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Changes Put Sport on Track K for Eventful Year

Changes Put Sport on Track K for Eventful Year

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E6 DAILY 02-14-07 MD RE E6 CMYK DAILY 02-14-07 MD RE E7 CMYK

E6 Wednesday, February 14, 2007 R x The Washington Post x R Wednesday, February 14, 2007 E7 Auto RRacing

RACES TO WATCH (With track turns) NASCAR SEASON PREVIEW By Liz Clarke THIS SEASON’S SCHEDULE (With last season’s race result)

1. Date Race Track TV Time Sunday, Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway Daytona 500 Daytona (Fla.) Int’l Speedway WTTG-5 2 p.m. Sunday NASCAR is the only With crew chief suspended, wins in a two-lap shootout. sport that kicks off 3 2 with its Super Auto Club 500 California Speedway WTTG-5 3 p.m. Bowl, the Daytona Changes Put Sport on Trackk for Eventful Year Feb. 25 500. - 4 1 wins after and blow engines late in the race. restrictor plates S UAW-Daimler Chrysler 400 WTTG-5 4 p.m. keep horsepower equal, March 11 so the driver who best exploits the aerodynamic NASCAR fans are accustomed to change, but the 2007 Nextel Cup season promises more upheaval than usual, including After not leading a lap, Jimmie Johnson beats Matt Kenseth to finish by 0.115 of a second. draft usually wins. Kobalt Tools 500 WTTG-5 1:30 p.m. March 18 2. FOOD CITY 500 a surprising new face behind the wheel, controversial new on the traack, new strife on the team of the sport’s most wins, and becomes first black driver in NASCAR's top series since 1986. March 25, Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway Food City 500 Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway WTTG-5 1:30 p.m. The season’s first March 25 short-track race 3 popular driver and new rules governing the postseason. Here’s what you nneed to know to follow the key story lines: wins after ramming into leader Matt Kenseth, sending him into a slide. 2 on the high banks of this .533-mile Goody’s Cool Orange 500 Martinsville (Va.) Speedway WTTG-5 1:30 p.m. April 1 bullring is a spec- 1 Tony Stewart wins a side-by-side duel with Jimmie Johnson, passing him with 27 laps to go. tacle, with plenty 4 » The New Camry » Jr.’s Next Move » The S of bumping and Samsung 500 WTTG-5 1:30 p.m. April 15 banging. This race also After restart with 17 laps left, Kasey Kahne pulls away and wins by more than four seconds. marks the debut of NASCAR’s controversial Car FIRST NASCAR CAMRY of Tomorrow. Released: 2007. Fresh Fit 500 Phoenix Int’l Speedway WTTG-5 8 p.m. Cost: $200,000-$300,000. April 21 passes Greg Biffle with 10 laps to go to end 38-race winless drought. 3. TOYOTA/SAVE MART 350 Weight: 3,400 pounds. June 24, Infineon (Calif.) Raceway 4 Horsepower: 850. Aaron’s 499 Talladega (Ala.) Speedway WTTG-5 1:30 p.m. Keep your eye on the No. April 29 3 5 Engine: 5.9-liter V8. 42 / 2 Rain pushes another race to Monday and Jimmie Johnson passes with a lap to go. Fuel tank: 22 gallons. driven by Formula 6 1 Doors: None. 400 Richmond Int’l Speedway WTTG-5 7 p.m. One ace Juan PHOTOS COURTESY OF NASCAR May 5 Pablo Montoya, 9 10 S 7 Top : Over 200 mph. Dale Earnhardt Jr. gets his first victory, holding off rookie . the most 8 500 Darlington (S.C.) Raceway WTTG-5 7 p.m. overqualified rookie in May 12 NASCAR history when it comes to turning left Greg Biffle ends a string of bad luck by holding off a late charge from to win. and right. FIRST PASSENGER CAMRY Released: 1983. Nextel All-Star Challenge Lowe’s (N.C.) Motor Speedway Speed 7 p.m. May 19 4. CHEVY ROCK & ROLL 400 Cost: $7,800-$10,000. After a final restart following a wreck, Jimmie Johnson shakes off Kevin Harvick to win. Sept. 8, Richmond International Raceway Weight: 2,400 pounds NASCAR expanded Horsepower: 92. Coca-Cola 600 Lowe’s (N.C.) Motor Speedway WTTG-5 5 p.m. the field for the 3 2 May 27 Engine: 2.0-liter V4. Kasey Kahne ends Jimmie Johnson's run of three straight victories in this race. postseason Chase Fuel tank: 14 gallons. for the Nextel Cup Dover (Del.) Int’l Raceway TNT 1 p.m. from 10 to 12. But 4 1 Doors: Four. June 3 Adjustable Double-frame A more defined Matt Kenseth passes Jamie McMurray late in a 1-2 finish for Roush Racing. that won’t ease the S Top speed: Not quite 100 mph. pressure entering the rear wing and rail with body and chassis Pocono 500 Pocono (Pa.) Raceway TNT 1 p.m. season’s 26th race, which marks the cutoff for 2002 PHOTO BY TERRRY RENNA — front splitter steel plating inspection process June 10 qualifying. Rookie Denny Hamlin overcomes a blown and holds off Tony Stewart for first victory. For decades, NASCAR’s rulebook Given that U.S. automakers are Could NASCAR’s most popular driver real- appears to be whether Juniior will get an NASCAR’s ballyhooed Car of cars. That’s for safety’s sake, allow- spelled