FYI WIRZ: Top NASCAR Drivers Talk Chicagoland

The top five drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this week; Kevin Harvick, Jeff Gordon Jimmie Johnson, Kurt Busch and Denny Hamlin describe the 1.5-mile tri-oval track at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill.

The LifeLock.com 400 in Joliet fires up Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. on TNT.

This fast series includes comments by three of NASCAR’s most popular drivers—Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart, and Kasey Kahne.

FYI WIRZ is the swift presentation of pertinent motor-sports topics compiled and condensed by Dwight Drum @ Racetake.com.

Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Chevrolet)

“The little quirk that it has is the crooked back straightaway,” Harvick said. “The back straightaway is round. You're used to going down the back straightaway and just kind of hang it against the wall, and if you do that at Chicagoland, usually you're going to hit the wall right after you get about three-quarters of the way down as it curves back in. That's probably the biggest difference it has compared to every other race track.

“It seems like it just fits our program, my driving style, and everything that we do. It's fun to go to a racetrack knowing that in the different kinds of cars that we've been a part of, everything's been competitive so, hopefully, it's the same way this year.” 

Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Chevrolet)

"We're trying to win every weekend, and this weekend is no different,” Gordon said. “We want those bonus points that go along with wins, but we also know 'intermediate' tracks like Chicago make up half of the 'Chase' races. We know the mile-and-a-halfs are very, very important. If a team is focused on one type of track, this type would be it."

Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Chevrolet)

“Chicago—Chad (Knaus) has asked me since I won in California for my first race if we could win in his home state so he could experience that,” Johnson said. “I feel we've got a good chance there and certainly hope to. It's nice to cross off these tracks; tracks I haven't won at.”

Kurt Busch (No. 2 Dodge)

“The Chicago track is that true one and a half-mile layout where handling is key and you have to have a good package to excel,” Busch said. “We had great cars for both races at Charlotte, and if we can get close to matching that strength this weekend, we’ll definitely be in the hunt there on Saturday night.

“We’ll definitely be leaning toward running a similar setup at Chicagoland,” Busch added. “It won’t be exactly the Charlotte package 100 percent, but it’s a great base line. We’re really pumped up about this weekend and can’t wait to get to Chicago and get after it.”

Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Toyota)

“It has much tighter corners than what you see on Texas, Atlanta, or Charlotte,” Hamlin said. “We only get to go there once a year, and it seems like the setups evolve so much during the course of that time that you never really can go back with what you had last year and be able to perform well there. So, every time we go there it seems like everyone has something new because everything changes so quickly in our sport.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 Chevrolet)

"I look forward to Saturday night races,” Earnhardt said. “It's cooler out, and we get to be home on Sunday. I like racing at Chicago. We've had a pretty good run there last year (15th place) and probably should have finished a little higher than we did. We've had a competitive car the past couple of races. We are getting lucky more than I'd like, but I'm proud of the guys and their hard work."

Tony Stewart (No. 14 Chevrolet)

"You just take it week to week,” Stewart said. “Technology in this sport changes so fast. What was good the last time you were there doesn’t mean it’s going to be good the second time around. You constantly have to work. You’ve got to keep pushing the envelope. It’s a place I like. This place is really getting racy as far as finally being able to move around and change lines and run anywhere from the bottom to the top. It’s a fun track because of that.”

Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Ford)

"The Chicago area has always been a great market for NASCAR,” Kahne said.  

“It’s nice to work with (Kenny Francis and the No. 9 Budweiser team) because they just keep plugging away and keep doing everything they can to get our Budweiser Ford into Victory Lane...We’ve had fast cars and the guys are working really hard and doing a really good job.

“Whatever you need to do during the week to be prepared on the weekends as a driver, as a team—we’re doing all of that stuff and we’re trying hard. So, I think we can run really good the rest of this year.”

Photo credit: (c) 2010 Dwight Drum @ Racetake.com