Tyler Head's Sports Blog
by: tylerhead24
Power Rankings: Loudon
Jun 25, 2008 | 6:20PM | report this


After the challenging road course in Sonoma the Sprint Cup Series heads northeast to the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. This may be a one-miler but this speedway is known for bumping and ####ing, along with exciting finishes. With an extra lap added onto this race, that's and extra lap of excitement.

1. Kyle Busch

After briefly giving up the top spot the Shrub returns to the top of the rankings off his dominating win at Sonoma. Kyle has shown that he can and will win anywhere, and he'll be a favorite again this weekend at Loudon, where he won in 2005.

2. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Earnhardt was happy to leave Infineon with a decent finish of 12th, considering his previous performances there. Earnhardt can look forward to the Magic Mile, however, where he's earned seven top-10's, including a 4th here last year.

3. Carl Edwards

Carl had a car capable of earning the win at Infineon, but when he fell back in the pack due to pit strategy the deficit was just too much to overcome, though Edwards came back for a 9th place finish. Carl hasn't enjoyed much success at Loudon though, where he only has one finish better than 12th in seven career starts.

4. Matt Kenseth

Kenseth earned his best career finish at Infineon, surviving all the madness happening around him to finish 8th. Matt should improve on that at Loudon, where he has ten top-10's in the last 11 races.

5. Greg Biffle

The Biff led briefly at Infineon, but made a mistake on the restart and went spinning, sending him to the back of the pack. He stuck with it all day and came back to finish 11th. He's been hit or miss at Loudon, earning three straight top-5's but then following that with three straight finishes outside the top-10 in the past six races.

6. Jeff Burton

Burton had another average day at Infineon, riding along in mid pack before finishing 13th. He should improve on that at Loudon, where he's earned four top-10's in the past five races.

7. Brian Vickers

Vickers finished a solid 14th at Infineon, tying his career best finish there, to keep himself in contention to make the Chase. WIth 12 races left before the Chase starts, Vickers sits 104 points out of the top-12. Vickers earned a top-5 here in 2006, but only made one of the races last year, finishing last.

8. Jeff Gordon

Gordon earned a much needed 3rd place finish after struggling throughout the day, vaulting him back up to sixth in the points standings. Last year Gordon was just off in both races, finishing 2nd to Denny Hamlin and Clint Bowyer.

9. Jimmie Johnson

Johnson led early, but after he fell back in the pack he failed to make any progress, and stayed there at the finish, coming across the line 15th. Johnson should be a contender at Loudon, however, where he swept the races in 2003 and has four top-10's in the past five races.

10. Tony Stewart

Stewart tip-toed his way through the pack after starting 39th, making his way to 2nd with just a few laps to go. However he was caught up in an incident that started behind him and fell to 19th with just a couple laps left. Stewart charged through the pack on a mission though, making up nine of the lost spots before the checkered flag. He should have a good day at Loudon, where he's won twice and has 11 top-10's.


Other Notables:

11. Kasey Kahne- After three finishes of 2nd or better in four races it looked as though Kahne was going to again contend at Infineon when he earned the pole. However Kahne fell to the back from the start and stayed there, finishing 33rd. Kahne needs to right the ship this weekend.

12. Clint Bowyer- Bowyer earned a much needed 4th place finish last week, and he should add on to that at Loudon, where he earned his first career victory last year.

13. Denny Hamlin- Hamlin was involved in a late race crash at Infineon and finished 27th, but he should rebound at Loudon, where he is the defending winner of this race.

14. David Gilliland- Gilliland earned his best career finish at Infineon, finishing 2nd behind Kyle Busch. Gilliland has been improving all year, and should earn a solid finish at Loudon.

