New England 300
New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Loudon, New Hampshire | Sunday, September 25, 2016
2PM EST | Live on NBCSN
Chase race #1 (Chicagoland) Recap:
Well, its been awhile. Finally going to get one of this done for once. Its been a hectic last few weeks and a lot has happened since I last typed one of these up so here we go!
Toyota, JGR looks to be getting hot at the right time. Winning at Richmond, Darlington, Watkins Glen and now yesterday at Chicagoland. Not only is Toyota getting hot, but so is Martin Truex Jr. as he has won 2 of the last 3 races.
Now this week we head to New Hampshire where, you guessed it Toyota has been dominate. Well, Matt Kenseth has by winning the last 2 races at NHMS.
Kyle Larson has found speed in the last weeks since his 1st career win at Michigan. He has recorded a 3rd, 2nd, and an 18th yesterday but was fast and had to pit late for a tire problem. He hasn't had much success at NHMS but he will be hard not to pick this week.
And rookie, Chase Elliot is so close to bringing home the checkers it must be frustrating for the yound 20 year old from Georgia. Elliot finished 3rd yesterday and was in contention for that first win till a late race caution forced all the leaders to pit and he wasn't beaten out of the pits by eventual race winner Martin Truex.
So, this week is Chase Race #2. Who joins MTJr. and punches his ticket to the round of 12. Is it a Toyota, or will Penske Racing punch one of their drivers in. Or does Chase Elliot move onto the round of 12 with his first ever win. We will see but now onto my picks for this weekends New England 300 from New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Group A-
Matt Kenseth
Since joining JGR back in 2013, Kenseth's finishes look like this. 1st, 1st, 6th, 21st, 4th, 1st, and 9th. He is a for sure a must start this weekend.
Denny Hamlin
Hamlin finished 9th here in the summer race and 2nd in this race a year ago. Has 2 career wins here (2012 and 2007), and its going to be tough not to pick the JGR cars in this years Chase.
WE2W4-
Brad Keselowski- BK is running consistent, and if he is up front he will more then likely stay there
Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick- Will try to bandage up there 1st Chase Race blunders with a win or good run at NHMS. These two will be on the next blog as starters (DOVER)
Group B-
Tony Stewart
Smoke finished 2nd in the summer race and with the help of a late race yellow he could've passed Kenseth for the win. 3 Career wins at NHMS and will be looking to also bandage up a 16th place finish last week.
Carl Edwards
Finished 5th here in this race a year ago, and was wrecked late in the summer race and suffered a 20th place finish. He was the worst finishing JG's Toyota's at Chicagoland and will be strong this weekend.
Jamie McMurray
Like his teammate Kyle Larson they too have found speed in the later part of this season. McMurray finished 11th yesterday, 7th at Richmond, and 15th at Darlington and got into the chase on points. He did that by being consistent and I feel he will get another good consistent finish this weekend
Greg Biffle
We off the trail I know but the BIFF has been awesome here the last 2 races, He finished 5th here in the summer race and 4th in this race a year ago. He is not in the Chase so he has nothing to lose, risk or reward if you start him.
WE2W4-
Kyle Larson-
Not because hes great here (because he isn't) but but based on speed the last couple weeks he may be up there at the end.
Group C-
Chase Elliot and Alex Bowman
Coincidentally these two were involved in wrecks late in the summer race. That was the first race Alex Bowman was on fill in duty for Dale Jr. He ran very well up until that late race spin, but you have to go with the 20 year old. He is so close to a win, and his team has been here before (last year with Jeff Gordon)
There we have it. I apologize for the delay of the last couple weeks. I'm hoping I can keep this going for the rest of the Chase. Its going to be exciting, lots of storylines and lots of racing left to this 2016 season is ahead.
