2012 Coca-Cola 600 Predictions
Written by Steve Janus - Google +
At last week’s Sprint All-Star Race, Jimmie Johnson finally showed some signs of life in 2012. Johnson won the huge prize of over $1,000,000 for his first win of the season, but that race was only about the money. It didn’t count for anything in the points standings. Johnson will get a chance to show off in a race that really matters at Charlotte Motor Speedway, as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series gears up for the Coca-Cola 600 this Sunday.
The race is scheduled for 5:30 EST and will be televised nationally on FOX. If you love racing and need some plans for this Memorial Day Weekend, you are in for a treat. Sunday morning you can kick off the day with the Grand Prix of Monaco, follow it up with the 96th running of the Indianapolis 500, and finish up your day with the longest Sprint Cup race of the season.
The length of the Coca-Cola 600 really puts a lot of pressure on the crew chiefs to make sure their car is set-up for the different temperatures that we will see over the race. The race starts in the afternoon sunshine and concludes under the lights of Charlotte Motor Speedway. Last year Kevin Harvick was able to bring home the checkered flag for his first win at Charlotte. Harvick is hoping a return will get him on track in 2012, as he has yet to win this season.
For those of you looking to place a wager on the Cola-Cola 600, here is a quick look at the three drivers I feel have the best shot at ending the night in victory lane.
Jimmie Johnson
While Johnson took advantage of a new setup at the All-Star race, his car was hands down the best on the track. Johnson won the first 1st segment, which allowed him a spot in the top 4 of the final 10 laps. He wisely stayed at the back of the pack in segments 2-4, saving up for the win. If he runs that same car, which I expect he will, I really like his chances of winning again this week. Johnson has all kinds of success on this track. He won this very event three straight years from 2003 to 2005. Over his storied career, he has won six times at Charlotte with 10 Top 5 finishes. If you are looking for a favorite to back on Sunday, Johnson is definitely worth a shot.
Matt Kenseth
Kenseth is another drivers I think is going to really have a strong showing this week. Kenseth finished 3rd last week at the All-Star race and has a strong history of running well on this track. Kenseth won this race back in 2000 and has racked up 13 Top 10 finishes at Charlotte over his career. Kenseth’s win at the Daytona 500 was just the beginning of a great start. He is 2nd in the points standings, just two points behind the leader, Greg Biffle.
Tony Stewart
Stewart isn’t get a lot of hype coming into the race, but I feel like he is poised for a great showing on Sunday. Stewart hit a bit of a rough patch after his two wins early in the season, but he appears to be back on track. He has two Top 5 finishes in his last three races, finishing 3rd at the STP 400 and the Bojangle’s Southern 500.
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