NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race Information, Links and News

THE RACE: GEICO 400

TRACK: Chicagoland Speedway

NASCAR Sprint Cup Race #27 of 36 for the 2012 season
Chase for the Sprint Cup race #1 of 10

Updated: often, leading up to the race

Jumps to sections on this page:
Event Sched | Purse/Race Awards | TV / Re-airs | Radio
Practice/Qual Times | Rundown of Race/Results | Entry/Practice/Qualifying
Track/Race Info | Local Newspapers/TV | Local TV
Weather | Camping | Paint Schemes
Chassis | Goodyear Notes | Odds


Race: Sunday, September 16, 2012 in Joliet, IL

Title Sponsor: GEICO

Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 2:16pm/et


Television Coverage/Re-air/TV Team

  • NASCAR Countdown Pre-race: ESPN - 1:00pm/et

  • Television Race Coverage: ESPN, 2:00pm/et

  • In the Booth: Allen Bestwick, Dale Jarrett, Andy Petree
    Pit Reporters: Dave Burns, Mike Massaro, Dr. Jerry Punch, Vince Welch
    NASCAR Countdown: Nicole Briscoe, Brad Daugherty, Rusty Wallace, Ray Evernham

  • SPEED's NASCAR Raceday Pre-Race Show: 11:00 am/et with John Roberts, Kyle Petty, Kenny Wallace

  • Scheduled Race Re-Air Dates/Times: Monday, Septmber 17 at 12:30am/et on ESPN2
    Wednesday, Septmber 19 at 12:00pm/et on SPEED

  • TV Listings, Links and Info:
    Jayski's TV Listings Page
    ESPN Network Schedules
    SPEED TV Schedule
    NASCAR on TV
    TV Racer

  • Chicago Kicks Off Chase for NASCAR Sprint Cup: The 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup begins at Chicagoland Speedway on Sunday, Sept. 16, and ESPN will have a live telecast of the 400-mile race on the 1.5-mile track. NASCAR Countdown airs at 1:00pm/et with the race's green flag at 2:16pm/et. Also from Chicagoland, ESPN2 airs NASCAR Sprint Cup practice sessions on Friday at 1:00 pm/et and 4:00pm/et. All NASCAR programming on ESPN and ESPN2 is also available on computers, smartphones and tablets with the WatchESPN app and WatchESPN.com.
    NASCAR Now Weekend Wrap-up Program Begins Sunday: ESPN2's daily NASCAR news and information program NASCAR Now will expand its schedule with a weekly one-hour weekend wrap-up program coinciding with the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The first edition airs Sunday night, Sept. 16, at 11:30 pm/et. NASCAR Now will preview that day's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Chicagoland Speedway in the one-hour edition that airs earlier that day at 8:00am/et. Host Mike Massaro will be joined in the studio by ESPN NASCAR analyst Ricky Craven and reporters Marty Smith and Shannon Spake will check in from the track. ESPN.com motorsports writer David Newton will report from Chicagoland.(ESPN)(9-11-2012)

  • Kid Rock Amps Up ESPN's NASCAR Sprint Cup Coverage: Renowned singer-songwriter and musician Kid Rock will lend both his presence and his music to ESPN's telecasts of the 10 races in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, which begins with this Sunday's event at Chicagoland Speedway. ESPN's coverage from Chicagoland begins at 1:00pm/et with NASCAR Countdown. Kid Rock, who has been a fan of NASCAR for more than a decade, will narrate and appear in the opening teases of the telecasts of the 10 races, with each tease tailored to the racetrack hosting that week's event. Kid Rock's music will be featured throughout the campaign, including sneak peeks at his yet-to-be-titled new album and hits from his catalogue. "Kid Rock brings rock stardom to a sport that has its own rock stars," said Rich Feinberg, ESPN vice president, motorsports, production. "His music appeals to a cross-section of America and is a perfect fit for our NASCAR coverage." Also known for his philanthropy, Kid Rock is especially connected to the U.S. military and is a regular supporter of Operation Homefront, the USO and Operation Finally Home, all organizations to assist members of the armed forces and their families.(ESPN)(9-11-2012)


Radio Coverage


EVENT SCHEDULE
(Sprint Cup Series)