it out in black and white: hemorrhaging money, NASCAR’s ly bail on the team his father founded? It’s ownership stake in the commpany — some- Tomorrow won’t make its competi- ing extra room for energy-absorbing 400 Michigan Int’l Speedway TNT TBA 5. UAW-FORD 500 June 17 Oct. 7, Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway Only American-made cars could founding France family is making a quite possible, given the strained relations thing he has made clear hee expects. And tive debut until March 25 at Bristol material to shield the driver (whose Kasey Kahne rallies from 38th place to win after rain cuts race 71 laps short. compete. But that distinction has smart business decision by wel- between Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his stepmoth- Teresa will have to yield onn that point to (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, but the seat has been moved toward the NASCAR’s biggest 3 become as outmoded as leather rac- coming Toyota into the fold. By er, , who now runs the com- make it work. With NASCAAR’s biggest fan squawking has already begun about center of the car) on impact. Toyota/Save Mart 350 Infineon (Calif.) Raceway TNT 4 p.m. track (2.66 miles) 2 June 24 also requires ing helmets and bias-ply in adding a financially stable manu- pany. Teresa publicly chastised Dale Jr. in base, Junior has all the leveerage in these NASCAR’s first attempt to design a The most striking change is the Jeff Gordon takes lead on 49th of 110-lap race and earns records ninth road-course win. restrictor plates to today’s global economy, with pas- facturer to the competitive ranks, December, implying that his interest in being negotiations. If he doesn’t getg a stake and chassis that all teams must use rear wing and the front splitter, senger cars assembled on one conti- NASCAR, in a sense, is diversify- a celebrity was undercutting his potential as leaves, there’s no doubt hiss deep-pocketed regardless of whether they’re racing which is a shelf-like protrusion Lenox Industrial Tools 300 New Hampshire Int’l Speedway TNT TBA keep speeds under 4 1 July 1 200 mph, which all S nent from parts constructed on ing its portfolio and protecting a racer. sponsor, , would follow. In the Fords, , or under the nose. The wing and split- wins by steering clear of the trouble that brought out 11 caution flags. but ensures a huge wreck another continent and sold by a itself from the potential wild fluctu- Representatives for Dale Jr. and Teresa interim, the clock is tickingg on his pursuit . ter are tuning elements that serve as and a close finish. Now, the Car of Tomorrow is parent company based on yet ations in store for the U.S. automo- say they hope to have a contract of a championship. At 32, he hasn’t fin- The goal was threefold: To create the chief sources of downforce. 400 Daytona (Fla.) Int’l Speedway TNT 7 p.m. July 7 added to the mix. another continent. tive industry. extension signed by May. ished higher tthan third in a car that was safer and more cost- NASCAR officials claim their Tony Stewart takes leads with two laps to go to win this race for second straight year. Still, the entry of the first foreign But it remains to be seen how fans The sticking sevenn Cup seasons. effective and produced more side-by- Car of Tomorrow will be a multi- nameplate — Toyota — into will react. Anxiety is in high gear in point side racing. But in the eyes of many purpose vehicle, saving money by USG Sheetrock 400 TNT 3 p.m. July 15 NASCAR’s elite ranks has drawn the garage, where team owners who racers, the result is an unattractive preventing teams from having to Jeff Gordon claims controversial victory after spinning out Matt Kenseth with four laps to go. howls of protest from some of field Fords, Chevrolets and Dodges car with dubious racing characteris- build different cars for each type of LAST SEASON’S FINAL STANDINGS stock-car racing’s more traditional worry Toyota will use its deep pock- tics. Moreover, mechanics say the track. Many are skeptical that it 400 Motor Speedway ESPN 1 p.m. fans. Never mind that Toyota’s ets to spend its way into Victory Car of Tomorrow takes too much will be truly adaptable to short July 29 Rk Driver Points W T5 T10 After falling to eighth late, Jimmie Johnson rallies to complete Daytona-Brickyard sweep. Camry will be the only brand on Lane and upset NASCAR’s care- ingenuity out of their hands. tracks, superspeedways and road 1. Jimmie Johnson 6,475 5 13 24 the track that is manufactured in fully engineered competitive The car is wider and courses. Pennsylvania 500 Pocono (Pa.) Raceway ESPN 1 p.m. the United States. balance. taller than current Cup Aug. 5 2. Matt Kenseth 6,419 4 15 21 After Tony Stewart is black-flagged for aggressive driving, teammate Denny Hamlin wins.

