12, 11:00am/et
  
  
• Qualifying: 2 laps for positions 1-42 [if no past champ prov used, then 43rd goes next fastest non top-35 driver], Friday, September 12 at 3:15pm/et, TV-ESPN2, no re-air scheduled;
  AND live via radio at PRN Radio and Sirius Satellite NASCAR Radio.
  
  

• Biffle wins at New Hampshire: #16-Greg Biffle won the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway for his first win at the trafk, first of 2008, first in 33 races [Kansas 2007] and 13th of of his career. #48-Johnson finished 2nd, followed by #99-Edwards [new points leader[, #31-Burton, #88-Earnhardt Jr., #2-Busch, #1-Truec Jr., #20-Stewart, #11-Hamlin and #29-Harvick. Other chase drivers: #07-Bowyer finished 12th, #24-Gordon 14th, #18-Busch 34th and #17-Kenseth 40th. #96-Joey Logano finished 32nd in his first career Cup race, 3 laps down. There were 14 lead changes among 8 drivers and 8 cautions for 36 caution laps.
  For race results, awards and more, see my New Hampshire Race Results Awards Page.(9-14-2008)
  
  
• UNOFFICAL Chase Drivers Points Standings [after New Hampshire race 27 of 36]:
  1) #99-Carl Edwards 5220 [6 wins]
  2) #48-Jimmie Johnson 5220 [4 wins]
  3) #16-Greg Biffle 5190 -30
  4) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. 5170 -50
  5) #31-Jeff Burton 5170 -50
  6) #11-Denny Hamlin 5148 -72
  7) #20-Tony Stewart 5147 -73
  8) #18-Kyle Busch 5146 -74
  9) #07-Clint Bowyer 5137 -83
  10) #29-Kevin Harvick 5134 -86
  11) #24-Jeff Gordon 5121 -99
  12) #17-Matt Kenseth 5043 -177
  For the driver points standings, see my Drivers/Owners Points Standings page.(9-14-2008)
  
  
• UNOFFICAL Classic Drivers Points Standings [after New Hampshire race 27 of 36]:
  1) #18-Kyle Busch 3944 [8 wins]
  2) #99-Carl Edwards 3841 -103 [6 wins]
  3) #48-Jimmie Johnson 3756 -188 [4 wins]
  4) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. 3648 -296 [1 win]
  5) #31-Jeff Burton 3544 -400 [1 win]
  6) #16-Greg Biffle 3470 -474 [1 win]
  7) #20-Tony Stewart 3432 -512
  8) #29-Kevin Harvick 3417 -527
  9) #11-Denny Hamlin 3373 -571 [1 win]
  10) #24-Jeff Gordon 3342 -602
  11) #07-Clint Bowyer 3243 -701 [1 win]
  12) #9-Kasey Kahne 3177 -767 [2 wins]
  13) #17-Matt Kenseth 3175 -769
  14) #6-David Ragan 3118 -826
  (9-14-2008)
  
  
• New Hampshire Motor Speedway - Race Fast Facts:
  Greg Biffle won the SYLVANIA 300, his 13th victory in 213 Sprint Cup Series races.
  This is his first victory and 12th top-10 finish in 2008.
  This is his first victory and fifth top-10 finish in 13 races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
  Jimmie Johnson (second) posted his ninth top-10 finish in 14 races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. It is his 15th top-10 finish in 2008.
  Carl Edwards (third) posted his second top-10 finish in nine races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
  Regan Smith (23rd) was the highest finishing rookie.
  Carl Edwards leads the point standings by 0 points over Jimmie Johnson.(NASCAR Statistics)(9-14-2008)
  
  
• Who got a lap back on each caution at New Hampshire: (and their finish)
  Caution 1: #21-Elliott, 29th
  Caution 2: #45-McCumbee, 42nd
  Caution 3: #83-Vickers, 35th
  Caution 4: #20-Stewart, 8th
  Caution 5: #8-Almirola, 18th
  Caution 6: #66-Riggs, 19th
  Caution 7: #15-Menard, 21st
  Caution 8: #70-Sauter, 20th
  (9-14-2008)
  
  
• New Hampshire Penalty Report:
  Car#, Penalty, Reason, Lap Issued
  1 #18 Pitting before Pit Road is Open TE 36
  2 #18 Pulling up to pit TE 37
  3 #12 Excessive speed - Exiting pits TE 37
  4 #96 Removing equipment from assigned pit area TE 37
  5 #26 Pitting before Pit Road is Open TE 84
  6 #18 Pitting before Pit Road is Open TE 84
  7 #70 Removing equipment from assigned pit area MCI 86
  8 #20 Excessive speed - Exiting pits PT 158
  9 #77 Excessive speed - Exiting pits TE 216
  10 #83 Pitting before Pit Road is Open TE 230
  11 #5 Outside half pit box tire violation/Team member not in contact with the outside tire. TE 270
  12 #00 Passing to the wrong side on a start or restart PT 287
  PT - Pass through
  TE - Tail end of the longest line
  SG - Stop and Go
  OL - One lap
  ND - NASCAR discretion
  MCI - Must come into pits.(NASCAR Statistics)(9-14-2008)
  
  
• Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway scheduled drivers
  (DIRECTV channel, car#, driver)
  HD (high definition)/SD (standard definition) Channels
  795, #18-Kyle Busch
  796, #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.
  797, #24-Jeff Gordon
  798, #29-Kevin Harvick
  799, Team Radios/National Broadcast
  Teams and drivers are subject to change at anytime, more info at directv.com/hotpass
  