15. Kevin Harvick- After sparking a late race wreck that involved four cars, Harvick finished 30th, his sixth consecutive finish outside the top-10. Worst of all he fell outside the top-12 in points. Harvick needs to get something going this weekend at Loudon, where he won in 2006.
14 Comments | Add a comment   categories: NASCAR, Nascar Power Rankings, Loudon, New Hampshire, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Magic Mile, Kyle Busch, tylerhead24
 
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Hanahan
Jun 25, 2008
6:55 PM
Tyler...nice work as usual. JPM told me to tell you that he finished 6th at Sonoma, main.

This week I'm taking up the cause of Martin Truex Jr. All he did at this track last year was finish 3rd and 5th. I will bet he finishes ahead of at least 5 of your 15.

Ryan Newman also had two top tens at Loudon last year.

volfan69
Jun 25, 2008
7:57 PM
It will either be Kenseth or Burton this weekend. Just wait and see! Great job, Tyler. Thanks.

photogr
Jun 25, 2008
9:02 PM
I am looking for Mikey Waltrip to finish in the top 25. That would be an accomplishment for him.
Good picks for this weeks race.

noahspop2001
Jun 25, 2008
10:36 PM
Tyler..Kyle is going to have a bad day. I like him but someone is laying him out. I saw the #88 team puting bullseyes on the #18 bumper. So with that Jeff Gordon is getting all his ducks in a row and going to win by a lap over the rest of the field. Oh and Kyle gets Jr. back. Comes out the pits laps down and breaks something sliding into the #88.
Just my vision on the race...

tylerhead24
Jun 26, 2008
6:38 AM
Hanahan- I was considering putting Newman in the mentioned list because he also had a good run last week. Truex may do good, but so far hasn't done much to impress me this year.

volfan69- You say something like that every week, lol.

photogr- You know who Mikey is reminding me of? Kyle Petty! That's not good.

noahspop2001- That's a good story, what did you get ahold of Nascar's script? lol.

I'm personally going with Terry Labonte. Yeah, it will happen.

moseby
Jun 26, 2008
7:51 AM
Good pick, tyler. The Iceman cometh!

klvalus
Jun 26, 2008
8:40 AM
I gotta agree with Hanahan, Truex belongs on this list as at least a notable! I am going to go with Edwards for the win, he's due.

Qdabopy
Jun 26, 2008
9:13 AM
For some reason, I think Kurt is gonna do well this weekend. He sure needs to catch a break...

Gerrel
Jun 26, 2008
10:07 AM
I am going to pick from your Other Notables List. I think that both Hamlin and Bowyer will be in the top 10 this week. At least I hope so....their part of my fantasy driver picks for the week, lol.

pioneerof50
Jun 26, 2008
10:15 AM
Tyler I am going with Dale Jr and Tony, as both have a good record here. As this is a 1 mile track, of course, qualifying then picking the all important pit spot, will make a lot of difference! I can see a lot of fender bending going on this weekend, adds ####e to racing!

Noahspop Oh dear not Dale! No he would never never bump dear Shrubster!! Alas are they not the best of friends after last Fall race at Kansas?

papawjoe65
Jun 26, 2008
10:17 AM
you guys are nuts,"wild thing"will do the burn outs,the best there ever was,the best there ever will be.

volfan69
Jun 26, 2008
12:24 PM
Tyler, I'll never give up!LOL

bubbahughes
Jun 26, 2008
2:33 PM
tylerhead24 enjoyed your posting !

Forensic2
Jun 26, 2008
2:54 PM
Nice worked Tyler ! I like who is in second place.lol. I will post your comment before mine on Gerrel's blog. Cheers

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ABOUT ME


tylerhead24
Hello, I'm Tyler Head. I live in Utica, NY and currently attend Ilion Jr. Sr. High School. I'm a senior this year (woot! haha), and I'm persuing a career in Computer Hardware design, or Journalism...
I guess I'm undecided, lol. I enjoy a lot of sports, with my favorite being NASCAR. My favorite driver is Jeff Gordon, I even made a fansite. As much as I enjoy NASCAR, I also like Baseball, Football, and College Basketball. Views since April 1st: web hosting
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