NASCAR at Chicago 2015: Race Schedule, Live Stream Info and Drivers to Watch
The Chase for the Sprint Cup begins Sunday in Chicago with the myAFibRisk.com 400, anticlimactic beginnings or not.
Jimmie Johnson and Co. made it through one practice ahead of the Chase-opening event in Chicago before inclement weather threw a wrench in plans and set the order earlier than anyone could have predicted.
NASCAR offered thoughts on what amounts to a caution flag for the Chase:
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As they say, though, the show must go on. Last year was one of the most entertaining Chase events in history after certain tweaks, meaning this year drivers are better adapted to the format and can employ entertaining strategies to keep things close.
Here's a look at everything to know surrounding the Chase opener.
Viewing Details
Where: Chicagoland Speedway
When: Sunday, Sept. 20, at 3 p.m. ET
Watch: NBCSN
Live Stream: NBC Live Extra
Tickets: ScoreBig.com
Sprint Cup Standings
| 1 | Jimmie Johnson | 2012 | 4 |
| 2 | Kyle Busch | 2012 | 4 |
| 3 | Matt Kenseth | 2012 | 4 |
| 4 | Joey Logano | 2009 | 3 |
| 5 | Kevin Harvick | 2006 | 2 |
| 6 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | 2006 | 2 |
| 7 | Kurt Busch | 2006 | 2 |
| 8 | Carl Edwards | 2006 | 2 |
| 9 | Brad Keselowski | 2003 | 1 |
| 10 | Martin Truex Jr. | 2003 | 1 |
Drivers to Watch
Kurt Busch
Kyle Busch gets most of the attention, which makes sense—he suffered a broken leg early in the season, received a medical waiver from NASCAR and went on to hit every checkmark on the list to qualify for the Chase.
The elder brother isn't someone to ignore, though.
Kurt Busch has two wins on the season, and while the last one came in June, the veteran has a reputation as someone who turns it on when the Chase begins. He won the original Chase, after all, and his ability to bounce back from sloppy August form (including a 37th spot in Pocono) says much about his ability down the stretch.
Busch starts seventh Sunday. It's been quite a while since he seized a checkered flag, but the underrated Busch might have what it takes to steal another and flip the Chase on its head.
Denny Hamlin
In a word, Denny Hamlin is amazing.
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver tore his ACL playing basketball, then went out and still managed a sixth-place finish in Richmond last week, leading 14 laps in the process and giving himself four consecutive top-10 finishes.
The biggest news of all? Hamlin already walks without a crutch after displaying his in-car skill isn't impacted by the high-profile injury.
"It's good," Hamlin said, per the Associated Press (via USA Today). "I'm walking a little bit more normal now, so everything's good and everything should be good in the car as well."
Now the bad news. The weather-ruined qualifying took a toll on Hamlin's chances in Chicago this weekend, forcing him to start 29th. It's not something he's incapable of overcoming, considering he started 24th in Chicago last year and wound up sixth, but it's something to watch as things unfold.
Sunday will say much about Hamlin's Chase chances given the wealth of adversity he faces.
Jeff Gordon
This again.
All year the globe has awaited a Jeff Gordon victory on his farewell tour, but so far nothing from the legend. He's in the Chase, though, and crazier things have happened than his possibly recovering from a winless regular season to steal the crown (right?).
Gordon looked back to form this past weekend in Richmond, finishing seventh despite starting 23rd, breaking an ugly streak of finishes: 41st, 17th, 20th and 16th. Now he's all about making it come together for the Chase, per Autoweek's Matt Weaver.
"All year long, I feel like we haven't met our full potential," Gordon said. "If we do that in the Chase, there is no doubt in my mind that we could turn it around. It'll look like we turned it around but really, we're doing what we should have been doing earlier in the year."
Gordon starts 10th Sunday in what he hopes will be a great turnaround when things matter most. It's hard to imagine his sendoff campaign ending winless, so look for the No. 24 crew to leave it all on the track.
After a second-place finish in this event last year before a win a few races later, it's not as if Gordon doesn't know how to get it done—no matter how the regular season went down.
Stats and info courtesy of ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
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