  
• Race Coverage of the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is scheduled for Sunday, Septmber 14, 2008.
  TV: ABC at 2:00pm/et; pre-race show at 1:00pm/et
  Radio: PRN Radio and Sirius Satellite NASCAR Radio
  ESPN.com: on the ESPN.com NASCAR page - Racecast and Chat.
  Scheduled Race Re-Airs:
  ESPN2, Monday, Septmber 15 at 3:00am/et
  ESPN Classic, Monday, Septmber 15 at 1:00pm/et
  SPEED, Thursday, Septmber 18 at 12:00pm/et and;
  HDNET, Thursday, Septmber 18 at 5:30pm/et
  
  

• Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway Pit Stall Selections
  
  
• Pit Stall Selections have been made for the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, #18-Busch got to choose first since he starts first [quals rained out] and took stall #1, #99-Edwards who starts 2nd took stall #19, the next with an opening in front of it and #48-Johnson who starts 3rd, took stall #29, the next opening. See who took what stall on my New Hampshire Pit Stall selections page.(9-13-2008)
  
  
• Sat. 1st practice for the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is over, the fastest:
  #07-Bowyer 128.212
  #48-Johnson 127.718
  #1-Truex Jr. 127.714
  #26-McMurray 127.598
  #43-Labonte 127.577
  slowest: #21-Elliott 124.793 and #78-Nemechek 125.228
  incident: #99-Edwards scraped the wall and pancaked the right side
  See speeds on my New Hampshire Practice Speeds page.(9-13-2008)
  
  
• Qualifying Cancelled..again: qualifying for the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway was cancelled due to rain, for the 7th time this season. #18-Kyle Busch, who leads the points, will start 1st, followed by #99-Edwards, #48-Johnson, #88-Earnhardt Jr., #07-Bowyer, #11-Hamlin, #31-Burton, #20-Stewart, #16-Biffle and #24-Gordon. #34-Raines and #46-Long will miss the race. #96-Logano will start 40th, making his Sprint Cup debut. See the starting lineup on my NHMS Starting Lineup/Qualifying page.(9-12-2008)
  
  
• Coverage of Qualifying for the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is scheduled for Friday, Septmber 12, 2008 at 3:15pm/et.
  TV: ESPN2 - 3:00pm/et
  Radio: PRN Radio and Sirius Satellite NASCAR Radio
  Jayski.com: Jayski's FREE Semi-Live Qualifying Page
  Qualifying Re-Air: none scheduled
  
  
• Qualifying Order for the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is posted. Go-or-go homers will qualify at the end of the session, once the top-35 drivers are done. The first of the top-35 drivers scheduled to go out is #07-Bowyer, the final top-35 driver scheduled is #22-Blaney. The first go-or-go homer to go out [36th] is #7-Gordon, the final driver scheduled to qualify is #77-Hornish Jr.. See the full qualifying order on my New Hampshire Qualifying Page.(9-12-2008)
  
  
• Friday Practice for the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is over, the fastest:
  #07-Bowyer 130.273
  #48-Johnson 130.153
  #18-Busch 130.104
  #26-McMurray 129.980
  #12-Newman 129.918
  slowest: #46-Long 124.361 and #34-Raines 126.312
  incidents: #83-Vickers car snapped out of line and smacked the inside wall, he will go to a backup car; before he got a lap in the books, #45-McCumbee wrecked and will go to a backup
  New Hampshire Practice Speeds page.(9-12-2008)
  
  
• Where did the non top-35 drivers practice at New Hampshire Motor Speedway:
  if things stay the same, these drivers would make the race:
  #10-Patrick Carpentier, 24th
  #78-Joe Nemechek, 29th
  #70-Johnny Sauter, 31st
  #77-Sam Hornish Jr., 34th
  #7-Robby Gordon, 35th
  #21-Bill Elliott [past champ 1988], 36th
  #96-Joey Logano, 38th
  #45-Chad McCumbee, 41st
  if things stay the same, these drivers would miss the race:
  #34-Tony Raines, 44th
  #46-Carl Long, 45th/last
  New Hampshire Practice Speeds page.(9-12-2008)
  
  
• Entry List for the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is posted, 45 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including:
  Not in top 35 of 2008 owners points (2008 race attempts/owners pts standings in parens):
  #7-Robby Gordon (26/36)
  #10-Patrick Carpentier (26/38)
  #21-Bill Elliott (26/43) [champ prov 2]
  #34-Tony Raines (22/45)
  #45-Chad McCumbee (26/40)
  #46-Carl Long (0/none)
  #70-Johnny Sauter (26/43)
  #77-Sam Hornish Jr. (26/37)
  #78-Joe Nemechek (26/41)
  #96-Joey Logano (26/39)
  withdrawn:
  #02-Joey Logano (1/55)
  In the event qualifying is cancelled:
  the eight who would make it [8]: #'s 21,7,77,10,96,45,78,70
  missing the race would be [2]: #'s 34,46
  See the full entry list at my Jayski's New Hampshire Entry List.(9-8/10-2008)
  
  
• Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at New Hampshire:
  #00-McDowell moves into the top 35 and RGordon is out
  The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.
  31) #22-Blaney/Bill Davis Racing: 2029 +81
  32) #55-Waltrip/Waltrip Racing: 2009 +61
  33) #66-Riggs/Haas CNC Racing: 2004, +56
  34) #84-Allmendinger/Red Bull Racing: 1969 +21
  35) #00-McDowell/Waltrip Racing: 1959 11 points ahead of 36th
  these teams/ drivers must qualify by speed but are close to the top-35:
  36) #7-Gordon/RGM: 1948, 11 points out of 35th
  37) #77-Hornish/Penske Racing: 1942 -17
  38) #10-Carpentier/GEM: 1767 -192
  For the owner points standings, see my Drivers/Owners Points Standings page.(9-7-2008)
  
