The 2009 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup continues to gain momentum and this week’s stop at Dover, Delaware promises more of the same.

The pressure and the drama of the 2009 Chase has not disappointed, and more is sure to come this Sunday when the green flag drops for the AAA 400.

Dover is known for close-quarter racing and impressive side-by-side beating and banging, but its events also tend to shake up the points standings. The standings leader has changed after three of the track’s last four Chase races.

Continue reading “Dover will shake up point standings”

If there is such a thing as a “dark horse” this weekend at Dover International Speedway, it has to be Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford).

Starting the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup seeded 12th, 40 points behind Mark Martin heading into New Hampshire, Biffle posted a ninth-place finish, moving himself up three spots in the Chase standings to ninth.

Thus far, Biffle has amassed eight top fives and 13 top 10s this season.

Last season Biffle swept the first two races of the Chase (New Hampshire and Dover). His victory at Dover gave Jack Roush and Roush Fenway Racing their fifth consecutive win at the fall event. Roush ranks second on the all-time wins list at Dover with eight, two behind Rick Hendrick with 10.

Biffle usually runs well at Dover; he has two wins, six top fives, nine top 10s and one pole in 14 starts.

Continue reading “Greg Biffle could be Dover surprise”

Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus have the No. 48 team second in the standings after a fourth-place finish at New Hampshire.

But unlike leader Mark Martin, who hasn’t won at Dover since 2004, Johnson dominated the track’s 2009 spring race, becoming one of only three drivers this season to score a perfect Driver Rating.

Johnson has 15 starts at Dover with four wins, six top fives, 10 top 10s and one pole.

In the spring event at Dover this year, Johnson started eighth but didn’t take long moving to the front, leading 298 of 400 laps.

Continue reading “Jimmie Johnson looks for Dover sweep”

This weekend, Brian Vickers will become the youngest driver ever to reach 200 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts in six full seasons of competition.

Of the 200 starts, Vickers has only driven for two teams, Hendrick Motorsports, for which he made 113 starts, and Team Red Bull with 86 starts.

“Wow,” Vickers said. “Makes me feel old! It’s pretty cool when you think about it. It’s a big accomplishment. I’m glad to have been involved in the sport, at this level, for that long. It’s only going to get better as it goes on and as I progress in my career.”

Vickers currently is eighth in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings with one win, four top fives, 13 top 10s and six poles.

“2009 has been a great overall highlight with all that’s gone on with this team over the years and the building we have done,” he said. “The win. The Chase. It’s been fantastic. My first career win was great but there is something really gratifying about building a program from the ground up and seeing it succeed.”