3. Denny Hamlin 6,407 2 8 20 Nextel Cup at The Glen Watkins Glen (N.Y.) Int’l ESPN 1 p.m. Aug. 12 4. Kevin Harvick 6,397 5 15 20 After Kurt Busch is penalized for pitting too soon, Kevin Harvick passes Tony Stewart to win. 5. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 6,328 1 10 17 Performance 400 Michigan Int’l Speedway ESPN 1 p.m. Aug. 19 » Montoya’s Rookie Season » Changes to the Chase Matt Kenseth takes care of his tires enough to hold off Jeff Gordon's charge for victory. 6. Jeff Gordon 6,256 2 14 18 The defection of former ace Juan Just when fans and racers had gotten the hang 500 Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway ESPN 7 p.m. 7. 6,228 1 7 20 Pablo Montoya to NASCAR has brought immedi- of NASCAR’s new postseason Chase for the Aug. 25 Matt Kenseth defends title and clinches a spot in the Chase with fourth win of the season. 8. Kasey Kahne 6,183 6 12 19 ate cachet to stock-car racing, which despite its Nextel Cup, France decided to tweak his three- surging popularity is still fighting an image as a year-old formula for crowning the sport’s annual Nextel Cup Series 500 California Speedway ESPN 7 p.m. 9. 6,168 0 7 15 simplistic form of motorsports based on rudi- champion. Unveiled on the eve of the 2007 sea- Sept. 2 mentary technology. son, those changes are intended, France says, to Kasey Kahne wins his series-leading fifth race, which he needs to stay in Chase contention. 10. Kyle Busch 6,027 1 10 18 Montoya, 31, brings unprecedented creden- put more emphasis on winning races rather Chevy Rock & Roll 400 Richmond Int’l Speedway WJLA-7 7 p.m. 11. Tony Stewart 4,727 5 15 19 tials: An victory (on his first than simply finishing well. Sept. 8 attempt), a CART championship (in his rookie In addition, the Chase will be expanded Kevin Harvick wins race, and defending points champion Tony Stewart is eliminated from Chase. 12. 4,428 0 10 20 season) and seven Formula One victories. Just from 10 drivers to 12, giving more competi- Sylvania 300 New Hampshire Int’l Speedway WJLA-7 1 p.m. last month he added another, roaring to victo- tors (and therefore more corporate spon- Sept. 16 13. Greg Biffle 4,075 2 8 15 ry in the , which is con- sors) the benefit of the extra publicity and Kevin Harvick wins for the second straight week, and Tony Stewart is second. tested on Daytona International Speedway’s exposure that comes with vying for the 14. 3,914 0 2 8 Dover 400 Dover (Del.) Int’l Speedway WJLA-7 1 p.m. infield road course, as part of a three-driver championship over the last 10 races of Sept. 23 15. Brian Vickers 3,906 1 5 9 team fielded by his NASCAR owners, Chip the season. Defending champion Tony Jeff Burton ends 175-race winless streak, passing Matt Kenseth with six laps to go. Ganassi and . Stewart missed the cut in 2006; four- 16. Kurt Busch 3,900 1 7 12 Kansas 400 WJLA-7 1 p.m. Strapped inside his 3,400-pound No. 42 time champion Jeff Gordon missed it Sept. 30 Tony Stewart runs out of gas on the final lap but has enough of a lead to coast to victory. 17. 3,833 0 4 11 Texaco/Havoline Dodge, Montoya proved in 2005. he was fast and fearless in NASCAR’s pre- Starting with the season-opening UAW-Ford 500 Talladega (Ala.) Speedway WJLA-7 1 p.m. 18. Ryan Newman 3,748 0 2 7 season testing. The bigger question is Daytona 500, drivers will get an extra Oct. 7 whether he’ll have the patience to race five points for winning a race. Then, Brian Vickers pushes Jimmie Johnson into Dale Earnhardt Jr., then drives to unpopular win. 19. Martin Truex Jr. 3,673 0 2 5 500 miles on one oval after another, with after the Sept. 8 race at Richmond just two road-course events in the 36-race International Raceway, the top 12 Bank of America 500 Lowe’s (N.C.) Motor Speedway WJLA-7 7 p.m. 20. 3,619 0 1 8 Oct. 13 season. drivers in the standings will earn a Kasey Kahne wins for sixth time and completes season sweep at Lowe's Motor Speedway. 21. 3,567 0 3 8 While his car owners hope the 24- spot in the Chase. They’ll have their Hour title is the first of many wins, point totals reconfigured, with each Subway 500 Martinsville (Va.) Speedway WJLA-7 1 p.m. Oct. 21 22. 3,469 0 1 7 NASCAR CEO is banking starting at 5,000 and adding a 10- Jimmie Johnson wins a crash-filled race to get back into contention for Chase title. that Montoya’s mere presence will lure point bonus for each victory earned 23. 3,438 0 1 4 more Latino fans. Diversifying in the first 26 races. Georgia 500 Atlanta Motor Speedway WJLA-7 1 p.m. Oct. 28 24. 3,434 0 1 5 NASCAR’s audience has become While the new formula Tony Stewart, who didn't qualify for the Chase, wins for the second time in the postseason. a priority for France, who sees might give fans a headache, 25. Jamie McMurray 3,405 0 3 7 African American and Latino France insists it will give driv- Dickies 500 Texas Motor Speedway WJLA-7 3 p.m. fans as critical to maintaining ers more incentive to battle Nov. 4 26. 3,259 0 1 2 Tony Stewart wins easily, while Jimmie Johnson gets the best of the Chase jockeying. the dynamic growth curve the for the win rather than pro- 27. 3,255 0 0 2 sport has enjoyed the last 15 tect a solid finish. And that, Checker Auto Parts 500 Phoenix Int’l Speedway WJLA-7 3 p.m. Nov. 11 years. he believes, will produce a Kevin Harvick wins, with runner-up Jimmie Johnson racing conservatively to protect his points. 28. Jeff Green 3,253 0 0 2 better show and, in turn, high- er TV ratings. Ford 400 Homestead-Miami Speedway WJLA-7 3 p.m. 29. J.J. Yeley 3,220 0 0 3 Nov. 18 Greg Biffle wins race, and Jimmie Johnson finishes ninth to claim his first series championship. 30. 3,113 0 1 3 BY RUSTY JARRETT — GETTY IMAGES

