The Chase to the Sprint Cup Championship starts at Chicagoland Speedway in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400. The race gets underway Sunday, September 18th at 2:30 p.m. ET on the NBC Sports Network. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin took the checkered flag in last years affair.
Kyle Busch:
Kyle Busch,the reigning Sprint Cup champion, starts the Chase in first place in the point standings. Although, the feisty competitor has failed to record a top five result in his last six events. Nobody seems to turn it on when it counts like Busch. Chicagoland might be just the place for that to happen.
“Rowdy” raced his way to victory here in 2008. Last year, Busch led a race high 121 laps and finished out the day in ninth. Two of the defending champion’s victories in 2016 have been on 1.5 mile tracks.
Kevin Harvick:
Kevin Harvick sat atop the Sprint Cup standings until the last few weeks of the regular season. Nevertheless, he enters the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle 400 with tons of momentum. Harvick finished in the top five in his last four races including a victory at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Kevin Harvick hasn’t won at Chicagoland Speedway in over a decade but he is a solid pick at any intermediate venue. The savvy veteran has finished in the top 10 in all seven events at the 1.5 mile tracks in 2016.
Martin Truex Jr.:
Martin Truex Jr. easily could be entering this race with two straight wins under is belt. He encountered a bit of a problem at Richmond last week that cost him the contest. That being said, he should have a great opportunity to make that back at Chicagoland.
The Furniture Row Racing driver has been golden on the intermediate tracks in 2016. In fact, he is currently tied with Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch with two wins at these type of lay-outs. Truex Jr. has collected three other top 10’s to go with his two triumphs. The next three races in the Chase are these type of tracks, so Truex Jr. should fair well in the first round of competition.
Kyle Larson:
Kyle Larson might be the hottest racer going into the the Chase. The 2014 Rookie of the Year has backed up his first career victory in Michigan with two more top three results at Darlington Speedway and Richmond.
The Chip Gnassi speedster has yet to capture the checkered flag at any 1.5 mile track. Although, Larson has done well at Chicagoland Speedway. The up and comer finished third here in his very first attempt on the bumpy oval. Larson also ended his day in seventh the last time he raced in Illinois. He is definitely considered the dark-horse in the 2016’s version of the Chase.
Denny Hamlin:
Denny Hamlin won the last time he buckled-up at Chicagoland Speedway. The trip to the Winner’s Circle was his fourth top 10 in as many starts in Chicago. The Joe Gibbs Racing phenom’s only top ten result on an intermediate track was fourth at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Brad Keselowski:
Brad Keselowski has no problem competing at Chicagoland Speedway. He has finished eighth or better in his last five starts here. Furthermore, the Roger Penske racer has claimed victory here twice in 2012 and 2014. Keselowski also has two wins on 1.5 mile tracks this season.
Joey Logano:
Brad Keselowski’s teammate Joey Logano, has finished inside the top 10 in his last two races at Chicagoland Speedway. The impressive driver led 32 laps from the pole position in 2013, but an engine failure sent him behind the wall for the remained of the race. Unfortunately, Logano has wrecked in two of the last three races on the 1.5 mile ovals.
Kurt Busch:
Kurt Busch seems to bring his A game to Chicagoland Speedway. The salty veteran has recorded top ten finishes in his last three contests here. The Stewart/Haas driver leads all other competitors with a finishing average of 5.8 in the last six races on intermediate tracks. Busch will debut a brand new hot-rod for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle 400 on Sunday.
Carl Edwards:
Carl Edwards performed admirably at this venue last year. The Joe Gibbs Racing stand-out came in second last season. In the last ten races at Chicagoland Speedway, Edwards has amassed three top ten results. In 2016, he has an average finish of 10.8 on the 1.5 mile raceways. He will drive the #19 Arris Toyota that was out front for 121 circuits at Texas Motor Speedway.
Matt Kenseth:
Matt Kenseth has finished in the top 10 in his last three tries at Chicagoland Speedway. The experienced driver also won with Joe Gibbs Racing here in 2013. He is always a trendy pick to do well on the intermediate tracks. As a result, Kenseth has four top 10’s in his last 12 contests at Chicagoland.
Jimmie Johnson:
Jimmie Johnson has yet to reel in a victory in 14 tries at the Illinois’ speedway. He did manage a top ten performance in 2013 when he finished fifth after leading 40 laps in the match. This year, Johnson has registered a 10.0 average and one victory in six races at the 1.5 mile venues.
Tony Stewart:
Tony Stewart has more wins at Chicagoland Speedway (3) than any active driver in the Chase. The controversial driver last won here in 2011 on his way to his second Sprint Cup title.
The Stewart/Haas driver has only competed in three of the six races at 1.5 mile tracks and finished fifth in his last attempt at Kentucky Speedway. This weekend, Stewart will also sport a new car for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400.
The Chase Drivers Starting Spots for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle 400:
1. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota
2. (2) Brad Keselowski, Ford
3. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota
4. (4) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet
5. (19) Carl Edwards Toyota
6. (78) Martin Truex Jr. Toyota
7. (20) Matt Kenseth, Toyota
8. (48) Jimmie Johnson
9. (22) Joey Logano, Ford
10. (42) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet
11. (14) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet
12. (41) Kurt Busch
13. (34) Chris Buescher
14. (24) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet
15. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet
16. (1) Jamie McMurray
Odds to Win the Chase to the 2016 Sprint Cup Championship:
Kevin Harvick 5/1
Kyle Busch 13/2
Martin Truex Jr. 7/1
Brad Keselowski 8/1
Carl Edwards 8/1
Joey Logano 8/1
Matt Kenseth 8/1
Denny Hamlin 10/1
Jimmie Johnson 10/1
Kyle Larson 10/1
Chase Elliott 20/1
Kurt Busch 20/1
Tony Stewart 25/1
Austin Dillon 75/1
Jamie McMurray 100/1
