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New battleground

Fans, drivers may be in for tight race at new venue

	• Lugnuts • On the track • In the pits • Stop 'n' Go • Finish Line

From CNNSI.com

New track, no history.

Though there's nothing to go on and little reason to speculate what might happen in Sunday's Tropicana 400 at Chicagoland Speedway, there are at least a few hints to suggest that the new, 1.5-mile tri-oval is some kind of fast. According to Jim Long, crew chief for the No. 7 car that will be driven this week by Robby Gordon, Chicagoland is a combination of the Atlanta, Las Vegas and Michigan speedways.

And if Long is correct, then Sunday's race just might be a good one. In Atlanta earlier this year, rookie Kevin Harvick held off Jeff Gordon to win by just .006 of a second. At Michigan, Gordon and Ricky Rudd waged a thrilling last-lap duel.

Regardless of any potential on-track excitement, Sunday's race will be significant.

"Anytime we go into a new market, especially something as huge as Chicago, it's going to be an important race," says Andy Petree, owner of the Nos. 33 and 55 cars of Joe Nemechek and Bobby Hamilton respectively.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. It'll be interesting to see if Little E can use Saturday night's storybook victory at Daytona as a springboard into a fight for the Winston Cup championship. He's ninth in points with nine top-10 finishes this year. Ricky Rudd On the other side of the spectrum, Rudd suffered his first finish out of the top 10 since April on Saturday when he finished 14th in the Pepsi 400. Rudd sits third in the standings, just 76 points behind leader Jeff Gordon. Shawna Robinson Robinson will attempt to qualify for this weekend's Winston Cup race in Chicago. It'll be her third attempt of the year. At Fontana, Calif., she failed to qualify. At Michigan, she qualified 34th and finished 32nd. Matt Kenseth Kenseth may be one to watch Sunday, simply because he has experience on the new track. He tested there earlier this year and says he likes the surface. He also has three top-10 finishes this year.

Flattery Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s victory in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona on Saturday was certainly emotional, but it's impact is magnified when you consider Little E nearly hung up his driving suit for good after his father's death in February. Flag Regardless of how Tony Stewart felt about his black-flag penalty Saturday at Daytona, slapping a reporter's tape recorder and then kicking it under a hauler is inexcusable. Flattery Elliott Sadler's third-place finish in the Pepsi 400 is his first top-10 finish since his win at Bristol in March. Sadler gained two spots in the standings and is currently 16th, 586 points behind Jeff Gordon. Flag The bad news continues for Dodge in their return to Winston Cup racing. After snaring the pole for the Pepsi 400, Sterling Marlin finished a dismal 39th, his worst finish of the season.

Ron Fellows, a road racing specialist, furthered his reputation Sunday when he won the GNC Live Well 200 at Watkins Glen, N.Y. It was Fellows' first Busch series start this year. Racing success must be in the Hendrick blood. Saturday, Ricky Hendrick became the youngest NASCAR Truck series winner in history when he -- at 21 -- captured the O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 at Kansas Speedway. Joe Nemechek returned behind the wheel of his Winston Cup car for the first time since Richmond on Saturday at Daytona. Nemechek qualified eighth and finished 27th.

Sam's Club/Hills Bros. 300 -- 3:30 p.m. Saturday (NBC): 300 miles, 200 laps. This is a new race on the Busch series circuit. Kroger 225 -- 8 p.m. Saturday (ESPN): 225 miles, 150 laps. 2000 pole winner: Bryan Reffner. 2000 winner: Greg Biffle. Tropicana 400 -- 2:30 p.m. Sunday (NBC): 400.5 miles, 267 laps. This is a new race on the Winston Cup circuit.

I think what Dale Earnhardt Jr. is doing is taking his steps from here and placing them in his dad's footprints. After all, Dale Jr. will be the spark that will burn bright, just like his dad. Way to go Junior! I hope you're as good as your old man was! God bless and good luck!. -- Wilbert, Johnstown, Pa. Home Depot and Joe Gibbs need to put a muzzle on Tony Stewart. He always has something to blame someone else for. -- Shannon, Lawrenceville, Ga. It would be nice if someone would recognize the Canadian NASCAR fans and start televising on channels that we can get! -- Renia, Brantford, Ontario. I don't care what anyone says, for every one person who didn't like the FOX coverage, there's 10 who can't get enough of it. I'm one of the 10. -- Al, Dallas. God bless Little E. Think of the courage its taking him to race. -- Todd, Plano, Tex. At least now with NBC I will get to see all the races. I thought FOX did a very good job broadcasting the race when it wasn't being shown on FX! I'm watching to see the race, not as much the commentary stuff, so I'm glad NBC is going to finally allow me to watch all the races. -- Gene, Dayton, Ohio. Jeff Gordon has got to be the most patient and most conservative driver NASCAR has. For that I am picking him to win the Winston Cup title for 2001. -- Brian, Elmendorf A.F.B., Alaska. I'm a Sterling Marlin fan. I don"t think y'all give him the recognition he deserves. Just like in golf where Tiger Woods is the only player on course, in NASCAR, Jeff Gordon is the only driver on the course regardless of what place he is in. -- Jack, Marion, Ark. I wouldn't be so quick to count Tony Stewart out. Remember what he did the second half of the season last year. He always starts slow and moves up. -- Reggie, Oakland, Calif. It's great to see more NASCAR on the networks this year. FOX did a good job, especially with D.W. and his in-car interviews. Very cool. Props to No. 8 for the courage to race on. His dad would be proud. -- Jared, Miami.

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