Archive for Auto Club Speedway in Fontana

Aug
31

Can Ryan Newman Make The Chase?

Posted by: Driver | Comments (0)

By: Keith Bloemendaal

The race tonight is in California, and the green flag drops at around 8pm est. As I watch the Raceday show, it occurs to me that there is a really good race going on for 35th in owner points.

While most of us are aware of the Chase, and who is fighting for the top 12 spots to get in. And with only two races left, one after tonight, a few drivers are still fighting for the Chase. Ryan Newman, in the #12 Alltel car, is in 15th (179 points out of 12th) and really needs to race well and hope that someone like Clint Bowyer, in the #07 Jack Daniels car, or Denny Hamlin, in the #11 FedEx car has some real problems and finish out of the top 30 for Newman to have a chance.

David Ragan and Kasey Kahne have a better chance of making the chase, currently in 13th and 14th positions. Kahne is 56 points out of 12th, and David Ragan is only 12 points out. Kenseth, Hamlin, and Bowyer are running 10th thru 12th, but are on the bubble and have to race well to stay in the Chase.

Dale Earnhardt Jr, Jimmie Johnson, and Jeff Burton should lock their spots in the Chase tonight. While Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards guaranteed their spots last week.

With owner points, the 35th spot is very important to guys for next year as it guarantees they race the first ten races of the year, regardless of the qualifying times. Sam Hornish Jr is in 35th (owner points), but the #96 car owned by Hall of Fame Racing will have new phenom 18yr old Joey Logano driving 5 races towards the end of the season. Can he finish well enough to gain 3 spots (and about 300 points) to get them in the top 35? I don't know, but it will be interesting to watch this kid race. He takes over the #20 Home Depot car for 2009, and I think he is going to be a driver we should keep our eyes on!

12 ALLTEL Justice League Ryan Newman 2004 1 24
12 ALLTEL Justice League Ryan Newman 2004 1 24
Paypal   US $15.99
RYAN NEWMAN 2010 39 TORNADOS 124 NASCAR DIECAST IN
RYAN NEWMAN 2010 39 TORNADOS 124 NASCAR DIECAST IN
Paypal   US $51.39
2010 RYAN NEWMAN 39 STEWART HAAS US ARMY 124 NASCAR
2010 RYAN NEWMAN 39 STEWART HAAS US ARMY 124 NASCAR
Paypal   US $51.39
2010 Ryan Newman Tornadoes Diecast
2010 Ryan Newman Tornadoes Diecast
Paypal   US $35.00
Ryan Newman Autographed 2007 Hauler Hat Car Tag
Ryan Newman Autographed 2007 Hauler Hat Car Tag
Paypal   US $24.99
RYAN NEWMAN AUTOGRAPH 1 24 SCALE DIECAST
RYAN NEWMAN AUTOGRAPH 1 24 SCALE DIECAST
Paypal   US $34.99
RYAN NEWMAN signed NASCAR 2010 Army Photo Post Card
RYAN NEWMAN signed NASCAR 2010 Army Photo Post Card
Paypal   US $17.99
BUSCH HORNISH Jr NEWMAN signed NASCAR 2008 Mobil 1
BUSCH HORNISH Jr NEWMAN signed NASCAR 2008 Mobil 1
Paypal   US $19.99
Ryan Newman 2010 1 24 Army Color Chrome 1 of 24 made
Ryan Newman 2010 1 24 Army Color Chrome 1 of 24 made
Paypal   US $139.39
RYAN NEWMAN 2010 39 HAAS AUTOMATION 1 OF 1011
RYAN NEWMAN 2010 39 HAAS AUTOMATION 1 OF 1011
Paypal   US $48.95
Autographed Ryan Newman US Army Strong Jersey New
Autographed Ryan Newman US Army Strong Jersey New
Paypal   US $64.99
Ryan Newman Hat
Ryan Newman Hat
Paypal   US $24.95
RYAN NEWMAN 2010 HAAS AUTOMATION 124 NASCAR IN NOW
RYAN NEWMAN 2010 HAAS AUTOMATION 124 NASCAR IN NOW
Paypal   US $55.39
2 DOVER Nascar Tickets S F Line Monster Mile Club
2 DOVER Nascar Tickets S F Line Monster Mile Club
Paypal   US $350.00
RYAN NEWMAN 2010 39 TORNADOS 1 OF 1312
RYAN NEWMAN 2010 39 TORNADOS 1 OF 1312
Paypal   US $39.98
1 24 NASCAR 12 °Ryan Newman° MOBIL ONE PENSKE DODGE
1 24 NASCAR 12 °Ryan Newman° MOBIL ONE PENSKE DODGE
Paypal   US $40.88
NASCAR Sprint Cup 2009 Driver Portraits 43 4x6 photos
NASCAR Sprint Cup 2009 Driver Portraits 43 4x6 photos
Paypal   US $35.00
Ryan Newman autographed Sony HDTV diecast
Ryan Newman autographed Sony HDTV diecast
Paypal   US $59.00
CARL EDWARDS AUTO FULL SIZE SIMPSON RACING HELMET LK
CARL EDWARDS AUTO FULL SIZE SIMPSON RACING HELMET LK
Paypal   US $399.99
RYAN NEWMAN 12 CROWN ROYAL 2004 IROC XTREME 1 24
RYAN NEWMAN 12 CROWN ROYAL 2004 IROC XTREME 1 24
Paypal   US $45.00
RYAN NEWMAN 2 AMERICAN COMMERCIAL LINES AUTOGRAPHED
RYAN NEWMAN 2 AMERICAN COMMERCIAL LINES AUTOGRAPHED
Paypal   US $125.00
View Page:   1  2  3  4