  
• What happens if qualifying gets rained out?
  After the 5th race of the season, the current season OWNERS points are used:
  #1) - First 35 by current Owner Points [position 1-35][top 35 teams do NOT need to attempt ALL the races]
  #2) - Last Years Cup Champ or the Event Champion if not already in the field
  #3) - Car Owners whose team has won in the previous and current season not already in the field
  #4) - Drivers who have won in the previous and current season not already in the field
  #5) - ALL Past Sprint Cup Champions not in by 1 thru 4 [is NOT charged against the 6 past champ provisionals]
  #6) - Qualifying Attempts [not starts] with Owners points as the tie breaker
  #7) - Qualifying Order Position
  (all above apply as long as the team was entered by the entry deadline - usually 7-13 days before the race)
  
  
• Go or Go Home Drivers to Qualify Together: NASCAR announced in January that starting with the Cup race at California, teams outside the top 35 in owners points will be allowed to qualify together at the end of the qualifying session. The Nationwide and Truck Series used this procedure at Daytona. Sprint Cup didn't use the new procedure at Daytona due to the unique/somewhat complicated qualifying session/races there. The thought is that nobody would have an advantage in track conditions.(2-19-2008)
  
  
• Qualifying Rules/Notes/News page
  
  
• Jayski's - 2008 Sprint Cup Race Results Page
  
  
• 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).
  
  
• Determining Race Line-Ups - Top 35 Guarantee: At the start of the 2005 season, NASCAR instituted a new procedure for establishing the starting race field in the Sprint Cup Series [NNCS]. NASCAR revamped the system by simplifying the procedure with teams no longer accruing provisionals throughout the season to gain entry into the starting fields. While starting positions one through 42 in the NNCS still will be determined by qualifying speed, the new system will assure the highest-ranked 35 positions of the NNCS OWNER [not Driver] championship points that have entered the event prior to the entry deadline [usually 13 days before the day of the race] one of those starting positions in the field, providing they have made an attempt to qualify [which usually means the team at least practiced and made an effort to qualify].
  The remaining seven positions [36-42] will be assigned to those drivers with the fastest qualifying speeds whose car owners are not among the top 35. The final starting position [43rd] – the champion’s provisional – can be utilized by a car owner whose driver is a current or past Sprint Cup champion who participated as a driver during the current of previous season and was entered in the event for that owner in that car prior to the entry deadline.
  If there is more than one series champion vying for the position, it will be given to the most recent series champion. If the final provisional starting position – 43rd in the Sprint Cup – is not filled by a current or past series champion, it will be assigned to the next eligible car owner according to qualifying results.
  Through the first five races of the season for the Sprint Cup, the top 35 in the NNCS of the previous owner championship points entered in the event prior to the entry deadline will be assured one of the 42 starting positions in the field, provided they have made an attempt to qualify. From the sixth race on, the current owner championship points will be used to determine the top 35 each race week. In the event that conditions prevent qualifying from being run, starting positions will be assigned according to the respective series’ current Rule Book.(NASCAR PR)
  Simple: so the field is set by speed to where the 7th fastest non-top 35 driver is on speed. The any drivers in the top 35 of OWNERS [not drivers points] are placed to the 42nd spot. The 43rd spot is used for the most recent past Cup champion NOT already in the field from being in the top-35 in owners points or one of the seven no top-35. If their is not past champ for the 43rd spot, it goes to the next fastest [8th fastest driver]
  
  
• Past Champions Limited To 6 Provisional Berths in Cup: NASCAR announced an update to the past champion’s provisional rule in the Sprint Cup Series for 2007. Beginning this season, a past champion’s provisional may be used by an eligible driver a maximum of six times over the course of the season. In addition, a team with a past champion eligible driver may only use this provisional a maximum of six times during a season. Previously, there was no limit on usage of the past champion’s provisional over the course of the 36-race season. The provisional gives the eligible driver the 43rd and final starting position in the race field. "As NASCAR seeks to place more emphasis on competition, we have decided the time is right to limit the number of provisionals allowed,” said NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton. “We believe this revision brings the provisional policy in line with the continued growth of the sport.”(NASCAR PR)
  This is only for a team/driver OUTSIDE the top-35 in owners points, drivers whose team is in the top-35 in owners points, would already be guaranteed in the field and not need the Past Champions Provisional.(1-31-2007)
  See my 2008 Past Champions Provisional Page for more.(2-8-2008)
  
  

• Race Speed Record: Jeff Burton, 117.134, 7/13/1997
  
  
• Sept 2007 Race Winner: #07-Clint Bowyer, 110.475, started 1st
  
  
• July 2008 Race Winner: #2-Kurt Busch, 106.719mph, started 26th
  (rained shortened to 284 of 301 laps)
  
  
• Track Qualifying Record: Ryan Newman, 133.357mph, 9/12/2003
  
  
• 2007 Sept Pole Sitter: #07-Clint Bowyer, 130.412mph, finished 1st
  
  
  
