Next stop on the Nextel Cup Schedule is Chicagoland Speedway

Next week, the NASCAR Nextel Cup teams head will bring their tornado like speeds to the windy city of Chicago. Chicagoland Speedway is a young NASCAR track still coming into its own. NASCAR has been hosting Nextel Cup races at Chicagoland since 2001 with the hopes of capitalizing on the die-hard auto racing fans of the Midwest in the 3rd largest media market in the US. So far, the initial gamble has paid of.

Of all current drivers with 4 or more career starts at Chicagoland, Jimmie Johnson (average finish of 3rd) leads the pack.

Also expect the following drivers to do well next week:

Other drivers to note:

Kyle Busch - Average Finish 8th Kevin Harvick - Average Finish 9th Jeff Gordon - Average Finish 10th Brian Vickers - Average Finish 10th

Next Week's Schedule (all times Central):

Nextel Cup: @ Chicagoland Speedway 7/13/07 - 03:10pm NASCAR Nextel Cup USG SHEETROCK® 400 Qualifying 7/14/07 - 12:20pm NASCAR Nextel Cup USG SHEETROCK® 400 Practice 7/15/07 - 03:00pm NASCAR Nextel USG SHEETROCK® 400

Busch Series: @ Chicagoland Speedway 7/13/07 - 04:45pm NASCAR Busch Series USG DUROCK® 300 Practice 7/14/07 - 10:05am NASCAR Busch Series USG DUROCK® 300 Qualifying 7/14/07 - 02:00pm NASCAR Busch Series USG DUROCK® 300

Craftsman Truck Series: @ Kentucky Speedway 7/13/07 - 06:30pm NASCAR Busch Series NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series "Built Ford Tough 225 Presented by Greater Cincinnati Ford Dealers" Practice 7/14/07 - 04:00pm NASCAR Busch Series NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series "Built Ford Tough 225 Presented by Greater Cincinnati Ford Dealers" Qualifying 7/14/07 - 07:30pm NASCAR Busch Series NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series "Built Ford Tough 225 Presented by Greater Cincinnati Ford Dealers"

Jamie McMurray Captures First Cup Win in 166 Races

The ending to Saturday night's Pepsi 400 was nothing short of spectacular. With numerous lead changes over the final 10 laps of the race, it was only fitting that the race was decided by .005 seconds. .005 seconds in the NASCAR world translates to approximately 15 inches, and made the Pepsi 400 the second closest finish since NASCAR began electronic scoring in 1993. In those final seconds of the race, Jamie McMurray, with teammate Carl Edwards pushing, was able to edge out 15 inches in front of Kyle Busch to capture his first win at Daytona and only his second in Nextel Cup.

Despite having one of the strongest cars in the field, Jamie McMurray's win did not come easily. After being penalized on lap 31 for passing the leader Jeff Gordon below the yellow line, McMurray found himself at the rear of the pack. However, by lap 123 Jamie had worked his way back up into the top 10.

Speaking emotionally after the win, "Every driver out here that goes through that (a lengthy winless streak) knows how special this is. I started crying. I'm Like, 'What are you crying for?' You're happy, celebrating, happy for all the guys." If McMurray can Continue to excel in the 2nd half the season, this season my turn to be an emotional one as well. Jamie currently sits 50 points out of the 12th and final Qualifying spot for the Chase for the Championship.

No Love for Kyle Busch

While it's common knowledge that Kyle Busch is not the most beloved driver for NASCAR fans, it wasn't apparent until last night that Kyle receives no love from his teammates as well. After Hendrick Motorsports announced the release of Kyle Busch after the 2007 season in order to make way for Dale Earnhardt Jr in 2008, Kyle has complained of not receiving respect from his Hendrick teammates.

While I've grown deaf to the Busch brothers' complaints over the years, I admit that after watching the Pepsi 400, Kyle may vary well have a point. For much of the race, Kyle had the dominant car. However, a dominant car at Daytona, or Talladega for that matter, does not win you a race. Teammates win you races (just ask Jamie McMurray who was pushed to the checkered flag by Carl Edwards). Had Jeff Gordon actually jumped down to the bottom groove in the closing laps to push Kyle when he had the chance, Kyle would have won.

To date, no announcements have been made for Kyle regarding where he will race in 2008. Is there a team out there that can give Kyle the love he needs? Make no doubt about it, Kyle is a talent to be reckoned with. However, it seems the kid from Las Vegas needs time to mature emotionally before his current or future teammates fully embrace him.

Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway Recap

This year's Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway was a lesson on how good life is when you work well with your teammates and how things can quickly fall apart when you don't. Just ask teammates Jamie McMurray and Carl Edwards who worked together at the end to finish in 1st and 4th respectively. Or, you can ask teammates Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin who worked against each other while battling for the lead early in the race and finished 38th and 43rd respectively.

While both Tony and Denny are practically locked into the Chase for the Championship (Denny currently sits in 2nd while Tony is in 7th) and were not seriously affected by their lack of cooperation, both Carl Edwards and Jamie McMurray had more to gain by cooperating. By winning the race, Jamie now sits 13th in points with only 50 points separating him from the 12th and final qualifying position for the Chase for the Championship. It only helps Carl Edwards and Matt Kenseth to have one more teammate qualified for the Chase.

Other drivers to note:

Dale Earnhardt Jr suffered major setbacks in the Pepsi 400. Once considered a ringer at restrictor plate races, Jr has since fallen from glory. After getting caught up in an early race wreck, Jr was never able to fully recover and finished in 36th. Jr now sits 12th in points with only 50 points separating him from 13th.

Tony Stewart was smoking his wheels at the Pepsi 400. Too bad it wasn't at the end of the race, however. Smoke found himself tangled up with teammate Denny Hamlin early in the race and finished in 38th position.

Jeff Gordon looked poised to gain yet another win in 2007 Saturday night. However, lacking a teammate in the end to push him to the front, Gordon finished in 5th. Jeff is still comfortably in 1st place in points.

Jimmie Johnson looked as strong as any other Hendrick car in the Pepsi 400. The reigning champ found himself mired back in the front unable to mount a charge to the front at the end of the race. Johnson finished in 10th place and now sits 4th in points.