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New game plan

Rule changes, weather to play big part at Loudon

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

From CNNSI.com

Successful Winston Cup seasons are built on consistency. Bobby Labonte won his first title last year not so much because he won four races but because he managed 20 other top-10 finishes. And if consistent performance is based at least in part on past experience -- knowing what chassis setups to run from year to year, for example -- then Sunday's winner of the New England 300 might think about playing the Lotto.

For this year's first race at the New Hampshire International Speedway, teams are confronted with a variety of variables that weren't a factor in the last race held there: new tires, no bump stops and no restrictor plates. On top of all that, of course, there's the track itself, notorious for how quickly it can change.

Not only does it change year-to-year thanks to New Hampshire's harsh winters, it also changes dramatically moment to moment. Jeremy Mayfield, likening the track to a fair-haired kid, says that when the sun comes out (or goes behind the clouds), the track changes complexion almost immediately.

So together, acts of nature and NASCAR figure to wreak havoc on this weekend's race ... just as this weekend's race figures to wreak havoc on the standings. Not only are the top three of Jeff Gordon, Dale Jarrett and Ricky Rudd separated by a slim 18 points, but with Rusty Wallace in fourth and Tony Stewart -- last year's race winner and the hottest driver on the circuit in the second half of last year -- lurking in sixth, there's added pressure on the top teams to combine all these unpredictable ingredients into a solid package.

Jeff Burton Burton has four wins at New Hampshire, including last year's Dura Lube 300 where he led wire-to-wire. In all, Burton has seven top-10 finishes at NHIS. He also has four top-10 finishes in his last five starts. Jeff Gordon In 12 starts at New Hampshire, Gordon has three wins and nine top-10 finishes. He was fifth in this race a year ago and won it in 1995. Gordon could use a good week after finishing 37th and 17th in his last two starts. Mark Martin Martin has yet to win at New Hampshire, but past performance suggest he may be due. Martin has the most top-10 finishes of any driver at NHIS (10 in 12 starts) and he was sixth last week in Chicago. Rusty Wallace Wallace won the first Winston Cup race at NHIS in 1993. In all, he's compiled nine top-10 finishes in 12 starts there. He was fifth in last year's Dura-Lube 300. This year, Wallace has eight top-10 finishes in 18 starts.

Flattery After suffering through a busted transmission in Saturday's Busch race at Chicagoland Speedway, Kevin Harvick bounced back Sunday to win the weekend's main event -- the Tropicana 400 -- in dominating fashion. Flag Fans and drivers alike had to be seeing red after seeing so many yellow flags in Chicago. A total of 19 cautions between Saturday's Busch series race and Sunday's Winston Cup race slowed action to a crawl. Flattery Robert Pressley's second-place finish in Sunday's Tropicana 400 was his best finish in 187 Winston Cup starts. His previous best was a third in 1998. Sunday's effort was Pressley's second top-10 finish of the season. Flag For the second consecutive week, tempers flared after a Winston Cup race. This time, Joe Nemechek and Ward Burton had different views on their collision on lap 199 of Sunday's Tropicana 400.

Jimmie Johnson's decision to take only two tires in his final pit stop of Saturday's Sam's Club-Hills Bros. 300 resulted in his first career Busch victory in his 58th series start. While Scott Riggs won Saturday night's Kroger 225 at Kentucky Speedway, Jack Sprague reached a milestone. Sprague is the only driver to earn $4 million in the Truck series. Shawna Robinson failed to qualify for the Tropicana 400 at Chicagoland Speedway, giving her one start in three qualifying attempts. She'll try again at the Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis.

New England 200 -- 12:30 p.m. Saturday (ESPN): 211.6 miles, 200 laps. 2000 pole winner: Joe Ruttman. 2000 winner: Kurt Busch. Carquest Auto Parts 250 -- 8 p.m. Saturday (TNT): 250 miles, 200 laps. 2000 pole winner: Jeff Green. 2000 winner: Kevin Harvick. New England 300 -- 2 p.m. Sunday (TNT): 317.4 miles, 300 laps. 2000 pole winner: Rusty Wallace. 2000 winner: Tony Stewart.