• 2008 July Pole Sitter: #10-Patrick Carpentier, 129.776mph, finished 31st
  
  
• Slowest Race Record: Ricky Rudd, 87.619, 7/1994
  
  
• Worst Starting Spot to Win: Jeff Burton, started 38th [provisional], 7/1999
  
  
• Most Wins: 4 - Jeff Burton
  
  
• Most Poles: 4 - Ryan Newman
  
  
• Most Top 5s: 12 - Jeff Gordon
  
  
• Most Top 10s: 14 - Dale Jarrett
  
  
• Oldest Winner: Dale Jarrett, 44 years, 7 months, 26 days, 7/22/2001
  
  
• Youngest Winner: Kyle Busch, 21 years, 2 months, 14 days, 7/16/2005
  
  
• Most Lead Changes: 23 - twice, most recently 7/21/2002
  
  
• Fewest Lead Changes: 1 - 9/17/2000
  
  
• Most Leaders: 15, 7/14/1996
  
  
• Fewest Leaders: 1 - 9/17/2000
  
  
• Most Cautions: 17, 7/10/1994
  
  
• Fewest Cautions: 2 - 7/13/1997
  
  
• Most Caution Laps: 78, 7/10/1994
  
  
• Fewest Caution Laps: 10 - 7/13/1997
  
  
• Most Finishers on a lead lap: 30, 7/21/2002
  
  
• Fewest Finishers on a lead lap: 7 - 7/11/1993
  
  
• Most Running at the Finish: 43, 9/16/2007
  
  
• Fewest Running at the Finish: 30 - twice, most recently 9/17/2000
  
  
• Most Laps Led by a Race Winner: 300 [of 300], Jeff Burton, 9/17/2000
  
  
• Fewest Laps Led by a Race Winner: 2, Jeff Burton, 7/11/1999
  
  
• Most Wins by Manufacturer: 12 - Chevy
  
  
• Races won from starting pos 1: 4 [of 27 races] 14.8%
  
• Races won from starting pos 2: 1
  
• Races won from starting pos 3: 1
  
• Races won from starting pos 4: 1
  
• Races won from starting pos 5: 1
  
• Races won from starting pos 6: 3
  
• Races won from starting pos 7: 1
  
• Races won from starting pos 8: 1
  
• Races won from starting pos 9: 1
  
• Races won from starting pos 11: 2
  
• Races won from starting pos 13: 3
  
• Races won from starting pos 15: 1
  
• Races won from starting pos 21: 1
  
• Races won from starting pos 26: 1
  
• Races won from starting pos 31: 2
  
• Races won from starting pos 32: 1
  
• Races won from starting pos 33: 1
  
• Races won from starting pos 38: 1
  
• Races won from the top 5: 8 of 27 - 29.6%
  
• Races won from the top 10: 14 of 27 - 51.9%
  
  
• At New Hampshire Motor Speedway:
  • Groundbreaking for New Hampshire International Speedway, as New Hampshire Motor Speedway was originally named, was Aug. 13, 1989. It was the first superspeedway to be constructed in the United States since 1969.
  • The official opening was June 5, 1990 with the first race being a NASCAR Nationwide Series race on July 15, 1990.
  • The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was held on July 11, 1993.
  • The first NASCAR Craftsman Truck series race was on Sept. 9, 1996.
  • The track was renamed New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2008.
  • There have been 27 Sprint Cup races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway; one a year from 1993 through 1996 and two per year since.
  • Four drivers have competed in all 27 races: Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte and Joe Nemechek.
  • Mark Martin won the first NASCAR Sprint Cup pole.
  • Rusty Wallace won the first Sprint Cup race.
  • There have been 15 different pole winners, led by Ryan Newman (four). Qualifying has been canceled three times.
  • 17 different drivers have posted victories, led by Jeff Burton (four).
  • Jimmie Johnson (2003) and Kurt Busch (2004) are the only drivers that have posted season sweeps. Those are also the only back-to-back winners.
  • Roush Fenway Racing and Hendrick Motorsports have each won six races, more than any other organization.
  • Chevrolet has won 12 races – including five of the past seven.
  • 14 of 27 races have been won from the top-10 starting positions, including four from the pole.
  • The deepest in the field that a New Hampshire race winner started was 38th by Jeff Burton in 1999.
  • All NASCAR Sprint Cup races at New Hampshire have been scheduled for 300 laps.
  • There has been one postponed/rescheduled race at New Hampshire. The 2001 fall race was run as the season finale in November, after being rescheduled following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
  • There have been eight different pole winners in the past nine New Hampshire races (qualifying was canceled once in the nine-race period).
  • There have been seven different race winners in the past seven New Hampshire races.
  • There have been three shortened races at New Hampshire: July 2002 (273 laps), September 2002 (207) and June 2008 (284).
  • Jeff Burton led all 300 laps raced in the 2000 fall race.
  • Clint Bowyer led 222 laps and scored a perfect Driver Rating of 150.0 in last year’s fall New Hampshire race.
  • In the Chase era, the eventual champion has an average finish of 12.0 in the first race of the Chase, which has always been held at New Hampshire. Kurt Busch won in 2004, Tony Stewart finished second in 2005 and Jimmie Johnson finished 39th and sixth in 2006 and 2007, respectively.
  • There have been 27 Sprint Cup races in New Hampshire, all at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
  • 13 drivers in NASCAR’s three national series (all-time) have their home state recorded as New Hampshire.
  • There has been one race winner from New Hampshire in NASCAR’s three national series: Jamie Aube. Aube, from Manchester, won a NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Oxford Plains Speedway in 1987.(NASCAR Statistics)(9-8-2008)
  
  

