Lenox Industrial Tools 301 2012: Start Time, Lineup, TV Schedule and More

NASCAR’s best will hit the track at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway this weekend for the Lenox Industrial Tools 301.

Tony Stewart is coming off his third win of the season last Saturday at Daytona, which ties him with Brad Keselewski for most victories this year.

While Stewart and Keselewski have had the killer instinct, Matt Kenseth’s quiet consistency has him atop the standings. The Wisconsin native has just one win, but his nine top-five finishes and 13 top-10 results are both tied for best in the Sprint Cup Series.

With a shorter race this week at the Magic Mile, the pressure will be on the drivers to make their moves quickly and be aggressive.

The only thing hotter than the sweltering Northeastern heat will be the tires on these drivers’ cars as they whip around the historic track. Here is how to catch all the action.

Where: New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire

When: Sunday, July 15 at 12 p.m. ET

Watch: TNT

Live Stream: TrackPass 

Listen: Motor Racing Network

Starting Order: Qualifying will be held on Saturday, July 14 at 3:30 ET. You can watch it live on SPEED.

Full TV Schedule (Courtesy of NASCAR.com)

Lenox Industrial Tools 301 practice: Friday, July 13 at 12 p.m. ET, SPEED

Lenox Industrial Tools 301 qualifying: Friday, July 13 at 3:30 p.m. ET, SPEED

Lenox Industrial Tools 301 final practice: Saturday, July 14 at 11 a.m. ET, SPEED

Lenox Industrial Tools 301: Sunday, July 15 at 12 p.m. ET, TNT

Drivers to Watch

Dale Earnhardt Jr. 

Earnhardt has been having one of his finest seasons in recent years and is in second place in the standings. He currently sits just 25 points behind Matt Kenseth.

He snapped his winless streak that lasted 143 races last month in Michigan. Now that the monkey is off his back, Earnhardt will be feeling loose, and he’ll be ready to continue his success in the Northeast.

Jimmie Johnson

Only two drivers have nine top-five finishes and 13 top-10 finishes this season. One is Kenseth, and the other is Johnson.

The five-time NASCAR Cup Series champion is right there with the leaders at the end of nearly every race. Nothing about his performances this year suggests that he won’t be competitive this weekend.

Tony Stewart

Stewart’s boisterous personality always makes him a driver to watch, but he is coming off a win last week and has been racing extremely well all year.

He is currently fifth in the standings and will be looking to break his tie with Brad Keselewski for most wins on the year.

Predicted Winner: Jimmie Johnson

It has been over a month since Johnson won a race, so he is due. He is too talented to be held winless for very long, and he will get his third victory of the season this Sunday.