NASCAR Sprint Cup: Preview, Predictions and Schedule for Round 2 at Loudon

Is it possible upsets are in the making for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase contenders with the nearly down-and-out markers flipping the tables on those who are considered givens to vie for the title?

As the elite series of NASCAR heads to New Hampshire Motor Speedway for Round 2 of the 10-week Chase, the point standings got a bit of a shakeup at Chicagoland.

Now those drivers must finesse the one-mile flat track that just may play to those who have made a surprising rise in the points, namely Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Stewart, driver of the No. 14 Mobil 1/Office Depot Chevrolet had never won an opening Chase race, but the driver who was winless for the 26-week preseason captured a win at Chicagoland.

Stewart is a strong bet for a good run and maybe a win at Loudon, given he has two wins and was the runner-up at two of the last three races at NHMS. Fuel shortage foiled a win for him last year while he was leading.

Perhaps Earnhardt Jr. is having a flashback to the 2004 season when he finished third in the Chase opener and ended the season fifth in points. Can he break the 120-race winless streak?

Though he got lucky with fuel mileage at Chicagoland, the fact he is only 13 points out of the lead may give him some momentum for race No. 2 in the Chase.

Junior has two top 10 finishes out of the last three at Loudon; he finished 15th in the July race there.

Jimmie Johnson, driver of the Lowe's No. 48, and Jeff Gordon in the No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet may well be the favorites to win this weekend after faltering in the gas mileage race that dropped them in points.

Look for Joe Gibbs Racing driver Kyle Busch to bounce back from his 22nd place finish at Chicagoland. He was another casualty of the fuel shortage.

Ryan Newman may well be as strong as his boss, Stewart, having run 1-2 with him at Loudon. Stewart-Haas Racing looks to be getting their act together. Newman won the July race from the pole.

Ford drivers may run strong at this track, but Carl Edwards will likely outrun his teammate Matt Kenseth. A betting person might want to place their money on a Chevrolet to win the race.

Kevin Harvick, driver of the No. 29 Budweiser car, sits at the top of the point standings with a seven-point lead over Stewart. Though he is a great closer, it is likely he will lose that lead and not win at NHMS.

Kyle Busch in his JGR Toyota should make a strong run, as will his older brother Kurt Busch, who drives a Penske Dodge. These brothers will no doubt have top 10 runs.

Denny Hamlin and his No. 11 Fed Ex team look to be doomed with bad luck and mistakes, but he can't be counted out any more than the non-Chase drivers who could well take the checkered flag.

Brad Keselowski is another unknown with his Penske Blue Deuce. This track may not play well to his driving style because it does need to be finessed, and he is ready to charge for a win at all costs.

So there are some predictions for the Chase drivers, but the ever-present non-Chase drivers can always cause some problems, or even capture a win from them.

If history and statistics mean anything, and they usually do, the eventual champion came from the top five at the second race of the Chase in four of the last seven years. Johnson won two of those races.

The Chase is going to be much about crew chief strategy, fuel mileage and head games.

We have a great field of drivers contending for the title, but look for a rough ride on the road to upset five-time champ Johnson.

The first practice session will be at 11:30 a.m. Friday on ESPN2, followed by qualifying at 3:00 p.m., also on ESPN2.

The Speed Channel will carry a practice session at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday and the Sylvania 300 is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Sunday on ESPN.

Let's hope for good weather and enjoy the race from New Hampshire Motor Speedway.