Need For Speed Race Preview: Loudon

(June 26, 2009) The Race to the Chase begins this Sunday at "The Magic Mile" in Loudon, New Hampshire. It's a 10 race countdown until the Chase for the Championship starts.

Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon sit 1-2 in the standings. They're tied with 8 top-5 finishes this season and 1 points race each. They'll both line up on the front row for Sunday's race as qualifying has been rained out.

They are definitely 2 to watch for @ The Magic Mile.

Tony Stewart has scored 2 wins, 10 top-5 and 12 top-10 finishes @ NHMS. He led a race-high 132 laps in the rain-shortened race last year. Currently, Stewart has an 84 point lead over Gordon in the standings.

"You know, I think we are in a situation now in the point standings where we kind of have that opportunity, because of the bonus system, to sit there and take a couple of extra chances," Stewart explained. "If we feel like we might be able to get a win and pick up those 10 bonus points going into the fall, it's definitely a situation that we're able to utilize at this point. I mean, because we are where we're at in the point standings, it really doesn't matter where you're at as long as you get locked into those 12. Those bonus points are going to be important, so if you have to go from 1st to 6th in the point standings - taking chances to gain those extra 10 bonus points, it's really not a penalty."

(Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Jeff Gordon has 3 wins, 12 top-5 and 15 top-10 finishes @ NHMS. He has led the most laps there - 1,141; more than any other driver.

“Our goal is to make it into the Chase,” Gordon said. “But you can't help but keep an eye on the bonus points. Right now, I know we're 20 points behind those with three wins, so I'd like to cut – or possibly eliminate – that gap before The Chase begins. The first race of the Chase is at New Hampshire, and that's a confidence boost when you return as the track's previous race winner.”

Kurt Busch is the defending race winner. He scored his 3rd win at the track after the race was called on lap 284 of 300 due to rain. Kurt's currently 4th in the standings - 280 points behind Stewart.

Jeff Burton leads all drivers with the most wins @ NHMS - 4. We can't forget he led all 300 laps in the September race in 2000. He's also posted 8 top-5s and 13 top-10s there.

In all, there have been 8 different race winners in the past 8 races @ NHMS.

TV coverage for the Lenox Industrial Tool 301 begins at 12:30 ET on Sunday (TNT, PRN)

The Nationwide Series will race on Saturday @ NHMS (ABC)

The Camping World Truck Series will race on Saturday @ Memphis (SPEED)


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