Times are local to the Track

Thursday, September 13

6:00 pm .Hauler Parade - Campgrounds

Friday, September 14

12:00 - 1: 30 pm NSCS Practice
1:40 pm NNS Practice
3:00 - 4:30 pm NSCS Final Practice
4:40 pm NNS Final Practice

Saturday, September 15

11:05 am NNS Qualifying
12:40 pm NSCS Qualifying
2:00 pm NNS Driver Introduction
2:30 pm NNS Race, Dollar General 300

Sunday, September 16

12:20 pm NSCS Driver Introduction
1:00 pm NSCS Race, GEICO 400

ALL TIMES ABOVE ARE LISTED IN LOCAL / CENTRAL TIME ZONE

NSCS = Sprint Cup Series
SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Times are local to the Track


PRACTICE & QUALIFYING
Dates / Times / TV coverage

(times in eastern time)
  • Practices:
    Friday, September 14, 1:00 - 2:30 pm/et, TV-ESPN2

  • Happy Hour 'Final' practice: Friday, September 14, 4:00 - 5:30pm/et, TV-ESPN2

  • Qualifying: 2 laps for positions 1-42, Saturday, September 15, 1:40 pm/et, TV-SPEED, re-air scheduled at 11:00pm/et.


PURSE/RACE AWARD

2012: $6,037,930
2011: $5,906,054
2010: $6,012,504
2009: $6,182,706
2008: $6,134,923
2007: $6,056,938
2006: $6,014,007
2005: $5,845,750
2004: $5,756,382
2003: $5,106,510
2002: $4,491,173


TRACK/RACE NEWS

  • Track Specifications:
    1.5 mile tri-oval
    267 laps for 400.5 miles
    Banking:
    18 degrees in the turns
    11 degrees in the front stretch
    5 degrees in the back stretch
    Frontstretch: 2,400 feet
    Backstretch: 1,700 feet
    Attendence: ~75,000 another 10,000 in the infield
    Opened: 2001

  • Race Festivities/Officials:
    Grand Marshal: TBA
    Command to start engines: Scott Markel, GEICO
    Honorary Starter/Wave Green Flag: TBA
    Invocation: Glenn Spoolstra
    National Anthem: Luke Bryan
    Military Flyover: T-38s, 435th FTS

  • Track Websites:
    Chicagoland Speedway
    ISC Motorsports
    Chicagoland Speedway - Facebook
    Chicagoland Speedway - Twitter

