Hard Turn
A NASCAR BLOG BY Jeff Owens
Plenty of compelling reasons to watch Auto Club 500
Though rain dampened what was shaping up as a thrilling Daytona 500, the race still left us with plenty to talk about – Kenseth, Roush, Junior, The Wreck.
Now, there is usually considerable fizzle a week later, with the circuit moving to Auto Club Speedway in California, which has little fan interest and rarely produces compelling racing.
This weekend is typically one in which the air is let out of the NASCAR balloon.
But there are some compelling reasons to watch this weekend’s race (if you don’t believe me, check out our SceneDaily 7).
A big one is that the series will get back to normal, with more of the type of racing we can expect each week, giving us a bit of insight into what to expect the rest of the season.
That means that NASCAR’s three biggest current stars are likely to square off for the win.
Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch dominated last season and are the drivers to beat again this year.
It will be interesting to see who gets the upper hand at California.
Edwards won this race last year while Johnson has three wins there. Busch won there in 2005.
Don’t be surprised if all three are in the hunt and go door to door or nose to tail for the win, each trying to flex his muscle and send an early-season message to the rest of the field.
Can Edwards take up where he left off last season? Will Busch bounce back (from the Chase For The Sprint Cup and the Daytona 500) with a vengeance?
The possibilities make the race intriguing and worth watching.
Let’s hope they – and the speedway – don’t disappoint.
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Comments
2 responses to "Plenty of compelling reasons to watch Auto Club 500 ". Post a Comment.
Anonymous said:
Feb 20, 2009 at 4:29 PMThanks for your comments. You're assessment of the Auto Club 500 is accurate. This is a fast 2 mile track with interesting long turns that test a driver's skill with handling the car.
Report as AbuseWatch out for Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Kasey Kahne.. they will be in the hunt for this race.
Terry - Redding, CA
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» Confirm Abuse ReportKen Osborne said:
Feb 21, 2009 at 10:30 AMIf I can get someone to wake me up for the last 20 laps, I will see what I need to see. Thank goodness for a DVR.
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