NASCAR is an excellent sport to handicap because each track provides unique differences that favor certain drivers. This week is a great example as the Nextel Cup series heads to Sonoma, California for the Dodge/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway. This is one of only two road courses on the circuit, with Watkins Glen in August being the only other NASCAR road race.
Track position is of utmost importance on a road course as 26% of all road races have been won by the pole sitter. Passing is even more difficult at Infineon where each of the past eight race winners have started in the top-7, with five of the past eight winners starting in the top-3 position.
Below is a look at the top contenders and pretenders for the Dodge/Save Mart 350 this Sunday on FOX (3:30 pm EST).
CONTENDERS
Jeff Gordon
He won 6 straight road races at Watkins Glen and Infineon between 1997-2000, including three straight Infineon wins in 1998, 1999, and 2000. Gordon also finished 2nd in 2001 and 2003 on this track and has now finished top-3 in seven of his past nine Infineon races. Jeff was also fastest in Practice #1 on Friday.
Robbie Gordon
No relation to Jeff, but Robbie has been just as strong on road courses, with top-10 finishes in six of ten road races, including winning both races last year and leading the most laps in both races at Infineon and Watkins Glen.
Ryan Newman
He won eight races last year and finally got his first victory of 2004 at Michigan last weekend. Newman has done surprisingly well on road courses, finishing top-10 in all four career starts, including 5th and 9th at Infineon Raceway the past two years.
Kevin Harvick
Has finished top-15 in all six career road races, including 3rd at Infineon and 5th at Watkins Glen last year.
Mark Martin
A very consistent road racer as Martin has top-10 finishes in 23 of his 26 road course races, including top-10’s in eleven of his thirteen Infineon races. Martin also won on this track in 1997 and has four road wins overall.
Ricky Rudd
Has fallen off the scene recently, but did win the Infineon race in 2002, and had several road wins in the 1980's and early 1990's. Overall, Rudd has finished top-5 in 12 of his past 26 road races, and top-5 in 7 of 13 Infineon races.
Tony Stewart
Won at Infineon in 2001 and has finished top-5 in three of his five career races on this track. Stewart was the 1997 Indy car champion and his various racing experiences have benefited his road course performances, with six top-10’s (2 wins) in ten races.
Bobby LaBonte
Has finished 1,037 of the his possible 1,038 career laps at Infineon, along with top-10 finishes in three of the past four races on this track. Overall, LaBonte has 11 top-10’s in 22 career road course races.
Rusty Wallace
A former winner (1996) that was second fastest in practice on Friday. Overall, Rusty has top-10 finishes in eight of his thirteen Infineon races and in 13 of 26 road races overall.
PRETENDERS
Matt Kenseth
The defending Cup Champion has struggled on road courses, but did notch his only top-10 road finish last year at Watkins Glen when he finished 8th. Overall, Kenseth has a career average finish of just 26th at Infineon Raceway.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
He has only one top-10 finish in eight road course races, which was at Watkins Glen last year when he finished 3rd. Overall, Earnhardt has no top-10’s at Infineon, with career finishes of just 11th, 30th, 19th, and 24th the past four years.
Jimmie Johnson
He is the hottest racer on the circuit the past two months, but Johnson has struggled on road courses, with just one top-10 in four races (4th at Watkins Glen last year). Overall, Johnson has finished just 17th and 35th in his two career races at Infineon.
Kasey Kahne
Kahne has finished 2nd in four races this season and is the likely “Rookie of the Year”, but he has never raced on this track as the Busch Series does not hold an event here and first-time drivers usually struggle on race day.
SPECIALISTS
One unique feature about road course races is the presence of “specialists” that do not race on a weekly basis. Below is a look at the three “specialists” is this Sunday’s lineup.
P.J. Jones
Has gained some seat time the past three weeks and is a road course specialist who has finished top-10 in just 2 of 7 road races. He was unable to qualify in last year’s Infineon race and finished just 25th in his only other appearance in 1993.
Boris Said
Set the track qualifying record last year and won the pole position. Overall, Said finished 6th in the race, which was his best career road course finish as he has zero top-5 finishes in seven road races, including DNF’s in four of those seven contests.