  • September 2011: see my Chicago Race Info page

  • 2011 Race Winner: #14-Tony Stewart, 143.306mph, started 26th

  • Race Speed Record: Tony Stewart, 2011, 143.306

  • Slowest Race Record: Kevin Harvick, 2001, 121.200

  • Oldest Winner: Mark Martin, 50 years, 6 months, 2 days, 7/11/2009

  • Youngest Winner: Kyle Busch, 23 years, 2 months, and 10 days, 7/12/2008

  • 2011 Pole Sitter: #17-Matt Kenseth, 183.243mph, finished 21st

  • Track Qualifying Record: Jimmie Johnson, 188.147mph, 7/8/2005

  • Oldest Pole Winner: Jeff Burton, 39 years, 0 months, 10 days, 7/09/2006

  • Youngest Pole Winner: Ryan Newman, 24 years, 7 months, 6 days, 7/14/2002

  • Worst Starting Spot to Win: Kevin Harvick, started 32nd, 7/2002

  • The Numbers for Chicagoland Speedway:
    1 - win from the pole (Kyle Busch, 7/12/08)
    1 - number of times qualifying canceled due to weather (7/12/08)
    3 - most wins by driver (Tony Stewart)
    4 - fewest cautions (7/10/10)
    6 - fewest leaders (7/11/09)
    6 - number of jet dryers available for track drying this weekend
    8 - different race winners
    10 - different pole winners (qualifying canceled in 2008)
    10 - fewest lead changes (twice, most recent 7/10/10)
    10 - most cautions (twice, most recent 7/10/05)
    11 - fewest cars on lead lap at finish (7/13/03)
    11 - number of drivers that have competed in all 11 races
    11 - fewest laps led by race winner (Dale Earnhardt Jr., 7/10/05)
    13 - most leaders (7/11/04)
    22 - most lead changes (9/19/11)
    21 - fewest caution laps (7/10/10)
    29 - most cars on lead lap at finish (7/12/08)
    42 - most running at finish (twice, most recent 7/12/08)
    120 minutes - amount of time it takes to dry the 1.5-mile track after a significant rainfall
    195 - most laps led by race winner (7/11/09 - Mark Martin - 267-lap race)
    2012 Caution Update
    1 - fewest cautions this season (Fontana)
    7 - races extended beyond scheduled distance (Daytona1, Martinsville, Talladega, Darlington, Sonoma, Michigan2, and Atlanta)
    13 - most cautions this season (Bristol2)
    148 - cautions in the first 26 races of 2012; includes 71 for accidents, 36 for debris and 15 for spins
    787 of 7,264 - laps under caution in 2012
    1,100.082 of 9,712.536 - miles under caution in the first 26 races
    (Darnell Communications for SRT Motorsports and Dodge)(9-14-2012)

  • Facts and Notes about Chicagoland Speedway:
    · Construction of the Chicagoland Speedway began in August 1999.
    · The first NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Chicago was July 14, 2001.
    · The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race was held on July 15, 2001.
    · This weekend marks the second year Chicagoland Speedway has been included in the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup  Sept. 18, 2011.
    · There have been 11 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Chicagoland Speedway.
    · 11 drivers have competed in all 10 races.
    · Todd Bodine won the first pole.
    · There has been a different pole winner after every qualifying session (qualifying was canceled in 2008), 10 total.
    · Kevin Harvick won the first two races.
    · Eight different drivers have won races, led by Tony Stewart with three.
    · Kyle Busch won the 2008 race from the pole, the first time a driver won from the pole. It was also the only time a driver had won from a top-five starting position.
    · Kevin Harvick won the 2002 race from the 32nd starting position, the deepest in the field that a race winner ever started at Chicago.
    · Only one starting position has multiple wins: 14th. Mark Martin won from the 14th starting position in 2009, as did Ryan Newman in 2003.
    · Tony Stewart (8.7), Jeff Gordon (10.0) and Jimmie Johnson (10.0) are active drivers who average a top-10 finish at Chicago.
    · Six of the last seven races have ended with a margin of victory under one second. The closest margin of victory at Chicago was 0.159 sec. (7-12-08).
    · Joe Gibbs leads all car owners in wins at Chicago with three, followed by Richard Childress and Rick Hendrick with two each.
    · Chevrolet leads the series with the most wins by a manufacturer at Chicago with eight.(NASCAR)(9-11-2012)

  • For news, stats, records and more about this race track, see: Jayski's Chicagoland Speedway Track News/Rumors/Links page


RACE RUNDOWN....news and links

  • Keselowski wins at Chicago: #2-Brad Keselowski won the GEICO 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway for his 4th win of year and 8th career win.
    Pole sitter, #48-Johnson, dominated much of the race but was passed by Keselowski after final pit stops and finished 2nd. He was followed by #5-Kahne, #18-Busch, #39-Newman, #14-Stewart, #20-Logano, #88-Earnhardt, Jr., #56-Truex, Jr., and #15-Bowyer.
    The points leader coming into the race, #11-Hamlin, ran out of gas on the last lap and finished 16th.
    There were 4 cautions for 23 yellow flag laps. There were 16 lead changes among 9 drivers. The average speed was 143.363mph.
    The estimated attendence was 65,000. Last year's race was rain delayed to Monday and attendance was 42,000.
    See race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Chicago Race Results page (pdf) and the official race and points rundown on the Official Race & Points Report .(9-16/17-2012)

  • Chase Drivers Finishing Position at Chicago:
    [by points standings before the race]:
    1) #11-Denny Hamlin, 16th
    2) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 2nd
    3) #14-Tony Stewart, 6th
    4) #2-Brad Keselowski, 1st
    5) #16-Greg Biffle, 13th
    6) #15-Clint Bowyer, 10th
    7) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 8th
    8) #17-Matt Kenseth, 18th
    9) #29-Kevin Harvick, 12th
    10) #56-Martin Truex Jr., 9th
    11) #5-Kasey Kahne, 3rd
    12) #24-Jeff Gordon, 35th (accident)
    (9-16-2012)