  PREVIOUS NHMS RACE/POLE WINNERS

  JULY RACE WINNERS
  1993: #2-Rusty Wallace, Pontiac, 105.947mph; started 33rd
  1994: #10-Ricky Rudd, Ford, 87.599; started 3rd
  1995: #24-Jeff Gordon, Chevy, 107.029; started 21st
  1996: #28-Ernie Irvan, Ford, 98.930; started 6th
  1997: #99-Jeff Burton, Ford, 117.134; started 15th
  1998: #99-Jeff Burton, Ford, 102.996; started 5th
  1999: #99-Jeff Burton, Ford, 101.876; started 38th
  2000: #20-Tony Stewart, Pontiac, 103.145; started 6th
  2001: #88-Dale Jarrett, Ford, 102.131; started 9th
  2002: #22-Ward Burton, Dodge, 92.342; started 31st
  2003: #48-Jimmie Johnson, Chevy, 96.924, started 6th
  2004: #97-Kurt Busch, Ford, 97.862, started 32nd
  2005: #20-Tony Stewart, Chevy, 102.608, started 13th
  2006: #5-Kyle Busch, Chevy, 101.384, started 4th
  2007: #11-Denny Hamlin, Chevy, 108.215, started 11th
  2008: #2-Kurt Busch, Dodge, 106.719, started 26th
  
  
  JULY POLE WINNERS
  1993: #6-Mark Martin, Ford, 126.871
  1994: #28-Ernie Irvan, Ford, 127.197
  1995: #6-Mark Martin, Ford, 128.815
  1996: #41-Ricky Craven, Chevy, 129.379
  1997: #33-Ken Schader, Chevy, 129.423
  1998: #25-Ricky Craven, Chevy, 128.394
  1999: #24-Jeff Gordon, Chevy, 131.171
  2000: #2-Rusty Wallace, Ford, 132.089
  2001: #24-Jeff Gordon, Chevy, 131.770
  2002: #9-Bill Elliott, Dodge, 131.469
  2003: #17-Matt Kenseth,Ford, by points; finished 3rd
  2004: #12-Ryan Newman, Dodge, 132.360, finished 3rd, Event record
  2005: #25-Brian Vickers, Chevy,130.327, finished 11th
  2006: #12-Ryan Newman, Dodge, 129.683, finished 39th
  2007: #22-Dave Blaney, Toyota, 129.437, finished 29th
  2008: #10-Patrick Carpentier, Dodge 129.776, finished 31st
  
  SEPTEMBER RACE WINNERS
  1997: #24-Jeff Gordon, Chevy, 100.364; started 13th
  1998: #24-Jeff Gordon, Chevy, 112.078; started 1st
  1999: #42-Joe Nemechek, Chevy, 100.673; started 11th
  2000: #99-Jeff Burton, Ford, 102.003; started 2nd - lead ALL 300 laps
    (restrictor plate used to slow cars down)
  2001: #31-Robby Gordon, Chevy, 103.594, started 31st (run in Nov due to 9-11 attacks)
  2002: #12-Ryan Newman. Ford, 105.081, started 1st
  2003: #48-Jimmie Johnson, Chevy, 106.580, started 8th
  2004: #97-Kurt Busch, Ford, 109.753, started 7th
  2005: #12-Ryan Newman, Dodge, 95.891, started 13th
  2006: #29-Kevin Harvick, Chevy, 102.195, started 1st
  2007: #07-Clint Bowyer, Chevy, 110.475, started 1st
  
  SEPTEMBER POLE WINNERS
  1997: #33-Ken Schrader, Chevy, 129.182; finished 37th
  1998: #24-Jeff Gordon, Chevy, 129.033; finished 1st
  1999: #2-Rusty Wallace, Ford, 129.820; finished 6th
  2000: #18-Bobby Labonte, Pontiac, 127.632; finished 2nd
  2001: #24-Jeff Gordon, Chevy, set by points [field set in Sept for Nov race]; finished 15th
  2002: #12-Ryan Newman, Ford, 132.241; finished 1st
  2003: #12-Ryan Newman, Dodge, 133.357, Track Record, finished 9th
  2004: none, rained out
  2005: #20-Tony Stewart, Chevy, 131.143, finished 2nd
  2006: #29-Kevin Harvick, Chevy, 132.262, finished 1st
  2007: #07-Clint Bowyer, Chevy, 130.412, finished 1st
  
  

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PAINT SCHEME NEWS

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Car#/Driver	Sponsor/Scheme/Promo	Image Link
#7-Robby Gordon	Jim Beam Operation Homefront	#7 Team Schemes Page
#10-Patrick Carpentier	Berlin City	#10 Team Schemes Page
#11-Denny Hamlin	FedEx Express	#11 Team Schemes Page
#12-Ryan Newman	Kodak	#12 Team Schemes Page
#15-Paul Menard	Menards/Sylvania	#15 Team Schemes Page
#16-Greg Biffle	DISH Network Turbo HD	#16 Team Schemes Page
#17-Matt Kenseth	Carhartt	#17 Team Schemes Page
#19-Elliott Sadler	Stanley Tools	#19 Team Schemes Page
#21-Bill Elliott	Motorcraft	#21 Team Schemes Page
#26-Jamie McMurray	Crown Royal	#26 Team Schemes Page
#28-Travis Kvapil	Valvoline	none...yet
#38-David Gilliland	Ford Drive one Ford	#38 Team Schemes Page
#42-Juan Pablo Montoya	Juicy Fruit Slim Pack	#42 Team Schemes Page
#45-Chad McCumbee	Marathon American Spirit Motor Oil	#45 Team Schemes Page
#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.	AMP Energy Drink	#88 Team Schemes Page
#96-Joey Logano	Home Depot	none...yet