DRIVERS TO WATCH

TONY STEWART JEFF GORDON JIMMIE JOHNSON GREG BIFFLE KEVIN HARVICK KASEY KAHNE DENNY HAMLIN CASEY MEARS DALE JARRETT No. 20 Home Depot No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet No. 16 Ameriquest Ford No. 29 Shell Chevrolet No. 9 Dodge Dealers Dodge No. 11 FedEx Chevrolet No. 25 GMAC Chevrolet No. 88 Ford No. 44 UPS Toyota Age: 35. Age: 35. Age: 31. Age: 37. Age: 31. Age: 26. Age: 26. Age: 28. Age: 50. Age: 50. Home town: Columbus, Ind. Home town: Vallejo, Calif. Home Town: El Cajon, Calif. Home town: Vancouver, Wash. Home town: Bakersfield, Calif. Home town: Enumclaw, Wash. Home town: Chesterfield, Va. Home town: Bakersfield, Calif. Home town: Chesapeake, Va. Home town: Hickory, N.C. Prospects: Two-time champion Prospects: NASCAR’s former Prospects: Winning his first series Prospects: Mark Martin’s departure Prospects: He romped to his second Prospects: He’s the driver to beat Prospects: Racing’s sur- Prospects: The nephew of four-time Prospects: This dogged but disci- Prospects: Will Toyota’s backing missed the Chase last season but Wonder Boy has been stalled at championship last season validated leaves Biffle as the elder statesman Busch Series title and nearly won the on superspeedways and led all driv- prising champion contender in 2006, Indy 500 winner inherits plined veteran bailed on retirement and crew chief breathe exacted revenge by winning three four championships since 2001. his place among the sport's elite. Can of Roush Racing, which is coming off Cup title in 2006. By paring back his ers in 2006 with six wins. To con- Hamlin hopes to avoid a sophomore great expectations by stepping up to after one year in hopes of salvaging new life into Jarrett? As a former

of 10 postseason races. There’s no Will impending fatherhood hone he become the first repeat champion a lackluster season. He could spur commitments, he should contend for tend for the title, he needs to be slump after enjoying one of the best , which has the fortunes of struggling Robert NASCAR champion, he’ll get a ‘provi-

doubting his talent. his focus or soften his edge? since Jeff Gordon in 1997 and ’98? the rebound. the Cup title again. more consistent. rookie seasons in memory. won six NASCAR titles. , his former employer. sional’ qualifying spot in six races.

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