  • 2012 Sprint Cup Driver Chase Championship Points Standings:
    [after Chicago, race 27 of 36]
    1) #2-Brad Keselowski [4 wins], 2056
    2) #48-Jimmie Johnson [3 wins], 2053, -3
    3) #14-Tony Stewart [3 wins], 2048, -8
    4) #11-Denny Hamlin [4 wins], 2041, -15
    5) #5-Kasey Kahne [2 wins, 11th in points], 2041, -15
    6) #15-Clint Bowyer [2 wins], 2041, -15
    7) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [1 win], 2039, -17
    8) #16-Greg Biffle [2 wins], 2037, -19
    9) #56-Martin Truex Jr. [0 wins], 2035, -21
    10) #29-Kevin Harvick [0 wins], 2032, -24
    11) #17-Matt Kenseth [1 win], 2030, -26
    12) #24-Jeff Gordon [1 win, 12th in points], 2009, -47
    (ties broken by 1sts, 2nds, 3rd, etc)
    See drivers championship points standings on the Drivers Points Standings (pdf).(9-16-2012)

  • Race Fast Facts - Chicago
    Brad Keselowski won the 12th Annual GEICO 400, his eighth victory in 116 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
    This is his fourth victory and 16th top-10 finish in 2012. He has 7 top 5s and 10 top 10s in the last 11 races.
    This is his first victory and second top-10 finish in four races at Chicagoland Speedway. His previous best finish was fifth, last year.
    Jimmie Johnson (second) posted his ninth top-10 finish in 11 races at Chicagoland Speedway. It is his 18th top-10 finish in 2012. Johnson led a race-high 172 laps.
    Kasey Kahne (third) posted his third top-10 finish in nine races at Chicagoland Speedway.
    Brad Keselowski leads the point standings by 3 points over Jimmie Johnson. This is the first time he has led the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points standings in his career.
    (NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(9-16-2012)

  • Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at New Hampshire:
    #36 remains in 35th and is now 115 points ahead of 36th, the #21 team.
    there virtually no chance the top-35 will change the rest of the season.
    Rank) Car#-Driver/Team, owners pts, +/-
    34) #32-Bell/FAS Lane Racing, 363 +130
    35) #36-Blaney/Baldwin, 348 +115 ahead of 36th
    these teams / drivers will need to qualify by speed:
    36) #21-Bayne/Wood Bros., 233, -115pts out of the top 35
    37) #33-Whitt/Childress-Falk, 220, 128
    38) #30-Stremme/Inception, 191, -157
    The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.
    For the owner points standings, see the Owners Points Standings (pdf).(9-16-2012)

  • Chicagoland Notes-n-Nuggets:
    " Brad Keselowski earned his eigth career win in his 116th start.
    " The fourth win by Brad Keselowski ties Denny Hamlin for most in Cup in 2012.
    " It's Brad Keselowski's first-ever Chase win.
    " Brad Keselowski is the 21st different driver to win a Chase race.
    " A driver in the Chase has won each of the nine opening "postseason" races.
    " Brad Keselowski is atop the points for the first time in his career.
    " Brad Keselowski led four times, 76 total laps and the last 26 turns.
    " It's the 75th Cup win for Penske Racing, the fourth of 2012 and the second at Chicago.
    " Jimmie Johnson (second) led 171 laps -- the fourth time in 16 Chase races he led over 100 laps and didn't win.
    " Kasey Kahne (third) matched his best Chicagoland finish in his ninth start.
    " Kyle Busch (fourth) grabbed his third top-10 finish in eight Chicagoland races.
    " Ryan Newman (fifth) had his 10th top-10 finish of 2012, including seven of last 10 races.
    " Tony Stewart (sixth) started 29th, only his second top-10 finish in the last six races.
    " Dale Earnhardt Jr. (eighth) started 42nd after an engine change.
    " Jeff Gordon (35th) was the worst finishing Chase driver.
    (Racing Resources and Services -- Statistics Racing Recall / nascar.com)(9-16-2012)

