A Date With The Old Lady...

This week the boys of NASCAR head to the “Lady In Black” for their annual reunion with her unforgiving walls and difficult track. Darlington Raceway is a cheese grater of a track that chews drivers up and spits them out, hence its other nickname “To Tough To Tame.”

One definitely has to wonder what kind of fireworks we will see this weekend after the bent metal and hurt feelings that occurred last weekend at Richmond. If Richmond can be called a short track that races like a speedway, Darlington could definitely be referred to as a speedway that races like a short track. The odd shaped corners will definitely bring back some of the heat that was stirred up just seven days prior.

For instance, I am sure everyone will be watching should the 39 car of Ryan Newman come anywhere near the 42 of Juan Pablo Montoya after their back and forth last week. NASCAR no doubt will be doing the same. But Darlington does not need to borrow from last week to have some tension. This track has been the site of close races, post race shoving matches, and exhausted drivers for over sixty years.

This week, people will definitely be expecting strong showings from two drivers in particular. Denny Hamlin, after having a slow beginning of the season, is now heating up and trying to prove that he and his crew chief can perform the way they did last season. Hamlin finished second to his teammate Kyle Busch last week, is the last winner at Darlington, and no doubt is ready to return to victory lane.

Second, Jeff Gordon had quick success this season with his new crew chief, Alan Gustafson, but has since cooled with some aggravating finishes. Last week Gordon was probably the only HMS car that started the race with a chance to win, and after a disappointing wreck blew his shot, Gordon will be eager to return to victory lane at Darlington where he has won 7 times and is the active win leader.

A good dark horse pick for this week’s race would have to be Kasey Kahne. Coming off of a third place finish at Richmond, he may be hard to think of as a dark horse, however. He has never won at Darlington, yet has three poles there, so he knows how to get around the track. Also, even though his last five finishes there have all been 20th or worse, he still averages a 15th place finish.

A few facts for the race:

1. 11 of the past 25 races at Darlington have been won by Hendrick Motorsports. 7 of those were won by Jeff Gordon.

2. Only two Sprint cup races at Darlington have been won from the front row since 1996. Both of those races were won by Dale Jarrett.

3. Only 3 drivers have won multiple Darlington races from the pole: 4- David Pearson, 3-Bill Elliott, and 2-Dale Earnhardt. Jeff Gordon has never won from the pole at Darlington.


Follow Joseph Davis on Twitter @the_Bumpdrafter

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