• Robby back in the Operation Homefront scheme: Robby Gordon's #7-Jim Beam Dodge will once again carry the red, white, and blue Operation Homefront paint scheme this weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Earlier this year, Jim Beam formed an association with the organization when they recognized that Operation Homefront had the same commitment and values as the Jim Beam brand - true character, integrity and doing the right thing. Operation Homefront is a nonprofit organization that provides emergency assistance and morale to our troops, to the families they leave behind during deployments and wounded warriors when they return home. Operation Homefront has 30 chapters serving 37 states and came to the rescue of 33,000 military families last year. They have approximately 4,500 volunteers nationwide.(RGM PR), see images of the scheme on my #7 Team Schemes page.(9-12-2008)
  
  
• Sylania featured on the #15: Paul Menard will race in the Sylvania sponsored race in the Sylvania sponsored #15 Menards Chevy for the second consecutive year at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Menard himself uses SYLVANIA SilverStar(R) Ultra headlights off the track.(Co-Pilott PR), see an image of the scheme on my #15 Team Schemes page.(9-11-2008)
  
  
• Valvoline to sponsor Kvapil at New Hampshire: Yates Racing announced that Valvoline, the leading innovator and supplier of quality, high-performing automotive products, will sponsor the #28 entry and driver Travis Kvapil for the Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 14th. Valvoline is a technical partner of Yates Racing as well as the primary sponsor on the #28 Ford for Sunday’s race. “We’ve been in the Yates Fords and now we’ll be on the #28 Fusion in a big way,” said Rob Stravitz, vice president for global brands for Valvoline. “We have a history of working with Roush Yates Engines to achieve maximum horsepower and endurance, but this is the first time Valvoline has taken a primary position on a Yates Racing Ford,” said Stravitz. There will be no shortage of cars Sunday running with Valvoline. In addition to the two Yates Racing Ford Fusions of Kvapil and #38-David Gilliland, Valvoline will be in a total of ten other entries [all five Roush cars, all three GEM cars, #21-Elliott and #7-Gordon] for Sunday’s race that also depend on Valvoline.(Yates Racing PR)(9-10-2008) Comment here
  
  
• Berlin City returns to sponsor the #10 at NHMS: Berlin City Auto Group – serving consumer automotive needs in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont – will sponsor Patrick Carpentier’s #10 Gillett Evernham Motorsports Dodge at the Sept. 14 Sprint Cup race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Carpentier drove the Berlin City Dodge to the pole position at the Loudon, N.H. track in June becoming only the second Canadian to win a Sprint Cup pole. The Berlin City Auto Group, with dealerships throughout New England, specializes in the sales, service and parts for eighteen automotive manufacturers and pre-owned vehicles. The Berlin City Auto Group ensures their excellence in customer service with their Over the Top Care by Down to Earth People.(GEM PR)(9-4-2008)
  
  
• Kodak back with Newman in 2008: been told Kodak will be the primary sponsor for #12-Ryan Newman for six races:
  Pocono - June 8;
  Chicago - July 12, The Mummy scheme;
  Watkins Glen - Aug 10;
  California - Aug 31;
  New Hampshire - Sept 14;
  Atlanta - Oct 26
  See an image of the car on the #12 Team Schemes page.(1-16-2008)
  
  
• More Paint Scheme news can be found on Paint Schemes Gallery
  
  

• Track Specs:
  Superspeedway: 1.058 mile oval
  Race length: 317.4 miles for Sprint Cup
  Laps Run: 300
  Turns: Banking: 12 degrees; Straights: 2 degrees
  Length of Straights: Frontstretch - 1500ft; Backstretch - 1500ft
  Grandstand Seating: 95,491
  Opened: 1990 (first Sprint Cup event 1993)
  
  Race Festivities/Officials:
  Grand Marshal: Sylvania CEO Rick Leaman
  Command to start engines: Sylvania CEO Rick Leaman
  Honorary Starter/Wave Green Flag: ?
  Invocation: Bishop Michael Cote, Norwich CT Diocese
  National Anthem: Diamond Rio
  Canadian Anthem: Denise Doucette
  Military Flyover: F-15's Otis Air Force Base in Massachusetts
  for the season race officials by track, see my Race Officials page
  
  
• Track Homepage: nhms.com
  
  
• ESPN's NASCAR Track Guide: New Hampshire Motor Speedway
  
  
• Last Year: see my September 2007 New Hampshire Race Info page
  
  
• Last June: see the June 2008 New Hampshire Race Info page
  
  

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• Lights planned for NHMS, no reconfig: Speedway Motorsports Inc. plans to add lights at New Hampshire Motor Speedway as soon as possible, which would reduce the number of Chase tracks without them to three. SMI chairman Bruton Smith said before Sunday's Chase opener that the only obstacle is getting out of an agreement former owner Bob Bahre made with a group of neighbors that there never would be night racing at the 1.058-mile track. "We will overcome that,'' Smith said. "I feel confident about that. As soon as we do that we will erect lights here.'' Smith believes it should be mandatory for all Chase tracks to have lights to give the best opportunity to get races in on the scheduled date. Had there been lights at New Hampshire on Sunday, officials wouldn't have been under such a tight deadline to get the race started before mid-afternoon. New Hampshire, Dover, Talladega and Martinsville are the only Chase tracks without lights. "I want to make sure we never lose a race,'' Smith said. "Like today, if we had to start at 6 o'clock or 7 or 8 o'clock we could do so. That's the whole thing in a nutshell. And it's good for the fans. We've got to be constantly better for these fans.'' Smith said plans to shorten New Hampshire from just over a mile to a ¾-mile track have been scrapped. "The track is very raceable,'' he said. "A couple of engineers looked [into it]. We look at a lot of things. I don't see that happening.''(ESPN)(9-14-2008)
  
