As I look outside today while it appears to be raining for what I believe to be the 125th consecutive day here in Connecticut, it reminds me of what I was doing about one year ago.
For the first, and so far only, time since I've been at ESPN, I attended a NASCAR race, heading to Loudon with a media pass, which allowed me a behind-the-scenes look at a race for the first time.
I had gotten to attend only one Cup Series race previously, Dale Jarrett's win under the lights at Daytona in July 1999. The race ended under caution, luckily for Jarrett, who was running low on fuel and was being challenged by Dale Earnhardt.
Being at a race in person is a completely different experience from watching on TV, and I later watched that same race on TV to be informed of the storylines. I've often heard how non-NASCAR fans were won over after experiencing a race in person. The pageantry and buzz of the prerace, how impressive the cars and pit stops look in person at full speed and just the sights and smells of the race give you an experience you don't get, regardless of how nice the picture is on your TV and how much your sound surrounds you at home.
But, as was to be expected in New England in early summer, it rained, nicely soothing the slight sunburn I got earlier in the race. As I heard thunder rumble in the background, I was able to start heading to Victory Lane to get a close-up view of the aftermath of Kurt Busch's surprise win, including when he was presented with a gigantic lobster. Looked delicious ... well, it would've had it been cooked.
So, to recap a story that replaces my usual pre-statistics nonsense (for one week only, I promise!), my advice is to find time to take in a race if you've never been before. Make a weekend of it. Attendance and ticket prices are down, so now would be the time to see one. If not on the Sprint Cup Series level, just go to support your local short track.
Perfect 10
Only ten races remain before the Chase for the Sprint Cup. This stretch, like the Chase itself, starts at New Hampshire, so it could be a good way to see who might open the Chase hot and give themselves a lead to start things off.
So, who will be forces to be reckoned with in that stretch? Not surprisingly, it may be the two drivers who have already all but locked up their spots in the Chase: Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon.
Dating back to 2005, these two drivers pace nearly every loop data category that NASCAR puts together on the 10 tracks that make up the "Race to the Chase."
Stewart leads all drivers in driver rating and average running position on those tracks. And he ranks second in average finish, percentage of laps in the top 15 and points per race.
Who does he rank second to in all those categories? Just the four-time champ, Jeff Gordon. Gordon also has led 12.2 percent of laps on those tracks in that time, tops among all drivers.
Coming for revenge
It sounds like a preview for either a really bad -- or a really good -- horror movie.
"Smoke is descending upon New Hampshire Motor Speedway, looking to avenge the wrongs of one year ago. And that Smoke has a hint of Old Spice."
When rain started falling last year at New Hampshire, I snuck a peak at a weather radar on one of the team's pit boxes, and was shocked when drivers started coming down pit road. There were about 20 laps left and nobody could make it on fuel, but there was no way they were going back to green.
Sure enough, Kurt Busch led a group of cars that stayed out, and he was rewarded with his only win of the season. Although it would've been fun to see second-place Michael Waltrip or third-place J.J. Yeley win.
Tony Stewart, however, had the best car in the field, but left Loudon with a 13th-place finish to show for it. His statistics speak for themselves.
Tony Stewart in last year's first race at New Hampshire
Statistic -- Number -- Rank
Laps led -- 132 -- 1st
Driver rating -- 123.2 -- 1st
Fastest laps run -- 34 -- 1st
Green-flag speed -- 122.825 -- 1st
Can't argue with those numbers. But can he bring the momentum back with a new team? Ooh, there's my tag line for the sequel!
Who could make a run?
Want me to pick a sleeper who could make a run in the 10-race stretch to the Chase, perhaps even making things interesting for the 12th-place driver?
Let me give you some hints and try to guess who I'm going for.
This driver is tied with Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards for the best on-track pass differential this season at plus-180, and drives for one of NASCAR's power teams.
He ranks in the top 13 in overall green-flag speed, as well as speed early and late in the run. He also ranks eighth in speed in traffic.
Let's give you some obvious hints now. He's 19th in points, and 248 out of the final Chase spot.
Would you guess Jamie McMurray? He might be too far out, but if he has luck on his side, his season isn't quite over yet. Don't forget that he won the July race at Daytona two years ago.
Hope everybody enjoys the race. It's actually supposed to be nice in New England this weekend!
Matt Willis