  • Lucky Dogs - Who got a lap back on each caution at Chicago: (and their finish)
    Caution 1: #31-Burton, 24th
    Caution 2: #22-Hornish, Jr. 12th
    Caution 3: #34-Ragan, 22nd
    Caution 4: #1-McMurray, 21st
    (9-16-2012)

  • Race Coverage of the GEICO 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway is scheduled for Sunday, September 16, 2012.
    Television (TV): ESPN at 2:00 pm/et; NASCAR Countdown Pre-Race show at 1:00 pm/et; green flag approx 2:16pm/et
    Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 90
    Scheduled Race Re-Airs:
    ESPN2, Monday, September 17 at 12:30am/et; SPEED, Wednesday, September 19 at 12:00pm/et

  • Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the GEICO 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway have been made.
    Pole sitter #48-Johnson chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
    Outside pole sitter #43-Almirola took pit stall 8, the next pitstall with an opening in front of it.
    #17-Kenseth, who starts 3rd took the 43rd and final pit stall
    To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Pit Stall Selection chart.(9-15-2012)

  • Links to results, practices, qualifying PDF's:
    Official Race Report
    Race Results
    Drivers Points
    Owners Points
    Pitstalls
    Starting Lineup
    Qualifying Results
    Happy Hour Practice Speeds
    Qualifying Order
    Practice 1 Speeds
    Entry List

  • NASCAR Green-White-Checkered Race Procedure: NASCAR allows a maximum of three restart attempts prior to the White Flag under NASCAR's Green-White-Checkered flag finish. If the leader has taken the White Flag and the caution flag is displayed, the field is frozen and the race will not be restarted. Previously, there was only one restart attempt. The procedure applies to all three national series. See rule and notes on the Green-White-Checker rule page.

  • Wave-around rule: The wave-around rule dictates that cars under penalty at the time of the caution are ineligible for the wave around.

  • See Jayski's - 2012 Sprint Cup Race Results Page for pole winner, race winner with speed and starting/finishing position, links to race results, drivers & owners points, pit stall selections, qualifying results/starting lineup, practice speeds and chase stats as well as link to race track and race information page for each race


QUALIFYING INFO, PRACTICE SPEED and ENTRIES
info, news, speeds and links

  • Johnson wins pole at Chicago: #48-Jimmie Johnson won the pole for the GEICO 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway with a speed of 182.865mph for his 2nd pole of 2012 and 27th career pole.
    #43-Almirola will start 2nd followed by #17-Kenseth, #88-Earnhardt, Jr., #99-Edwards, #5-Kahne, #78-Smith, #11-Hamlin, #15-Bowyer, and #20-Logano.
    The starting position of other chase drivers: #2-Keselowski 13th, #56-Truex, Jr. 18th, #24-Gordon 19th, #16-Biffle 22nd, #14-Stewart 29th, #29-Harvick 35th.
    The go-or-go homers who made the race (8): #21-Bayne, #98-McDowell, #95-Speed, #30-Stremme, #87-Nemechek, #19-Bliss, #33-Whitt, #26-Wise
    The go-or-go homers who failed to qualify for the race (4): #23-Riggs, #91-Sorenson, #37-Yeley, #49-Leffler.
    See qualifying results & starting lineup below or on the Starting Lineup page (pdf).(9-15-2012)

  • Qualifying Fast Facts - Chicago:
    Jimmie Johnson won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 12th Annual GEICO 400 with a lap of 29.530 seconds, 182.865 mph.
    This is his 27th pole in 390 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. He moves into a tie for 24th all-time with Terry Labonte.
    This is his second pole and 19th top-10 start in 2012. He earned the pole at Kentucky Speedway and finished sixth.
    This is his second pole in 11 races at Chicagoland Speedway. He won the pole in 2005 and finished third.
    Aric Almirola (second) posted his sixth top-10 start of 2012. This is his first career series start at Chicagoland Speedway.
    Matt Kenseth (third) posted his sixth top-10 start at Chicagoland Speedway. It is his 12th in 27 races this season.
    Top Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup seed Denny Hamlin qualified eighth.
    (NASCAR Statistics)(9-15-2012)