  
• McCain to visit NHMS on Sunday UPDATE: Republican presidential candidate and Arizona Sen. John McCain is scheduled tomake a brief appearance at Sunday's event. McCain and his wife Cindy, (there is no information yet as to if she will accompany her husband to Loudon Sunday) are no strangers to racing — McCain was the grand marshal of the 2006 Sylvania 300 and Cindy McCain is a trained racecar driver. "We've done a lot of events like this," said speedway media spokesman Fred Neergaard. "We prepared twice for President Bush — once when he was the governor of Texas and once when he was president." State Police Lt. George Brown said no information is available about when McCain will visit, but helicopters flying overhead and an enhanced police presence are already present at the track.(The Citizen), The trip will reportedly include McCain taking a lap around the NASCAR race oval before the Sprint Cup playoff series is to begin in New Hampshire. It was not known whether running mate and AK Gov. Sarah Palin would be with McCain.(Nashua Telegraph)(9-11-2008)
  UPDATE: John McCain thanked NASCAR for its support of the military as he spoke during the prerace drivers meeting Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. McCain was a couple of minutes late, and the drivers and crew chiefs remained in their seats waiting for him after their prerace instructions had ended. When he arrived with NASCAR President Mike Helton, the drivers and crew chiefs gave him a standing ovation. McCain was joined by Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling, a major supporter of the candidate. “I just want to say thank you [for the ovation], but most of all I want to thank you for your support for the men and women in the military,” McCain said. “It’s remarkable. It’s uplifting to these young people. When I am in Iraq and Afghanistan, they’re watching you. You are their role models. You are their heroes. And they are ours. So I just want to say that NASCAR and the heroes and the competitors and the teams are supporting the men and women who are serving in the most exemplary fashion – I thank you, God bless you and God bless America.” Security was extra tight for the drivers meeting with everyone attending being checked with a metal-detecting wand. McCain then toured the garage area. The NASCAR hauler was equipped with several cameras pointed in various directions in the garage.(SceneDaily)(9-14-2008)
  
  
• Broadway Midway Debuts During the Sylvania 300 Weekend: For the first time at any major NASCAR race, the "Broadway Midway" will bring the atmosphere of an old-fashioned state fair to the biggest sporting event weekend in New England, the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway from this Thursday through Sunday. Several all-time favorite amusement rides will be part of the speedway exhibitor and display area located just outside turns one and two. The featured ride at any fair, the Ferris Wheel, will be the main attraction. Riders will be offered a breath-taking view of the speedway infield. Other rides will include the "Traffic Jam," the "Twister," and the "Round Up/Cyclone" The Broadway Midway will be open Thursday, September 11 through Saturday, September 13 from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and on Sunday, September 14 from 9:00am to 2:00pm. Wristbands can be purchased for $5 each day and will allow guests the opportunity to enjoy unlimited rides for that day. All proceeds from the sale of Broadway Midway wristbands will benefit the local New Hampshire chapter of the Speedway Children's Charities.(NHMS PR)(9-10-2008)
  
  
• The Only Showers at NHMS will be in the Campground! With a continued focus on improving fan amenities, New Hampshire Motor Speedway officials have quadrupled the number of portable shower facilities located throughout the speedway camping areas for the Sylvania 300 this weekend. As part of their "Fans First" guest enhancement program, the shower facilities will be offered to speedway campers at no charge instead of the $10 per shower that had been charged in the past. The shower facilities will be open Thursday, September 11 through Sunday, September 14 from 6:00am to 10:00pm daily.(NHMS PR)(9-10-2008)
  
  
• New Hampshire to keep two dates: It's now official. New Hampshire Motor Speedway will have two Sprint Cup events in 2009. NHMS officials said ticket renewals for the June 2009 event are in the mail and renewals for the September 2009 weekend will go out soon. Speculation has swirled around the one-mile oval since Speedway Motorsports Inc., led by Bruton Smith, purchased the track in November 2007 for $340 million. Many NASCAR followers thought Smith might move one of the New Hampshire Cup dates to the SMI facility in Las Vegas. The speculation increased with Smith's pending purchase of Kentucky Speedway, with some people believing Smith might move a New Hampshire race to Kentucky. Neither scenario is happening. The race on Sunday was the 27th consecutive sellout of a Cup event at NHMS, which has 91,000 grandstand seats. The track sold the final 3,000 tickets during the past four days. "We sold standing-room only tickets here today," Smith said. "If we add a race at Las Vegas, we will get it another way. I love the people here. They remind me a lot of the fans at Bristol [Motor Speedway] for their enthusiasm and their love of racing. It's like a religion here. I should have paid [former owner] Bob [Bahre] more, but don't tell him that." Smith said he still is studying ways to improve the speedway. He wants to add lights and a larger area for campers, but he said he has no plans to add a drag strip.(ESPN)(6-30-2008)
  
  
• Past track news: posted in the past at Jayski's Past Track News/Rumors - New Hampshire Motor Speedway
  
  

Tire:
Goodyear Eagle Intermediate Radials (Sprint Cup);
Goodyear Wrangler Intermediate Radials (Craftsman Truck)

Number of Tires:
Sprint Cup: Left-side -- 1,250, Right-side -- 1,250;
Craftsman Truck: Left-side -- 325, Right-side -- 325

