Chicagoland Driver Chassis Selections: Lifelock.com 400

by Jeff Wackerlin
MotorRacingNetwork.com


1. Kevin Harvick: Winner of the first two Chicago races; 19th-place finish in 2009 ended three consecutive top fives; Leads all drivers with a 7.3 average finish on 1.5-mile tracks in 2010; Seventh-best average finish (11.0) in the two races with the COT; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 301) that finished 11th in the Coca-Cola 600.

2. Jeff Gordon: Winner of the 2006 race after leading 20 laps; Finished second in 2009 for fifth top five in nine starts; Third-best average finish (6.5) in the two races with the COT; Second in laps led (346) on 1.5-mile tracks in 2010.

3. Jimmie Johnson: Leads all drivers with an 8.1 average finish; Second-best average finish (5.0) in the two races with the COT: Finished eighth in 2009 after leading 58 laps; 13.0 average finish and 93 laps led on 1.5-mile tracks in 2010; Will debut a new car (chassis No. 610) in the LifeLock.com 400.

4. Kurt Busch: 22.5 average finish in the two races with the COT; Last of five top 10s (sixth) came in 2007; Leads all drivers in wins (2) and laps led (383) on 1.5-mile tracks in 2010; Will pilot the same car (chassis No. 725) that finished third from the pole at Michigan last month.

5. Denny Hamlin: Scored first top 10 last year with a fifth-place finish; Has yet to lead a lap in four starts; 14.5 average finish and 47 laps led on 1.5-mile tracks in 2010; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 270) that won at Texas in April.

6. Kyle Busch: Swept Chicago weekend in 2008 in his track debut with Joe Gibbs Racing; Led 165 laps en route to the win in the Sprint Cup race; Fifth-best average finish (11.5) on the 1.5-mile tracks in 2010; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 265) that finished first at Dover and third at Charlotte this season.

7. Matt Kenseth: Two runner-up finishes in nine starts; Finished seventh in the 2008 race, the first at the track with the COT; Third-best average finish (9.3) on 1.5-mile tracks in 2010; Will debut a new car (chassis No. 646) in the LifeLock.com 400.

8. Jeff Burton: 28.0 average finish in the two races with the COT; Won the pole and finished second in 2006; Finish was one of two top 10s in five starts with Richard Childress Racing; 18.5 average finish and 10 laps led on 1.5-mile tracks in 2010; Will pilot the same car (chassis No. 305) that finished eighth at Darlington and seventh at Pocono.

9. Tony Stewart: Winner of the 2004 and 2007 races; Only finished outside the top five twice in nine starts; 396 laps led leads all drivers; 16.8 average finish and 82 laps led on 1.5-mile tracks in 2010; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 583) that finished seventh at Las Vegas and fifth in the All-Star race.

10. Greg Biffle: Only top 10 (fourth) in seven starts came in 2008; 15.0 average finish and 17 laps led on 1.5-mile tracks in 2010; Will pilot the same car (chassis No. 571) that last finished fourth at Indianapolis in 2009.

11. Dale Earnhardt Jr: 15.5 average finish in two starts with Hendrick Motorsports; 2005 win was one of three top 10s with Dale Earnhardt, Inc.; 15.3 average finish and 56 laps led on 1.5-mile tracks in 2010; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 556) that ran in the All-Star race.

12. Carl Edwards: Worst non-restrictor plate track based on his average finish of 21.6; Only top 10 (third) in five starts came in 2007; 25.0 average finish on 1.5-mile tracks in 2010; Will pilot the same car (chassis No. 558) that finished 12th at Pocono.

13. Mark Martin: Defending event winner; Won the race after leading 195 laps in his track debut with Hendrick Motorsports; Sixth-best average finish (11.8) on 1.5-mile tracks in 2010; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 600) that finished fourth in the Coca-Cola 600.

14. Clint Bowyer: 12.5 average finish in four starts; Coming off third top 10 with a ninth-place finish; 18.5 average finish on 1.5-mile tracks in 2010; Will pilot the same car (chassis No. 306) that made contact with the wall in practice at Michigan; This car has yet to compete in a race.

15. Ryan Newman: Winner of the 2003 race; Coming off his fifth top 10 in eight starts; Sixth-place finish in 2009 came in first track start with Stewart-Haas; Will pilot the same car (chassis No. 531) that most recently finished 32nd at Michigan.

16. Kasey Kahne: Coming off first top 10 (third) in six starts; Second-best average finish (7.5) on 1.5-mile tracks in 2010.

17. David Reutimann: Coming off best finish (12th) in three starts; 23.8 average finish and three laps led on 1.5-mile tracks in 2010.

18. Joey Logano: Finished 18th in first start in 2009; 20.5 average finish on 1.5-mile tracks in 2010; Will be back in the same car (chassis No. 272) that finished 10th at Michigan.

19. Jamie McMurray: Only top 10 (eighth) in seven starts came in first start in 2003; 23.8 average finish and 39 laps led on 1.5-mile tracks in 2010; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 1006) that finished second from the pole at Darlington.

20. Martin Truex Jr: 20.0 average finish in four starts; Only top 10 (ninth) came in 2008; 19.8 average finish on 1.5-mile tracks in 2010; Will make first track start with Michael Waltrip Racing.

21. Juan Montoya: Coming off first top 10 (10th) in three starts; 28.0 average finish on 1.5-mile tracks in 2010; Will pilot the same car (chassis No. 1003) that finished 38th in the Coca-Cola 600 after being involved in an accident.

22. AJ Allmendinger: Finished 13th in each of his two starts; 14.5 average finish on 1.5-mile tracks in 2010; Will pilot chassis No. 288 for the fourth time this season. Most recently this car finished 10th at Pocono.

23. Paul Menard: 34.3 average finish in three starts; 16.3 average finish on 1.5-mile tracks in 2010; Will pilot the same car (chassis No. 566) that finished 18th at Bristol.

24. Scott Speed: Started second and finished 36th in first start in 2009; 19.5 average finish on 1.5-mile tracks in 2010.

25. Brad Keselowski: Finished 32nd in 2009 with Hendrick Motorsports; 24.0 average finish on 1.5-mile tracks in 2010; Will make first track start with Penske Racing driving the same car (chassis No. 707) that finished 14th at Richmond in May.

26. David Ragan: 19.3 average finish in three starts; Finished eighth in 2008 for only top 10; 24.8 average finish on 1.5-mile tracks in 2010; Will race the same car (chassis No. 617) that finished 24th at Charlotte.

27. Marcos Ambrose: Finished 11th in first start in 2009; 19.5 average finish on 1.5-mile tracks in 2010.

28. Elliott Sadler: 22.7 average finish in nine starts; Only top 10 came in 2003 with Yates Racing; 21.3 average finish on 1.5-mile tracks in 2010.

29. Sam Hornish Jr: 37.5 average finish in two starts; 23.0 average finish on 1.5-mile tracks in 2010.

30. Regan Smith: Finished 34th in only start in 2008; 18.5 average finish on 1.5-mile tracks in 2010.