  • Coverage of Qualifying for the GEICO 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway is scheduled for Saturday, September 15, 2012 at 1:40pm/et.
    Television (TV): SPEED, 1:30pm/et
    Scheduled Qualifying Re-Air: 11:00pm/et

  • Qualifying Order for the GEICO 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway is posted. 46 cars/drivers are listed.
    The first of the drivers scheduled to go out is #23-Riggs, slowest in practice.
    The final driver scheduled to go out is #56-Truex, Jr., who was fastest in first practice.
    Qualifying order is set by the first practice session, with slowest driver going out by speed and the fastest going out last. The non-top 35 drivers are now mixed in with the top-35 in owners points, slowest to fastest.
    See the full qualifying order on the Chicago Qualifying Page.(9-14-2012)

  • Rain Out Procedures: the rain-out qualifying procedure for all three NASCAR national series is as follows: If first practice is run, but qualifying is unable to take place, the starting lineup will be based on speeds from the car's fastest lap from the first practice, with top-35 cars in owner points no longer segregated from the non-top 35 cars. Previously, the top 35 cars lined up in front of all other eligible car owners.

  • Final practice for the GEICO 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway is over after 90 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
    #18-Busch 181.507
    #43-Almirola 181.214
    #55-Martin 181.123
    #99-Edwards 181.050
    #11-Hamlin 181.002
    slowest: #93-Kvapil 174.904 & #32-Bell 173.110. no speed #38-Gilliland
    notes: #56-Truex, Jr. ran into the back of #2-Keselowski in the garage after a NASCAR official stopped Keselowski. Teams repaired both cars.
    See speeds, best top-10 average and laps run on the Chicago practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(9-14-2012)

  • Go-or-Go Homers final practice at Chicago: how fast/slow were the drivers who are not in the top-35 of owners points and must qualify by speed to make the GEICO 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway , where they practiced in the final practice:
    the eight drivers who would make the race if things stayed the same:
    #21-Bayne, 8th
    #95-Speed, 21st
    #98-McDowell, 22nd
    #91-Sorenson, 23rd
    #30-Stremme, 27th
    #37-Yeley, 30th
    #33-Whitt, 33rd
    #26-Wise, 34th
    the four drivers who would miss the race if things stayed the same:
    #87-Nemechek, 36th
    #49-Leffler, 37th
    #19-Bliss, 39th
    #23-Riggs, 42nd
    (9-14-2012)

  • First Friday practice for the GEICO 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway is over after 90 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
    #56-Truex, Jr. 181.763
    #88-Earnhardt, Jr. 180.681
    #2-Keselowski 179.784
    #21-Bayne 179.695
    #11-Hamlin 179.623
    slowest: #32-Bell 174.740 & #23-Riggs 174.588.
    notes: #38-Gilliland hit the wall and will have to go to a backup car. The order for qualifying will be set by this practice with slowest going out first and fasftest going out last. Qualifying is scheduled for Saturday at 1:40pm/et and be televised on SPEED.
    See speeds, best top-10 average and laps run on the Chicago practice 1 speeds page (pdf). (9-14-2012)

  • Go-or-Go Homers practice at Chicago: how fast/slow were the drivers who are not in the top-35 of owners points and must qualify by speed to make the GEICO 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway , where they practiced in the first practice:
    the eight drivers who would make the race if things stayed the same:
    #21-Bayne, 4th fastest
    #30-Stremme, 19th
    #98-McDowell, 22nd
    #26-Wise, 30th
    #33-Whitt, 33rd
    #95-Speed, 34th
    #49-Leffler, 37th
    #37-Yeley, 39th
    the four drivers who would miss the race if things stayed the same:
    #19-Bliss, 40th
    #91-Sorenson, 41st
    #87-Nemechek, 43rd
    #23-Riggs, 47th, slowest
    (9-14-2012)

