NASCAR 5-Hour ENERGY 301 2015: Preview and prediction
Who’s Hot?
At Kentucky, Brad Keselowski probably had the fastest car on the track. However at the end when it mattered, it just wasn’t fast enough and his bid for a third win at the track came to an end. Still, it’s a great sign going forward that the No. 2 car is kicking it into high gear.
After an uninspiring stretch toward the middle of the season, Keselowski has looked strong lately minus the end of Daytona, in the terrifying multi-car wreck. Alongside teammate Joey Logano, Keselowski could be pushing toward bringing another title to Team Penske and his second championship overall.
He also should have momentum heading into the 5-Hour ENERGY 301 at New Hampshire, as he is the defending champion of the race from last season.
The other member of Team Penske, Joey Logano, looked like he was going to have a chance at winning at Kentucky last week as he battled with Kyle Busch until the very end of the race. While it was Busch that came out on top, Logano put forth a strong performance, and climbed up to 3rd in the points standings as a result.
Like his teammate Keselowski, Logano still has just one win on the season, but a spot in “The Chase” locked up. At this point, running good races and getting a feel for tracks will serve him well as he gets ready to compete for a Sprint Cup Championship.
He has a good knowledge of New Hampshire, as he has won the race before. He should be a strong contender to win heading into this week’s race.
Kyle Busch perhaps might have one of the best stories this season regardless of if he walks away with a Sprint Cup Championship at year’s end. He has overcome an injury that should have ended his season, and could have very well ended his career.
He came back and has won multiple races, and now is fighting to overcome the odds and enter “The Chase” by finishing in the top-30 in points overall. At Kentucky, Busch was a threat for the win all day, and he and Joey Logano traded the race back and forth at the end.
In Busch’s favor, it went his way, and he also led the most laps and picked up the bonus points that would launch him up to 35th overall in the points standings. If he can pick up another win at New Hampshire, he should be able to lock up his spot and turn to his focus to championship aspirations.
He won the 301-lap race back in 2006, and has plenty of experience at the track. There’s still no margin for error and he needs a good finish. Barring any wrecks, he will finish strong and a third win will suddenly enter him into the conversation of best driver this season.
After missing a good chunk of the beginning of the season, that’s nothing short of incredible.
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