NASCAR at Kansas: It's All About Threes

Good or bad, it is said that things happen in threes. This weekend at Kansas, it's all about threes.

NASCAR heads to Kansas Speedway for race number three of the Sprint Cup chase.

Kansas has hosted four chase races. Three of those have been won by non chase drivers.

In the young history of the chase, no driver has won the first three chase races. 

Greg Biffle has proved he’s no sleeper in this year’s chase. Can he pull of a rare three-peat at the cookie cutter mile and a half tri-oval?

Jimmie Johnson’s quest for championship number three could be in jeopardy with an average showing Sunday.

Kyle Busch has lost almost as many points as the stock market did this week. If Kansas becomes failure number three for the M&M’s team, their championship hopes will be all but melted.

Soon a new hotel and casino will cover the turn two landscape at Kansas. Clint Bowyer and Jeff Gordon rolled the dice and each gained three chase positions last week.  Earnhardt Jr. and Matt Kenseth will have to gamble some in order to climb back up the chase ladder.

Kansas Speedway is almost a flat track. Banking in the turns is a paltry twelve degrees. It is designed very similar to Charlotte Motor Speedway, a track ruled by Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson.

This week should be no different. JJ has an average finish of 12 at Kansas, expect him to improve on that at least 10 positions, maybe even 11.

Kyle Busch will be the one to watch this week. Joe Gibbs is a great motivator. The 18 team will rebound significantly, well within sight of victory lane.

Jack Roush has Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle in the top three. Biffle captured a win at Kansas last year. Carl is atop the standings, but has JJ right on his bumper. This will all change at Kansas. Biffle will come back down to earth and have a respectable top ten finish, at least three positions behind Edwards.

Jeff Gordon has an average finish at Kansas only slightly better than his teammate Jimmie Johnson.  Gordon climbed three positions last week, but still doesn’t seem to have the fire he had during his championship domination years. Expect a mediocre at best performance from the four time champion.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. slipped a little at Dover. Getting two laps behind early, he never was a factor the rest of the race. His slippage in points has Jr. Nation groaning about opportunities lost. 

Kansas has not been kind to Jr., of course, that was pre Hendrick. This week will be a tough one for the 88 team. They must have a stellar showing and climb back up the chase ladder, or, there’s always next year.

The sleeper this week will be Kevin Harvick. The 29 team has quietly positioned themselves right in the hunt, reeling off top tens better than David Letterman. Expect to see this continue at Kansas, maybe right into victory lane.

This week’s finishing order:

Jimmie Johnson

Kevin Harvick

Kyle Busch

Carl Edwards

Jeff Gordon

Kasey Kahne

Tony Stewart

Jeff Burton

Matt Kenseth

Greg Biffle

Notables:

Dale Earnhardt Jr.: 12

Clint Bowyer: 15