Drivers to Watch for at the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 from Loudon

Magic is sure to happen again at NHMS today. Kyle Busch or Ryan Newman could sweep this weekend; Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson could break their tie; Jeff Burton could win his fifth and Dale Earnhardt Jr. could finally win his first of firsts.

This weekend has been an amazing three days of racing with all series that raced at Loudon’s New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Today’s Lenox 301 could be filled with as much excitement as New England’s 200, the Modified series yesterday and as exciting as the K&N Pro Series was on Friday night.

Kyle Busch won his 100th race yesterday and tied with Mark Martin with 49 races in the Nationwide series yesterday but today, his focus is his Sprint Cup team. On top of the points standings, there are 18 more races after NHMS and anything is possible for Busch. With his probation and rivalry behind him, he looks forward to racing until the end of season. Yesterday’s win could benefit him today.


Ryan Newman is known as the "Rocket Man" for being able to win poles. This weekend, he won two, one for the Modified series and the one for the Sprint Cup, Newman is looking for his first win this season as well as a good points race to stay in the top ten for Chase. He broke records Friday with a 28.165 second lap at 135.232 mph in U.S Army Chevrolet and his practice runs were just as solid. He does have a total of 8 poles in NH, 5 in Cup and 3 in Modified Series and has two Cup wins at NHMS.

David Reutimann will start in row two today in 3rd position. The 00 is team is looking for it’s first victory this season with their Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota Camry with Michael Waltrip racing. When asked if he was surprised with his qualifying lap, he said, "It didn't feel that good at all, but thankfully the Aaron's Dream Machine has been pretty good since we unloaded." He continued to tell media that qualifying is important "every where we go. It's so hard to pass anymore." He doesn't believe that his qualifying lap didn't feel good, but, "in the end it was good enough for third" he said during his media availability.

Jeff Burton's season hasn’t been excellent thus far. He’s 25th in points and hasn’t won in 2011 but he does have four wins here in NH, the most of any current Sprint Cup driver on the track today and he still holds the record to having led all 300 laps at NHMS during the 2000 Dura Lube 300. Today, he starts in row 3, 6th position.

Jeff Gordon is starting in seventh position and Jimmie Johnson is starting in 28th position but they tie in having three wins at NHMS. Johnson has won here last June. Gordon hasn’t won Loudon since 1998, though he did finish second in 2009.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has done well in the past here but he is looking for his first win at NHMS and considering this would break his current losing streak, it would be a sweet victory for the entire 88 National Guard team. Earnhardt Jr. has said to be successful at NHMS is to be leading.

All drivers, in every series has said it’s hard to make a pass at the Magic Mile and Goodyear has given these guys new tires especially made for this track; with that said, tires are not known to wear as they do at other places so drivers will aim for track positioning, especially knowing how hard it is pass.
Drivers to Watch for at the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 from Loudon Drivers to Watch for at the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 from Loudon Reviewed by Unknown on Sunday, July 17, 2011 Rating: 5