Fast Forward ~ The Hollywood Casino 400 At Kansas Fantasy Race Picks And Preview
“The future is like a corridor into which we can see only by the light coming from behind.”
–Edward Weyer, Jr.
The Track: Kansas
Speedway Season Race #: 30 of 36 (10-5-14) Track Size: 1.5-miles Banking/Turn 1 & 2: 17 to 20 degrees Banking/Turn 3 & 4: 17 to 20 degrees Banking/Frontstretch: 10 degrees Banking/Backstretch: 5 degrees Frontstretch Length: 2,685 feet Backstretch Length: 2,207 feet The Race: The Hollywod Casino 400 267 Laps/ 400.5 Miles Defending Champion: Kevin Harvick, 114.884mph Most recent winner: Jeff Gordon, 128.149 MPH Track Record: Denny Hamlin, 144.122 MPH- April, 2012 Race Record: Greg Biffle, 138.077 MPH- October 2010 Qualifying record: Kevin Harvick, 194.252 MPH, April 2014 TV: ESPN, 2:00PM EST The Contenders: Top 10 Driver Ratings at Kansas: |
The History
·
Groundbreaking was
held on May 25, 1999.
·
The official
opening of Kansas Speedway was in 2001, with the first events being an ARCA
race and a NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race on the same day – June 2.
·
The first NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series race was on Sept. 30, 2001 – won by Jeff Gordon.
·
During the 2012
season, between the April and October events the 1.5-mile track underwent a
repave adding variable banking in the corners.
The Picks:
Before we get into this week, how did we all do at Dover? Well, none of us picked Jeff Gordon, so Vivian, Kevin and Jim all advance based on their wins, and the rest of the field was decided on points. Dover was an elimination race, so unfortunately we had to say good bye to a few championship competitors. What can be noted is that if Kevin had not chosen Joey Logano to win at New Hampshire, he would very likely be out of this competition, as Alabama Fitz had more points. However, the win gets you in, and a a result, Kevin advances, and Fitz is eliminated, along with Mr. Winner and Nate. The points for everyone remaining has now been elevated to 3000. We have three races before the next round of eliminations where we will send two more contenders home.
Player |
Selection |
Race Pts |
Previous Pts |
Total Pts |
Behind |
Wins |
DNFs |
Chase Pts |
Vivian |
48 |
41 |
2102 |
2143 |
0 |
4 |
2 |
3000 |
Jim Fitzgerald |
48 |
41 |
2093 |
2134 |
-9 |
2 |
2 |
3000 |
Kevin Abraham |
43 |
16 |
2085 |
2101 |
-42 |
2 |
4 |
3000 |
Darrell |
48 |
41 |
2094 |
2135 |
-8 |
3 |
2 |
3000 |
Mr. Pole |
4 |
33 |
2094 |
2127 |
-16 |
6 |
2 |
3000 |
Brian Marchetti |
48 |
41 |
2084 |
2125 |
-18 |
1 |
3 |
3000 |
PattyKay Lilley |
4 |
33 |
2082 |
2115 |
-28 |
1 |
1 |
3000 |
Barbara |
42 |
38 |
2070 |
2108 |
-35 |
1 |
3 |
3000 |
Alabama Fitz |
48 |
41 |
2061 |
2102 |
-41 |
2 |
6 |
2102 |
Mr. Winner |
48 |
41 |
2060 |
2101 |
-42 |
1 |
3 |
2101 |
Nate |
20 |
40 |
2053 |
2093 |
-50 |
1 |
3 |
2093 |
Mr. Seven |
78 |
37 |
1122 |
1159 |
-984 |
0 |
0 |
1159 |
ALABAMA FITZ: Okay, I’m going to get this one started. Since I’m now fighting for fifth place. Kevin Harvick....in Kansas. Why? He has run well lately, especially at Dover, he is the defending Champ of this race, plus Kevin and Kansas both start with "K".
PATTYKAY LILLEY: At Dover, I had the best car in the race... no argument. It just didn't end well for Kevin, much like several other races have gone for that team this year. Start on pole, dominate race, bad luck appears on horizon, singles out the #4 and another race goes in the books showing a great race with a lousy finish. Ah well... such is life. I'm not easily discouraged though, probably because I don't give a rip about any Chase, anywhere. I do not like it Sam I Am! I do not like the Chase. Just Damn! OK, now that that's out of my system, I'm staying with the freaky fast car of Kevin Harvick. Sooner or later, bad luck is gonna land somewhere else. Besides, Jeff Gordon is already the Champion, so all else is superfluous. Kevin and I will see y'all at the finish line in the land of Oz. Just follow the yellow brick road...
