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From the Marbles

Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:25 am EDT

The Pace Lap: NASCAR Banking 500 @ Lowe's Motor Speedway

By Jay Busbee

Welcome to The Pace Lap, your catchall preview post! Let's get you started on race weekend with a metric truckload of stats, facts, opinion and innuendo.

The race: NASCAR Banking 500, 7:41 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17 at Lowe's Motor Speedway

The specs: 334 laps on a 1.5-mile track

The broadcasts: ABC, plus the live chat right here on Yahoo! Sports. 

Defending champ: Jeff Burton. That name is vaguely familiar, but I can't quite place it.

The standings leaders: Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin (-12), Juan Pablo Montoya (-58)

The history: The "Beast of the Southeast" was the first superspeedway to host night racing in the modern era, in 1992. It's the home track for most drivers, with 90 percent of all drivers based within 50 miles of the track. And on race weekends, it temporarily becomes the third-largest city in North Carolina.

The appropriate video: This has nothing to do with racing, but it's somebody jumping a trailer and stuff blowing up. This half-minute of video is better than four hours of driving last week at California.

Guy with the most to gain: Jimmie Johnson. JJ's in a no-lose situation at this point; he's starting to exert some of that Tiger Woods mojo on the rest of the field, even though he could be third place in the points within just a few laps on Saturday night. But he's cruising at this point, and one or two more good wins would all but deliver a knockout blow to the rest of field.

Guys with the most to lose: Juan Pablo Montoya. He's run in the top 5 every race of the Chase, but he's still losing ground on the leader. When you're running at the top of your game and you're still sliding back, that's got to be dispiriting. All it's going to take is one rotten finish and any hope Montoya might have had is going to be gone.

Our pick to win: Johnson. Sorry, but he's as dominant as it gets at Lowe's. (Plus, he gets a two-lap advantage for running in the Lowe's car. You knew that, right?) The rest of the Chase will depend on how closely the rest of the field can cling to his bumper, but until further notice, this is the Jimmie Show.

All right, you're up. Who's your pick for this weekend? Go!

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60 Comments

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  1. brinirmess
    1. Posted by brinirmess Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:43 am EDT

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    Here's hoping Keselcocky takes out JJ in the first 20 laps, for a good ole DNF for both of them!
  2. Reds24
    2. Posted by Reds24 Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:55 am EDT

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    Wow JJ got the pole... Bradski's in the top 10.... this is going to be an interesting start needless to say. Here's hoping Jr can pull a win out here... that would rock
  3. Kim
    3. Posted by Kim Fri Oct 16, 2009 10:15 am EDT

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    Brini, it would be good to see that! Here's hoping that Tony leads the most laps and wins.
    Reds, Jr has been doing better the last few races. Not just the crew, but he has been hitting his marks for the most part.
  4. brinirmess
    4. Posted by brinirmess Fri Oct 16, 2009 10:20 am EDT

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    BTW, JJ set a new record at CMS yesterday. They were doing 200 mph at time... amazing at Lowe's.Yep, and what I don't get is all the criticism of the new car. These guys have been breaking track records all year, and I personally think that this years racing has been some of the absolute best finishes that I can remember. Even the boring tracks have been exciting even if for only the last 100 laps. lol.
  5. Carol
    5. Posted by Carol Fri Oct 16, 2009 10:35 am EDT

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    Some people just aren't happy unless they're b!tchin'. JJ and Chad clearlu have a handle on the new car; anybody else just isn't doing enough homework. That said, I'd prefer to see your fantasy played out Brini... NO, I mean the one where Kissy takes out JJ, lol!
  6. travis
    6. Posted by travis Fri Oct 16, 2009 10:43 am EDT

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    The cup chase is as stupid as stupid gets.Drivers having to kiss up and not get in the way of the drivers who are in the hunt for the Sprint Cup. I am a nascar fan and as #3 would say get the hell out the way. I think nascar has different rules for #24 and #48. all of a sudden #48 is so fast during the chase that it can lap any car on the track. Come on nascar, go jerk your house cat off, not the fans.
  7. travis
    7. Posted by travis Fri Oct 16, 2009 10:43 am EDT

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    The cup chase is as stupid as stupid gets.Drivers having to kiss up and not get in the way of the drivers who are in the hunt for the Sprint Cup. I am a nascar fan and as #3 would say get the hell out the way. I think nascar has different rules for #24 and #48. all of a sudden #48 is so fast during the chase that it can lap any car on the track. Come on nascar, go jerk your house cat off, not the fans.
  8. Willy Doer
    8. Posted by Willy Doer Fri Oct 16, 2009 10:45 am EDT

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    That record is for the COT.....Track Qualifiing record ( old car )is 193.216, JJ's was 192.376. Of all people it was Elliot Sadler.LOL
  9. James
    9. Posted by James Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:07 am EDT