I think NBC's coverage of NASCAR is really bad. NBC should stand for "Nothing But Commercials." Bring back FOX.. -- Steve, Peoria, Ill. I'm sorry, but Dale Jr. is not his father. His record is not bad, but let's be honest, his talent is not on the same level as The Intimidator. People are just unrealistic to think that Little E is going to step in his father's shoes. He doesn't have that kind of gut level. Look at Kevin Harvick. He's got that swagger much more that Junior. -- Alden, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. I think it is time to put Dale Earnhardt to rest. I agree he was a great driver, but let us not forget how he died and why. I may not have been his fan, but I feel for the family. -- Leo, Lockhart, Texas. I believe Dale Jr. won the Pepsi 400 on his own merits. How dare someone like Jimmy Spencer downgrade his win with the remarks he made? Someone needs to ask Spencer if he wants cheese and bread with that whine. -- Judy, Kooskia, Idaho. FOX's commentary was informative and entertaining, if you had a chance to see it. The decision to air some races on FX was infuriating. When I did get to watch a race, it was delayed because of local baseball then they cut half of the race out. Thank god for NBC. -- Ray, Nashua, N.H. Restrictor plates have to go. The drivers hate them and the fans hate them. Why are Atlanta, Texas and Michigan faster than Daytona and Talladega? -- Greg, Calgary, Alberta. I think Tony Stewart got what he deserved. He could of backed out of the gas once he got below the yellow line without causing any accident, but he kept his foot in the gas, advanced his position and changed the outcome of the race for a lot of cars. -- Randy, Marathon, Iowa. Dale Jr. has the guts And backbone just like his dad. Some wanted to overshadow his win at Daytona, but don't the stars shine the brightest when darkness sets in? -- Roy, Raleigh, N.C. People need to get off of Tony Stewart's back. He is just a very aggressive driver trying to win. When No. 3 raced that way, everyone thought that was great! -- Jim, Dothan, Ala. Tony Stewart was robbed by NASCAR. Maybe they would have liked to watch him race on his roof again. -- Patti, Phoenix, Ariz. I think NASCAR should be black-flagging the driver that tries to run the other driver onto the apron, not the one that gets squeezed below the line. You could win pretty easily causing people to go to the back. -- James, Chattanooga, Tenn. I not a Tony Stewart fan at all, but if you watch the tapes he was clearly pushed down the track by a driver protecting his position. Yes, he has a temper, but let them all race. -- Jay, Martinez, Calif. Quit your whining about Tony Stewart and what he should or should not have done. It's old already hearing how much of a baby he is in your minds. -- Mac, Virginia Beach, Va. NBC needs to charge more for ads so we can see more racing and less commercials. -- Jeff, Albany, Ga. Tony Stewart did the right thing and should have been praised, not punished. -- Dan, Corona, Calif. Tony Stewart is a hot head. He was already on NASCAR probation for his actions being out of control. It is not the image young fans should see. -- Tim, Portage, Ohio. Tony Stewart and all the drivers were told not to go below the yellow line to advance in the drivers meeting before the Pepsi 400. He should've been black-flagged as any other driver should be. I call them as I see them and don't play favorites! -- Marty, San Marcos, Texas. Tony Stewart should have been black-flagged. It is clearly shown that he did advance after going over the yellow line. He should sit out a race and cool off. He is running with the "big guys" now, not the dirt track that he is used to. He got what he deserved. -- Marilyn, Redford, Mich. In my opinion, NASCAR made a bad call when they black-flagged Tony Stewart at Daytona. However, Tony needs some anger management counseling. -- Marilyn, Redford, Mich. FOX did a super job with NASCAR coverage and I'm not impressed with NBC. Muzzle Tony Stewart, he takes away from real sportsmanship. -- Steve, Sumter, S.C. Does anyone else wonder if NASCAR would have fined anyone else but Tony Stewart for the over-the-line episode at Daytona? -- S. Perlinger, Fulton, N.Y. NASCAR, was 100 percent wrong with the Tony Stewart case. This is racing and if pushing below the line to pass is something new, let me know. I go to many races every year, but if you can only pass with your flashers on, give them horns and lights. I'm very disappointed not only in NASCAR, but other drivers for not stepping in to defend him. -- Anita, Gibsonia, Penn. Why did NASCAR ever put Tony Stewart on probation in the first place if all they were going to do was slap his hand when he threw another tantrum? -- Tracy, Grand Rapids, Mich. There has always been a driver that fans love to hate. It used to be Dale Earnhardt. Now it is Tony Stewart. -- Becky, Keystone Heights, Fla. I'd like to commend Earnhardt Jr. on his professionalism in dealing with the conspiracy theory on his recent win. That family has been through enough. Can't a guy just win? Also, perhaps journalists should not be so pushy around drivers who just found out they had been penalized several points. Most people need a second to cool off when they're angry, even Tony Stewart. -- Cheryl, Chattanooga, Tenn. Regardless of whether Joe Gibbs or NASCAR can control Tony Stewart, he will not win the championship until the guy can actually control himself. It's all up to Tony. -- Beth, Methuen, Mass. A conspiracy in the Pepsi 400? Were you really paying attention? Michael Waltrip passed more cars than Little E on the final laps, Elliot Sadler came from nowhere to finish third. Enough said. -- Chris, Richmond, Va. NASCAR is fixed. Dale Jr. doesn't put the foot to the floor and still pulls away? Come on. Watch CART or F1, at least it is legitimate. Stock car racing used to be great. Money killed it. -- Rob, New York, N.Y.

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