Race Weekend Central

Matt McLaughlin Thinks Out Loud: Kyle Busch – Is It the Rider or His Horse?

In horse racing, they say it is the jockey that matters but even the best can’t win on a pack mule. As it becomes more and more likely that the Joe Gibbs Racing teams will switch to Toyota Camrys next year, you have to wonder just how many millions of dollars are being thrown around …

Read more

Matt McLaughlin’s Driver Handicaps: 2007 Michigan Summer Race Edition

Jeff Gordon – Gordon has two wins at Michigan, with the most recent triumph coming in 2001. Overall, he has 20 top-10 finishes in 29 Cup starts in the Irish Hills, with an average finish of 10th… not too shabby. Denny Hamlin – Hamlin has run moderately well at Michigan in his short career, with …

Read more

Matt McLaughlin’s Driver Handicaps: 2007 Watkins Glen Race Edition

Jeff Gordon – Gordon is one of the better NASCAR road racers. While he has four wins at Watkins Glen, oddly enough he hasn’t had a top-10 finish here in five races – he’s finished outside the top 20 in three of those events. But don’t be fooled; Gordon also has five wins at Sonoma, …

Read more

Matt McLaughlin’s Driver Handicaps: 2007 Pocono Summer Race Edition

Jeff Gordon – Gordon won here in June to score his first Pocono victory since his 1998 dream season. It was his fourth win and 20th top-10 result at this track in just 29 starts. Denny Hamlin – Hamlin won both races here last year as a rookie and didn’t do too badly in June …

Read more

Matt McLaughlin’s Driver Handicaps: 2007 Brickyard 400 Edition

Jeff Gordon – Gordon has won a track record four Brickyard 400s, including the inaugural event in 1994. He’s also managed 10 top-10 finishes here in 13 starts. The Indiana transplant is hugely popular with the fans in Indy, as well. Denny Hamlin – Hamlin finished 10th here last year in his only Brickyard start …

Read more

Matt McLaughlin’s Driver Handicaps: 2007 Firecracker 400 at Daytona

Jeff Gordon – Gordon’s Daytona record speaks for itself; he’s won a total of six points races there, most recently the 2005 Daytona 500. With the Hendrick teams on a roll at the plate tracks, that should make Gordon an automatic contender, right? Not quite; it has to be pointed out that Gordon has finished …

Read more

Matt McLaughlin’s Driver Handicaps: 2007 New Hampshire Summer Race

Jeff Gordon – Gordon has three wins at Loudon, but none since 1998. In fact, his third-place finish at NHIS last fall put to bed a streak of three straight finishes outside of the top 10. But overall, Gordon has 13 top 10s in 24 career starts at this track – and do you want …

Read more