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    People , if your not happy with NASCAR, get out and shut up. If your driver is not winning the rest are cheating. Come on and get a life, go play golf. Everyone is down on JJ. Should he stop winning races because you want him too. I bet if your team in the nfl doesnt win the other team cheated. With you people it is always the same thing. Jimmie is the best driver, Chad is the best crew Chief, and Hendricks motors has the best cars. All the drivers in Nascar would like to drive for Hendricks. Only there not good enough. Now put that in your pipe and smoke it
  10. Kim
    10. Posted by Kim Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:09 am EDT

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    Willy, was Elliot's record back in the day when he drove competitively? I keep hoping he'll find his talent again...well, his on track, not on TV, talent, that is. I enjoy his work on Speed Channel. Humor, knowledge...and that accent!
  11. Willy Doer
    11. Posted by Willy Doer Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:17 am EDT

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    KIM, From what i remember seeing it was 03'...Elliot Sadler seems like a cool cat.
  12. Willy Doer
    12. Posted by Willy Doer Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:18 am EDT

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    Went back and looked...It was '05.
  13. Willy Doer
    13. Posted by Willy Doer Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:19 am EDT

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    I guess that was right around the time they repaved and smoothed out that bump. Track was really fast.
  14. NostraChronus
    14. Posted by NostraChronus Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:20 am EDT

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    I'm sorry, I know this comment lacks integrity, but it's about time the other drivers started getting a little more physical with Johnson on the track. He's used the chrome horn to politely nudge aside competitors, but he gets more respect than Jesus when they're racing. And now it appears as if he and his team are really hitting stride and the Chase will be over by the end of the 500th mile tomorrow night. It's as if the rest of the field stands aside in awe as Jimmie and Chad march towards history. Obviously, what they're on the verge of accomplishing is phenomenal, and worthy of praise, but it seems as if the only other driver who's gone beatin and bangin with Johnson this season is his teammate Jeff Gordon.
  15. SBE
    15. Posted by SBE Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:21 am EDT

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    I would just like some writer somewhere to pick a driver other than JJ to win at Lowes. Gamble for once!
  16. Willy Doer
    16. Posted by Willy Doer Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:31 am EDT

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    I think the term would be PC racing NC. Knock his fenders in i say!!!
  17. NostraChronus
    17. Posted by NostraChronus Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:40 am EDT

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    PC racing indeed, Willy, it's time for the rest of the Chase contenders to prove they enjoy winning too. And though Mark Martin probably isn't the best candidate, I would love to see him race Jimmie hard on lap one to try and prevent the 48 from leading a lap and getting those five bonus points right off the bat. Otherwise, it appears as if this Chase is going to be over and done with in a jiff.
  18. Kim
    18. Posted by Kim Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:43 am EDT

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    Nostra, once in a while someone will get rough with Jimmie. You are right that it doesn't happen often, though.
    SBE, actually the last 4 races at Lowe's someone other than Jimmie has won. It wouldn't be odd for someone to choose another driver. It's just that this is the time that Jimmie and Chad seem to really start winning. Darn it.
  19. Kim
    19. Posted by Kim Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:44 am EDT

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    Willy, thanks for the info. I'm too lazy today to go look things up.
  20. NostraChronus
    20. Posted by NostraChronus Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:57 am EDT

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    Kim, style, I stand corrected, and will hopefully be proved wrong once again on Saturday night. And SBE, I think after the runs Jimmie was getting in practice, along with his qualifying lap, and his history at the track, it would probably be unwise to pick anyone other than Jimmie to win. That being said, curious to see how the RCR cars run again this weekend, as they certainly appear to be getting back into the game.
  21. brinirmess
    21. Posted by brinirmess Fri Oct 16, 2009 12:09 pm EDT

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    Lets all hold hands and sing for JJ to lose his Mojo early.
  22. cg5995
    22. Posted by cg5995 Fri Oct 16, 2009 12:10 pm EDT

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    While i certainly understand everyones frustration and hatred of Jimmie, after all I hear the same thing at my house on race weekends, from he's cheating to if he wins I'm never watching Nascar again lol I still want to see him win at Lowes and win his 4th. And for those who want to see someone wreck him if they cant beat him, wouldnt it be better for Nascar if the competition stepped up to the plate and worked as hard as he did to beat him fairly instead!! Go Jimmie!!
  23. Carol
    23. Posted by Carol Fri Oct 16, 2009 12:12 pm EDT

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    Looks like Kasey qualified 3rd. He's been known to win at LMS.
  24. Kim
    24. Posted by Kim Fri Oct 16, 2009 12:26 pm EDT

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    Brini, what does Tony's monkey have to do with JJ??? ;-)
  25. Carol
    25. Posted by Carol Fri Oct 16, 2009 12:31 pm EDT

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    Does he still have that monkey? I had thought not.

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