Tire Codes: Left-side -- D-4174; Right-side -- D-4176

Tire Circumference: Left-side -- 87.4 in.; Right-side -- 88.7 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 -- 13 psi;
Right Front -- 30 psi; Right Rear -- 27 psi

Estimated Pit Window: Every 74-78 laps, based on fuel mileage (Sprint Cup)

Notes: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Craftsman Truck Series will run the same tire codes at New Hampshire this weekend, though the Cup tires will be branded "Goodyear Eagle," while the Truck tires will be branded "Goodyear Wrangler" . . . this is the same combination of left- and right-side tires that Goodyear brought for teams in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series to run at New Hampshire earlier this season . . . also, teams in these two series ran this exact tire set-up last weekend -- Sprint Cup at Richmond and Craftsman Truck at Gateway . . . in addition to above-mentioned tracks, teams in NASCAR's top-three series have run this specific tire set-up at Phoenix, Indianapolis Raceway Park, Memphis and Milwaukee this season . . . as on most NASCAR mile-tracks, teams will not run inner liners in their tires at New Hampshire.

Testing update: Goodyear will test Daytona International Speedway with the No. 6 (David Ragan) and No. 15 (Paul Menard) NASCAR Sprint Cup teams next Tuesday and Wednesday (Sept. 16-17) . . . Goodyear's other scheduled tests looking ahead to the 2009 season include Indianapolis (Sept. 22-23 and Oct. 6-8) and Las Vegas (Dec. 10-11) . . . other upcoming tests to confirm 2008 race recommendations include Atlanta (Sept. 16) and Homestead (Oct. 14)

• Logano's Cup debut up in the air UPDATE 3 NO #02, to the #96 NHMS: a Joe Gibbs Racing spokesman said team officials were discussing options for when Joey Logano's Cup debut would occur and in what vehicle. Hall of Fame Racing, a JGR ally, had previously announced Logano would run that team's #96 Toyota next weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.(NASCAR.com)(9-6-2008)
  UPDATE: J.D. Gibbs said Sunday that Joey Logano will race next week in the Sprint Cup race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. As-yet undecided is whether the 18-year-old phenom will be driving the #02 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota he was scheduled to drive this weekend at Richmond International Raceway, or whether he’ll stick with the #96 Hall of Fame Racing ride he’s supposed to be in. If he does drive for HoF, the #96 will carry Home Depot sponsorship, Gibbs said, although he acknowledged he has not talked to Hall of Fame officials about what the final plan will be. “We’ve still got to work out some more details,” Gibbs said Sunday morning at Richmond International Raceway. “Right now, we want the first race to be in the Home Depot car and we’ve got a few options to figure out, but next week, he will be in the car racing.”(SPEEDtv)(9-8-2008)
  UPDATE 2: Forty-five cars are currently entered for the Sprint Cup Sylvania 300 this weekend, but Joey Logano will be entered in an additional entry since Joe Gibbs Racing has decided to field a fourth car at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Logano originally was supposed to drive the #96 Hall of Fame Racing car at New Hampshire. The 18-year-old driver, who takes over JGR's #20 Cup car next year being vacated by Tony Stewart, was supposed to make his Cup debut last week at Richmond but did not qualify when rain washed out time trials. JGR wanted Logano to make his debut in a Home Depot car and therefore plans to enter the #02 for the New Hampshire race, according to a team spokesman. Ken Schrader will drive the #96 car for Hall of Fame. Other entries for this weekend's race include Chad McCumbee in the #45 Petty Enterprises Dodge in place of Kyle Petty. It is not uncommon for Petty to skip a race at New Hampshire, the site of where his son, Adam, was killed in a crash during Nationwide Series practice in 2000.(SceneDaily)(9-9-2008)
  UPDATE 3: Despite reports putting Joey Logano in the #02 car for Joe Gibbs Racing this weekend, a source with direct knowledge of the situation tells Rowdy that Joey will in fact pilot the #96 car as originally planned this weekend in the Sylvania 300. Home Depot, Logano's 2009 sponsor, will be the primary sponsor on the car replacing the #96's usual primary, DLP, which will assume an associate role for the race.(Rowdy.com)
  AND Hall of Fame Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing officials announced Wednesday that Joey Logano will attempt to qualify the #96 Home Depot/DLP HDTV Toyota for this weekend’s Sylvania 300 Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Ken Schrader, who was listed on the entry list in the #96 Toyota, is scheduled to return to the car for next weekend’s Sprint Cup race at Dover International Speedway. Joe Gibbs Racing has withdrawn the #02 Toyota which had been entered at New Hampshire for Logano. The #96 Toyota will have a Home Depot/DLP HDTV paint scheme similar to the #02 Home Depot Toyota that Joe Gibbs Racing fielded for Logano last week at Richmond. Logano did not race at Richmond as qualifying was cancelled due to rain and the #02 did not have enough owner points to make the 43-car starting field.(HOF Racing PR)(9-10-2008), see the New Hampshire Entry List. Comment here
  
  
• Long to attempt to make New Hampshire race: Carl Long will run the Sylvania 300 Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway this weekend. Long will take the #46 Dodge to the track for the first time since the Sprint All-Star Showdown in May. EM Motorsports' #08 crew will help Long out during this weekends event at New Hampshire.(Carl-Long.com), Romeo Guest Associates are listed as the sponsor on the New Hampshire Entry List.(9-8-2008) Comment here
  
  
• See the 2008 Team Chart, which has links to past news for each team and info on each team and the 2009 Team Chart.