Road Course Ringers Might Take Back Seat To Cup Drivers

When you hear road course which names come to mind?

Boris Said, Ron Fellows, Scott Pruett, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart. So this weekend  expect to see these names at the front of the field.

It's a bold  prediction seeing that Boris Said hasn't been in a cup car since Daytona where he failed to qualify  and will have to qualify on speed this weekend.

Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart while they have been consistent neither have been particularly dominating.

Gordon leads the way for cup drivers with five wins at Infineon alone and nine overall in road course. With a strong showing this weekend this could be just what this team needed after a disappointing run at Michigan(18th).

Last year starting at the rear of the field due to rules infractions(48 team also started at the rear) finished a strong seventh.

Tony Stewart was the fastest car out there last year but  fuel mileage is key here. He finished sixth right in front of Gordon. He will be a factor this weekend. After a strong fifth at Michigan he has momentum going into this race.

With  two wins at Infineon and six overall road course victories second only to Gordon, he also looks to use this weekend as  launch pad for the second half of the season.

This race is probably the most demanding  mentally wise. Drivers have to hit there marks, otherwise it will be a long day.

Fuel mileage is always a factor, the winner  last year Juan Montoya wasn't the best car but he had the best strategy and that put him in victory lane.

With few opportunities to pit  here, crew chiefs need to have the cars set up for the green flag.  If we go caution free which I doubt, crews will have only two  pit stops maybe three, depending on strategies to make the cars right.

35 laps on a can of Sonoco fuel  means pits stops will mean everything crews will need to be on there game, to give there driver the best shot to win.

A few other cup drivers to watch for this weekend, Kurt Busch has ran well there  recently he is also one of the many drivers hoping to use this race as a launch pad for the second half. Kevin Harvick ran well here lat year started 22nd and finished second to Montoya.

Of course Juan Montoya. This is the track where he garnered his first cup win, and his open wheel experience makes him a favorite. He knows how to drive road courses he's always factor in a race like Sunday's.

This race is a drivers race, it's a Jeff Gordon kind of race, strategic and precise that's why he's my pick to win this week. With a win or a strong finish here Gordon should be able to pick up the momentum he needs in the coming weeks.