  • The Entry List for the GEICO 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway is posted, 47 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including:
    Partick is back in the #10; Bell is back in the #32
    Not in top 35 of owners points:
    #19-Mike Bliss (45/20)
    #21-Trevor Bayne (37/10)
    #23-Scott Riggs (44/24)
    #26-Josh Wise (41/26)
    #30-David Stremme (38/26)
    #33-Cole Whitt (36/26)
    #37-J.J. Yeley (50/11)
    #49-Jason Leffler (39/22)
    #87-Joe Nemechek (42/26)
    #91-Reed Sorenson (54/6)
    #95-Scott Speed (43/9)
    #98-Michael McDowell (40/26)
    In the event that qualifying is cancelled:
    the eight who would make it [8]: #'s 21,33,30,98,26,87,23,49
    missing the race would be [4]: # 19,37,95,91
    See the full entry list at my Jayski's Chicago Entry List

  • Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Chicago:
    #36 remains in 35th and is now 124 points ahead of 36th, back to the #33 team.
    there is slim to no chance the top-35 will change the rest of the season.
    Rank) Car#-Driver/Team, owners pts, +/-
    34) #32-Schrader/FAS Lane Racing, 349 +136
    35) #36-Blaney/Baldwin, 337 +114 ahead of 36th
    these teams / drivers will need to qualify by speed:
    36) #33-Leicht/Childress-Falk, 213, 124pts out of the top 35
    37) #21-Bayne/Wood Bros., 209, -128
    38) #30-Stremme/Inception, 186, -151
    The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.
    For the owner points standings, see the Owners Points Standings (pdf).(9-9-2012)

  • 2012 Sprint Cup Driver Chase Championship Points Standings:
    [after Richmond, race 26 of 36]
    1) #11-Denny Hamlin [4 wins], 2012
    2) #48-Jimmie Johnson [3 wins], 2009, -3
    3) #14-Tony Stewart [3 wins], 2009, -3
    4) #2-Brad Keselowski [3 wins], 2009, -3
    5) #16-Greg Biffle [2 wins], 2006, -6
    6) #15-Clint Bowyer [2 wins], 2006, -6
    7) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [1 win], 2003, -9
    8) #17-Matt Kenseth [1 win], 2003, -9
    9) #29-Kevin Harvick [0 wins], 2000, -12
    10) #56-Martin Truex Jr. [0 wins], 2000, -12
    WC1) #5-Kasey Kahne [2 wins, 11th in points], 2000, -12
    WC2) #24-Jeff Gordon [1 win, 12th in points], 2000, -12
    (ties broken by 1sts, 2nds, 3rd, etc)
    (9-9-2012)

  • 2012 Sprint Cup Driver Championship Points Standings (not chase):
    [after Richmond, race 26 of 36]
    1) #16-Greg Biffle [2 wins], 914
    2) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [1 win], 902, -12
    3) #17-Matt Kenseth [1 win], 897, -17
    4) #48-Jimmie Johnson [3 wins], 880, -34
    5) #2-Brad Keselowski [3 wins], 868, -46
    6) #56-Martin Truex Jr. [0 wins], 862, -52
    7) #15-Clint Bowyer [2 wins], 858, -56
    8) #11-Denny Hamlin [4 wins], 850, -64
    9) #29-Kevin Harvick [0 wins], 841, -73
    10) #14-Tony Stewart [3 wins], 810, -104
    11) #5-Kasey Kahne [2 wins], 784, -130
    12) #24-Jeff Gordon [1 win], 777, -137
    13) #18-Kyle Busch [1 win], 774, -140
    (ties broken by 1sts, 2nds, 3rd, etc)
    See drivers championship points standings on the Drivers Points Standings (pdf).(9-9-2012)


Local Newspapers

Joliet Herald News
Belleville News-Democrat
Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Tribune
Daily Herald
Naperville Sun
Northwest Herald
Peoria Star Journal
Rockford Register
Southtown Star


Local TV Network Stations

ABC 7 WLS
CBS 2 WBBM
FOX 32 WFLD
NBC 5 WMAQ


Weather Links

Weather Channel
Accuweather
National Weather Service
Race Weather
Race Day Forecast
Weather Underground