As we move closer to the Chase, each event (only 2 left) becomes do or die for some drivers and teams. This week we Under the Lights at Auto Club Speedway are at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA. Here are some details about the event:

  • Event: Pepsi 500
  • Date / Time: Sunday, Aug. 31 at 8 p.m. EDT
  • Track: Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif.
  • Configuration: 2-mile D-shaped oval (250 laps = 500 miles)
  • Banking in Corners: 14 degrees
  • Banking on Frontstretch: 11 degrees
  • Banking on Backstretch: 3 degrees
  • Frontstretch: 3,100 feet
  • Backstretch: 2,500 feet
  • Grandstand Seating Capacity: 92,100

Tickets are still available for this event and can be purchased from the track website. I checked the availability and there are good seats still available for a reasonable amount.

Hendrick Motorsports teammates Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Jimmie Johnson are expected to qualify for the "Chase" when they leave California, as both drivers only need to finish 40th or better. Earnhardt, Jr. is third in points, and Johnson is fourth.

Broadcast Schedule:

Date Time Series Event Channel
8/29/08 3pm Sprint Practice Speed
8/29/08 5pm Nationwide Practice Speed
8/29/08 6:30pm Sprint Qualifying Speed
8/29/08 8:30pm Nationwide Final Practice Speed
8/30/08 5:30pm Nationwide Qualifying Speed
8/30/08 7pm Sprint Practice Speed
8/30/08 8pm Sprint Final Practice Speed
8/30/08 9:45pm Nationwide Race ESPN2
8/31/08 7pm Sprint Race ESPN

Be sure to check back for qualifying times and race results.

Keith Bloemendaal

2010 Sprint Car Teams

Jamie McMurray, 1 Bass Pro Shop, Chevy, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, Busch, Kurt, 2 Miller Lite Dodge, Penske Racing Martin Mark, 5 GoDaddy.com/ Kellogg's/ CARQUEST Chevy, Rick Hendrick, Ragan David, 6 UPS Ford, Roush Fenway Racing, Gordon Robby, 7   Toyota, Robby Gordon Racing, Kahne Kasey, 9 Budweiser Ford, Richard Petty Motorsports, Hamlin Denny, 11 FedEx Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing, Keselowski Brad, 12 Verizon, Dodge, Penske Racing, Stewart Tony, 14 Office Depot / Old Spice / Burger King, Chevy, Stewart Haas Racing, Biffle Gregg, 16, 3M Ford, Roush Fenway Racing, Kenseth Matt, 17, Crown Royal / Ford, , Busch Kyle, 18 M&M's/Snickers/Pedigree Dog Food,/Interstate, Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing, Sadler Elliott, 19, Stanley Tools, Ford, Richard Petty Motorsports, Logano Joey, 20, Home Depot / Old Spice / Burger King, Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing, Elliott Bill, 21, Motorcraft Ford, Wood Brothers, Gordon Jeff, 24, Du Pont Chevy, Harvick Kevin, 29, Shell, Reeses, Hershey Foods, Chevy, Richard Childress, Burton Jeff, 31, Caterpillar, Chevy, Richard Childress, Bowyer Clint, 33, General Mills, Cherrios, BB&T,   Newman Ryan, 39, U. S. Army, Haas Automation, Tornados, Chevy, Stewart Haas Racing, Montoya Juan Pablo, 42, Target / Big Red / Juicy Fruit Chevy, Earnhardt, Ganassi Racing, Allmendinger AJ, 43, Best Buys Ford, Richard Petty Motorsports, Ambrose Marco, 47, Little Debbie's, Clorox, Kingsford, Toyota, JTG Daugherty Racing, Johnson Jimmie, 48, Lowe's Chevy, Truex Jr, Martin, 56, NAPA, Toyota, Michael Waltrip, Labonte Bobby, 71, Chevy, TRG Motorsports, Hornish Sam, 77, Mobil 1, Dodge, Penski Racing South, Smith Regan, 78, Furniture Row, Chevy, Furniture Row Racing, Speed Scott, 82, Red Bull Energy Drink, Toyota, Dietrich Mateschitz Red Bull Racing, Vickers Brian, 83, Red Bull Energy Drink, Toyota, Eaarnhardt Jr Dale, 88, Mountain Dew, Amp, National Guard, Chevy, Darnell Erik, 96, ask.com, Ford, Hall of Fame Facing, Menard Paul, 98, Menard's Ford, Yates Racing, Edwards Carl, 99, Aflac, Ford, Reutimann David, 00, Aaron's, Toyota, Michael Waltrip Racing,