JIM FITZGERALD: Kansas...what seems to be the sports capital of the world right now, with the Chiefs hosting Monday Night Football, the Royals playing playoff baseball for the first time in almost 30 years, and NASCAR this weekend. Just as Kansas is on top of the sports world right now, Jeff Gordon is on top of the NASCAR world now. Can you believe he is a mere 13 wins short of tying the Silver Fox for second in career wins? I'm thinking that when he rolls out of Kansas, that number diminishes by one. I'm taking soon to be 5 time Jeff Gordon to win at Kansas!
KEVIN ABRAHAM: Harvick and Gordon are good picks. I thought of Johnson, but i thought I would save him for another race. I figured this race will wipe out Kyle Busch's Chase hopes, as this is his WORST track, so I am back with the Penske Fords. This week I will once again ride with Joey Logano for the win, and advance to the next round before facing the great equalizer of Talladega.
JIM FITZGERALD: I think it is rather difficult to question anyone's picks for this race so far. All are contenders and all have shown they can win. I'm interested to see who finishes second to Jeff Gordon, though!
PATTYKAY LILLEY: When you find out, send me a text. I'll be busy playing 12th man to some deserving football team. Kansas indeed! I saw one extremely sarcastic soul refer to it as the "Historic Kansas Speedway." I threw up in my mouth more than a little. Please tell the scarecrow I said "Hey!"
KEVIN ABRAHAM: Makes one think of the song if I only had a brain from the Wizard of Oz movie.
PATTYKAY LILLEY: Give that lad a gold star! Kev, that's exactly what it was supposed to make you think of. Oh, Brian…
BRIAN MARCHETTI: I’m ready.
PATTYKAY LILLEY: Not you….I was talking about the other Brian…if he only had a brain.
BRIAN MARCHETTI: I thought I kept hearing a baby rattle the other day while I was out, so I slowed down and Brian France jogged by. So, I just took a quick look at the upcoming driver's ratings and averages for this week, and we have a handful of drivers all capable of winning this race. So the question is, which one do I pick? The answer isn't obvious, and with the points all reset (who does this?) it may be anyone's race to win. I think in my heart, I've always been a Hendrick fan, and tend to sway in his driver's directions. I'm going to do it again today. JJ has the best Driver Rating of 117.4, and the best Average of 5.0 in the last 10 races....I know PK, you can yell at me after the race!!!! Jimmie and Chad know how to win, and I expect to see it again this week
ALABAMA FITZ: So, how about our fans this week?
Barbara: Well, Jeffie-Boy put a crimp in my pick for Kansas by winning last week, but I think he’s got the fire in his belly and I’m going to stick with Big Daddy #24 Jeff Gordon for Kansas. And if Happy has the near perfect car THIS week like he had last week, it’s not going to matter who gets picked without a prayer for another busted valve stem. I really thought watching Mr. Larson last week, I would be out of this, but alas and alark, I’m still here - which gives me the prerogative to say I really dislike the repeat re-set of points again. They were re-set to start the official chase and to do it again - - bah, humbug.
Darrell: Well, I’m gonna have to go with Big Daddy Gordon for back to back wins this week.
Nate: I’m going to go with Big Bad Brad for the win at Kansas.
Vivian: Although I don't think he will pull off 5 wins like Tony did in the chase in 2011, I think Brad Keselowski will win a few more times before the season is over. One of those wins will come at Kansas this weekend so he is my pick to cross the finish line first and carry that American Flag proudly on his victory celebration lap.
So, there are the picks for the week. A few for Gordon, two for Keselowski, one for Johnson, one for Logano and a few for Harvick. We’ll be here next week to recap how it all turns out…hopefully we picked a winner, and you’re winning right alongside with us. We’ll find out how it all turns out this weekend, so until then, keep the shiny side up!
Our Picks For This Week!
Kevin Abraham |
Alabama Fitz |
Jim Fitzgerald |
PattyKay Lilley |
Brian Marchetti |
Darrell |
Nate |
Who is YOUR pick to win this week?
Correctly choose the winner before the green flag drops on Sunday, and you'll be entered into a drawing to win some racing stuff!