Scott Pruett
Finished 2nd at Watkins Glen last year and has two top-10’s in six road races, but has struggled at Infineon with finishes of just 34th, 12th, 39th, and DNF.
Track position is of utmost importance on a road course as 26% of all road races have been won by the pole sitter. Passing is even more difficult at Infineon where each of the past eight race winners have started in the top-7, with five of the past eight winners starting in the top-3 position.
Below is a look at the top contenders and pretenders for the Dodge/Save Mart 350 this Sunday on FOX (3:30 pm EST).
CONTENDERS
Jeff Gordon
He won 6 straight road races at Watkins Glen and Infineon between 1997-2000, including three straight Infineon wins in 1998, 1999, and 2000. Gordon also finished 2nd in 2001 and 2003 on this track and has now finished top-3 in seven of his past nine Infineon races. Jeff was also fastest in Practice #1 on Friday.
Robbie Gordon
No relation to Jeff, but Robbie has been just as strong on road courses, with top-10 finishes in six of ten road races, including winning both races last year and leading the most laps in both races at Infineon and Watkins Glen.
Ryan Newman
He won eight races last year and finally got his first victory of 2004 at Michigan last weekend. Newman has done surprisingly well on road courses, finishing top-10 in all four career starts, including 5th and 9th at Infineon Raceway the past two years.
Kevin Harvick
Has finished top-15 in all six career road races, including 3rd at Infineon and 5th at Watkins Glen last year.
Mark Martin
A very consistent road racer as Martin has top-10 finishes in 23 of his 26 road course races, including top-10’s in eleven of his thirteen Infineon races. Martin also won on this track in 1997 and has four road wins overall.
Ricky Rudd
Has fallen off the scene recently, but did win the Infineon race in 2002, and had several road wins in the 1980's and early 1990's. Overall, Rudd has finished top-5 in 12 of his past 26 road races, and top-5 in 7 of 13 Infineon races.
Tony Stewart
Won at Infineon in 2001 and has finished top-5 in three of his five career races on this track. Stewart was the 1997 Indy car champion and his various racing experiences have benefited his road course performances, with six top-10’s (2 wins) in ten races.
Bobby LaBonte
Has finished 1,037 of the his possible 1,038 career laps at Infineon, along with top-10 finishes in three of the past four races on this track. Overall, LaBonte has 11 top-10’s in 22 career road course races.
Rusty Wallace
A former winner (1996) that was second fastest in practice on Friday. Overall, Rusty has top-10 finishes in eight of his thirteen Infineon races and in 13 of 26 road races overall.
PRETENDERS
Matt Kenseth
The defending Cup Champion has struggled on road courses, but did notch his only top-10 road finish last year at Watkins Glen when he finished 8th. Overall, Kenseth has a career average finish of just 26th at Infineon Raceway.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
He has only one top-10 finish in eight road course races, which was at Watkins Glen last year when he finished 3rd. Overall, Earnhardt has no top-10’s at Infineon, with career finishes of just 11th, 30th, 19th, and 24th the past four years.
Jimmie Johnson
He is the hottest racer on the circuit the past two months, but Johnson has struggled on road courses, with just one top-10 in four races (4th at Watkins Glen last year). Overall, Johnson has finished just 17th and 35th in his two career races at Infineon.
Kasey Kahne
Kahne has finished 2nd in four races this season and is the likely “Rookie of the Year”, but he has never raced on this track as the Busch Series does not hold an event here and first-time drivers usually struggle on race day.
SPECIALISTS
One unique feature about road course races is the presence of “specialists” that do not race on a weekly basis. Below is a look at the three “specialists” is this Sunday’s lineup.
P.J. Jones
Has gained some seat time the past three weeks and is a road course specialist who has finished top-10 in just 2 of 7 road races. He was unable to qualify in last year’s Infineon race and finished just 25th in his only other appearance in 1993.
Boris Said
Set the track qualifying record last year and won the pole position. Overall, Said finished 6th in the race, which was his best career road course finish as he has zero top-5 finishes in seven road races, including DNF’s in four of those seven contests.
Scott Pruett
Finished 2nd at Watkins Glen last year and has two top-10’s in six road races, but has struggled at Infineon with finishes of just 34th, 12th, 39th, and DNF.
