TSN 5: the 5 big races to watch this year Coca-Cola 600

Sporting News, The, May 31, 2004 by Roger Kuznia

Coca-Cola 600 fantasy picks

1. Matt Kenseth. Jack Roush-owned cars always fare well at Charlotte, and Kenseth has been the biggest beneficiary. He has finished no worse than second in three of the past four Coca-Cola 600s, winning in 2000.

2003 Coca-Cola 600: 2nd 2002: 2nd

2. Jimmie Johnson. He swept both May races at the track that bears the name of his sponsor, Lowe's. He has finished no worse than seventh in four career points races at the track and qualified in the top five three of those times.

2003 Coca-Cola 600: 1st 2002: 7th

3. Bobby Labonte, He has 12 top 10s in his last 14 races at Charlotte, including a win and nine top fives. Plus, with the steady season he's having, Labonte is as close to a sure bet as you can get.

2003 Coca-Cola 600: 3rd 2002: 14th

4. Ryan Newman. A knack for holding off tough competition at the end of races makes him worthy of a top five pick in the longest race of the year.

2003 Coca-Cola 600: 5th 2002: 41st

6. Michael Waltrip. He has outperformed teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. in this race the past two seasons. Waltrip's TSN games salary is pretty attractive, too.

2003 Coca-Cola 600: 6th 2002: 8th

For fantasy nuggets on every race, drop by http://ultimate.sportingnew.com/ stockcar/forecast to purchase your subscription to the Fantasy Stock Car Weekly Forecast for the remainder of the season. CREW CHIEF CLUB QUESTIONNAIRE: ROBBIE LOOMIS, CREW CHIEF FOR NO. 24, JEFF GORDON

CONTENDERS CHECKLIST

Before the season, we picked Matt Kenseth, the defending Cup champ, to win this race--and we're sticking with him. In four 600s, Kenseth has a victory and two second-place finishes. This race is about being there at the end, and no one does that better than Kenseth. For those who think Junior runs well at Charlotte, think again. His finishes in the 600: 41st, 35th, 25th and fourth. Keep an eye on someone not on this list: Bobby Labonte.

                                      Dale          Jeff      Jimmie
                                  Earnhardt Jr.    Gordon     Johnson

                                        8            24         48

Runs well at Lowe's                                [check]    [check]
Adapts to track conditions                         [check]
Runs up front                        [check]                  [check]
Makes his move late                                [check]
Crew and pit stops                                            [check]

                                   Matt          Ryan       Tony
                                  Kenseth       Newman     Stewart

                                     17            12         20

Runs well at Lowe's                [check]       [check]    [check]
Adapts to track conditions         [check]                  [check]
Runs up front                                    [check]
Makes his move late                [check]                  [check]
Crew and pit stops                 [check]       [check]

JIMMIE JOHNSON GIVES US THE RUNAROUND

Jimmie Johnson, who won the 2003 all-star race and the Coca-Cola 600, gave Lee Spencer a virtual tour of the track: You cross the start/finish line heading into Turn 1, and it's a really tricky entry. You have a big transition into the comer, where the track falls away and then you catch the banking, so it slings you to the left. And that transition is really tough to get right in the car and make it comfortable. As soon as you catch the banking, as soon as your body thinks it's possible to touch the gas pedal, you have to get back to the gas. >From there, the car touches the ground a couple of times, but there's a lot of banking and a lot of grip on the low line. So you come oft 2, and you just have to watch it; carrying so much speed off the corner can get you into the outside wall. You go down the backstretch, and it's kind of like an off-road track. It's pretty rough, especially when you get down over the tunnel. You're almost airborne in a couple of spots, and you can hear the engine rev up. As you make it into Turn 3, it's a real quick transition to catch the banking with a lot of bumps--and the famous Humpy Bump that's down there. You're on your toes trying to keep the car pointed in the right direction on the entry. As you work your way through the middle, there're some swells in the track that upset the car again--even more so. Then you're back on the gas, and as you come off 4, the banking ends really early, so the car wants to get really tight and put you into the outside wall. You can see the finish line, but it doesn't mean you've made it. You still have to hold your breath until you get past the wall and start turning into the oval or the front straightaway. It's quite a lap.

Track preview: Lowe's Motor Speedway

Q: What makes a good car at Lowe's?

A: Lowe's Motor Speedway at Charlotte is a rather unique track, especially down in Turns 3 and 4. You can make good lap times on the top or the bottom. This track likes horsepower. You really have to be hooked up with horsepower. You need a car that can handle the corners well because you are in the corners a lot. Also, we will look for major downforce, like we did in California.

Q: Where is the passing good at Lowe's?

A: I feel most comfortable when Jeff is passing in Turns 3 and 4. I know he can pass in (Turns) 1 and 2 as well, but he is good in 3 and 4. Well, actually, I can handle it whenever he passes anyone, wherever on the track. He's good and very comfortable at Charlotte.

Also, as a crew chief, I really like to see us make up some positions in the pits. We've gone in third and come out in the lead several times lately, and that is a real morale booster for the team. We have a great pit crew, and they feed off of the excitement of a good pit stop.