Truex Jr. Wins Chase Opener at Chicagoland Speedway
Story By: REID SPENCER / NASCAR WIRE SERVICE
Photos By: GETTY IMAGES / RACERSGUIDE.COM PHOTO STAFF
Loudon NH.- September 22, 2016- Martin Truex Jr. won his third race of the season in last Sunday’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400 at Chicagoland Speedway – the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup opener. He now has an automatic berth in the Round of 12, which starts following the upcoming Bad Boy Off Road 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (Sunday at 2 p.m. ET on NBCSN) and Citizen Soldier 400 at Dover International Speedway (Sunday, Oct. 2 at 2 p.m. ET on NBCSN).
“Without a doubt it’s the best team I’ve ever had, it’s the best position I’ve ever been in,” Truex said after the race. “I really feel like we have what it takes to win this championship.”
Last season, the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing driver made the Championship 4 in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, placing fourth in the final standings.
Although Truex cannot earn bonus points for the Round of 12 with wins in the next two races, he can keep some of his fiercest competition from the automatic transfer berths. For example, Kevin Harvick would not advance if the Chase ended today. He’s a point behind the cutoff, but if he struggles at New Hampshire, a Dover win by Truex could block the 2014 Sprint Cup champion from moving on.
The winner of the opening Chase race has gone on to win the championship three times: Kurt Busch (2004), Tony Stewart (2011), Brad Keselowski (2012).
Chase For The NASCAR Sprint Cup Update
With the first race of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup down and nine more to go before a champion is crowned, here’s how the Chase Grid currently shakes out: Martin Truex Jr. (advanced to next round with win at Chicagoland), Brad Keselowski (22 points ahead of Austin Dillon on the cutoff line), Kyle Busch (+19), Denny Hamlin (+18), Joey Logano (+16), Chase Elliott (+12), Matt Kenseth (+11), Jimmie Johnson (+10), Carl Edwards (+5), Kurt Busch (+4), Jamie McMurray (+3), Tony Stewart (+1), Austin Dillon (-1), Kevin Harvick (-1), Kyle Larson (-2) and Chris Buescher (-11).
Chase drivers who have previously won at New Hampshire: Kurt Busch (3 wins), Matt Kenseth (3), Jimmie Johnson (3), Tony Stewart (3), Kyle Busch (2), Denny Hamlin (2), Joey Logano (2), Kevin Harvick (1) and Brad Keselowski (1).
Chase drivers who have previously won at Dover: Jimmie Johnson (10), Matt Kenseth (3), Tony Stewart (2), Kyle Busch (2), Kurt Busch (1), Carl Edwards (1), Brad Keselowski (1), Martin Truex Jr. (1).
Kenseth Goes For Third Straight New Hampshire Win
Matt Kenseth has to like his position in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Not only is he seventh on the Chase Grid, 11 points ahead of Austin Dillon on the cutoff line, he’s also the two-time defending winner at New Hampshire and the defending victor at Dover.
For his career, Kenseth claims three wins, nine top-five and 18 top-10 finishes in 33 starts at New Hampshire. He’s figured out The Magic Mile in his last six starts there, recording finishes of first (2016, summer), first (2015, fall), sixth (2015, summer), 21st (2014, fall), fourth (2014, summer) and first (2013, fall).
Team Penske Opens Chase With Strong Showing
Team Penske jumped out of the gate quickly for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Joey Logano placed second in the playoff opener at Chicagoland Speedway, while Brad Keselowski took home fifth. Non-Chaser Ryan Blaney, of Penske-affiliated Wood Brothers Racing, tied his career-best showing with a fourth-place finish – a result he’s produced three times.
Among active drivers at New Hampshire, Keselowski ranks third in average finish (10.7), fourth in average running position (11.3) and fifth in driver rating (99.8). In 14 starts in The Granite State, he’s posted one win, five top fives and eight top 10s.
In 16 New Hampshire starts, Logano claims two wins, six top fives and eight top 10s. He has finished no worse than fourth in his past four starts at the one-mile track.
Blaney has made two starts at New Hampshire, finishing 11th (2016, summer) and 23rd (2015, summer).
Over The Rookie Blues? Chase Elliott Takes Third At Chicagoland
Chase Elliott and Chris Buescher became only the second and third Sunoco Rookies to make the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The first was Denny Hamlin in 2006.
While Buescher struggled at Chicagoland, producing a 28th-place finish, Elliott showed up strong. The 20-year-old Hendrick Motorsports driver finished third in the Windy City, leading 75 laps and logging a race-high 129.1 driver rating.
Elliott slowed for a while after his hot start to the season. From his runner-up showing at Michigan in June through the season finale at Richmond, he produced only two top-10 finishes.
He might be over his slump now. In his last four starts, Elliott has registered finishes of second (Michigan-2), 10th (Darlington), 19th (Richmond-2) and third (Chicagoland).
Stewart Can Tie New Hampshire Wins Record
Tony Stewart continues his drive for a fourth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship in his final season at one of his better tracks – New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Stewart has three wins at The Magic Mile, tied with Kurt Busch, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Ryan Newman for the series lead among active drivers. A visit to Victory Lane on Sunday would tie him with Jeff Burton for the track record. The No. 14 Chevrolet driver finished runner-up in the July New Hampshire race. He ranks fourth in average finish (11.0) and third in driver rating (103.0) among active competitors at New Hampshire.
Stewart currently holds the final transfer spot to the Chase’s Round of 12 following his 16th-place finish at Chicagoland Speedway.
Hamlin A Favorite In The Granite State
Denny Hamlin heads to New Hampshire Motor Speedway riding a career-best streak of nine top-10 finishes. Chances are his run will continue there.
In 21 starts at the one-mile track, Hamlin boasts two wins, eight top fives and 13 top 10s. Among active drivers at New Hampshire, he boasts the series-best average finish (10.2), ranks second in driver rating (103.3) and sits third in average running position (11.1).
