Sunday, September 28, 2008

Chase Race 3- Kansas Speedway

There is something about coming to Kansas that makes me feel at home. It probably has to do with a few things that happened in my own racing career. The Kansas Speedway opened for racing back in 2001 and I was fortunate to be a part of their first ARCA ReMax Series event. Plus, I was even more fortunate to be with a team that helped put me in victory lane that day. It was a day I will never forget.

The win was special but there were a lot of things leading up to that day that made the win more than just your average win. It was my first full season in the ARCA ReMax Series and so I was picked by the series to come out to Kansas Speedway for "media day." Basically, the track and team send a few drivers to the tracks a few weeks ahead of race week so everyone can capitalize on some media opportunities. Normally, you go to the track for a press conference, local radio stations, and local television stations to put the word out about the race coming to town.

I didn't really know what to expect when I arrived in Kansas for those couple of days. Now that I look back on it I had a great time. I met some friends that I will have for life and I was able to be a part of helping the Kansas Speedway kick off its inaugural weekend of racing. The fans here supported it then and by the looks of being in Kansas this race weekend they are still supporting the track and their favorite drivers and teams.

Chase Race 3
The Kansas Speedway is a pretty typical 1.5 mile (often referred to as a "cookie cutter") track. Although, based on the Nationwide race and the final Sprint Cup practices the track has become wider as the years have gone by. There will be cars that can make the bottom work and there will be cars that will make the middle and top lanes work. I still think the cars that can make the bottom work will finish the best.

Look for Biffle to be strong again along with your usual cast of chase drivers. The 48 is on the pole and it never hurts to start up front in the clean air. Denny Hamlin won the Nationwide event so I think this will help his efforts today.

My top picks for the Kansas race
1. Kevin Harvick
2. Carl Edwards
3. Jimmy Johnson
4. Denny Hamlin
5. David Ragan

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