Gas and Go--Loudon

This week's Gas and Go comes New England-style. I give you some brief insights and takes regarding this week's race.

1. New Hampshire International Speedway was completed in 1990. At a distance of just over one mile, it has been described as "Martinsville on steroids."
2. NHIS gives the NASCAR fans in the Northeast and Canada an opportunity to root on their favorite drivers twice a year.
3. The first Cup race at NHIS took place on July 11, 1993, the Slick 50 300. Mark Martin won the pole, but Rusty Wallace won the race.
4. NHIS got its second date in 1997. Jeff Gordon won the first race held in mid-September, September 14, 1997, to be exact.
5. Jeff Burton won the fall race in 2000 and he led EVERY LAP in that race.
6. Jimmie Johnson swept both NHIS races in 2003. Not to be outdone, Kurt Busch swept both races in 2004.
7. Jeff Burton leads all drivers with four wins at the track. With a win this week, Jeff Gordon would tie Burton.
8. Because of the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks and the subsequent postponement of the fall race that year, the race was run on 11/26/01. Robby Gordon got his only career oval win driving the #31 Lowe's Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing. It was the last race for Lowe's on the #31. The next year, they would move to the #48 Chevrolet of Jimmie Johnson.
9. Look for the usual suspects to be running up front: Johnson, Burton, Denny Hamlin, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Mark Martin, Martin Truex, Jr.
10. If not for being so snakebit this year, I'd include Kevin Harvick among the front runners.
11. There are two brother combinations that have won: Ward (fall 2002) and Jeff Burton, and Kurt and Kyle Busch.
12. Thinking of you: Jerry Nadeau.

Predicted Race Winner: Tony Stewart.