Camping, Eating and
Travel Info

Laid Back Racing
NASCAR Camping
Speed Eats


Some Chassis Selections and Notes by Teams for this race

  • Chassis selections for the GEICO 400: see the list of many teams and what chassis were selected by the team to run at Chicagoland Speedway:
    MISSING? why are some teams missing? like the #11, #24 or others? those teams do not report what chassis in the race previews or prs.
    #1-Jamie McMurray: Chassis #1112. Crew Chief Kevin "Bono" Manion and the No. 1 McDonald's team will use Chassis #1112 for Chicago. Chassis #1112 has been used previously this season at Darlington and Indianapolis.
    #2-Brad Keselowski: will race chassis PRS-832 during Sunday's Geico 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. This is a new chassis to the No. 2 fleet.
    #5-Kasey Kahne: For Sunday's race, crew chief Kenny Francis has selected Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 5-724. Kahne has raced this car three times this year, most notably scoring his first win of the season at Charlotte in May.
    #9-Marcos Ambrose: The No. 9 RPM team has prepared chassis No. 754 for this weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race at Chicagoland Speedway. This Stanley Ford was run previously this season at Martinsville, Dover and Loudon.
    #14-Tony Stewart: Chassis No. 14-736: This is a brand-new racecar that has never turned a wheel on the racetrack, but it has been wind-tunnel tested numerous times.
    #15-Clint Bowyer: Primary chassis No. 740 is new and has never raced. Backup chassis No. 716 raced earlier this season in Las Vegas, Kansas, Charlotte, Kentucky and Indianapolis. Chassis No. 716's best finish was sixth at Las Vegas.
    #16-Greg Biffle: Primary: RK-817 Last ran Michigan - finished 1st; Backup: RK-803 Last ran Pocono - finished 15th
    #17-Matt Kenseth: Primary: RK-821 (brand new chassis)
    #22-Sam Hornish, Jr.: will be racing the "PRS-823" Shell-Pennzoil Dodge Charger this weekend at Chicagoland. This is the same car that AJ Allmendinger last raced in the June 30 Quaker State 400 at the Kentucky Speedway (started 16th and finished ninth). This car made its debut for the team in Kansas back in April. Allmendinger won the Coors Light Pole Award and led 44 laps before secondary linkage woes put him 10 laps down and relegated him to a 32nd-place finish.
    #27-Paul Menard: will pilot Chassis No. 371 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable in the GEICO 400. This Chevrolet was utilized as a No. 29 racer at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July where RCR teammate Kevin Harvick drove it to a 13th-place finish, and was used in 2011 competition as the No. 33 entry at Texas Motor Speedway (November-finished ninth), Kansas Speedway (October-finished seventh) and Chicagoland Speedway (September-finished seventh).
    #29-Kevin Harvick: will pilot Chassis No. 396 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable in this weekend's GEICO 400. Built new for competition during the 2012 season, this RCR racer was utilized by Austin Dillon at Michigan International Speedway where he captured a 24th-place finish in his lone 2012 Sprint Cup Series start and by Harvick at Pocono Raceway in August where he finished 14th.
    #31-Jeff Burton: will race Chassis No. 367 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable this weekend. This No. 31 Chevrolet has been utilized three times this season at Kansas Speedway in April (started-12th, finished-22nd), Pocono Raceway in June (started-20th, finished-15th) and Michigan International Speedway in August (started-32nd, finished-19th).
    #36-Dave Blaney: will drive chassis No. 304. The chassis was recently purchased from Richard Childress Racing and will be making its debut for the team.
    #39-Ryan Newman: Chassis No. 39-733: It's been three starts and three top-10 finishes for Chassis No. 39-733 since making its debut at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July. At Indianapolis, Newman and his team overcame an ill-handling racecar and used quick pit work to help engineer a run into the top-10. The crew turned the car around in just a couple of days and took Chassis No. 39-733 to Pocono (Pa.) Raceway the following weekend. There, Newman ran in the top-10 for most of the rain-shortened race and finished sixth. Two weeks later, Chassis No. 39-733 was back on track at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, where it finished eighth.
    #42-Juan Pablo Montoya: Chassis #1119. Crew Chief Chris "Shine" Heroy and the No. 42 Target team will travel to Chicago with Chassis #1119. This chassis was used this season at Texas, finishing 16th and Pocono, finishing 17th.
    #43-Aric Almirola:: The No. 43 team has prepared chassis No. 742 for Chicago. This chassis ran previously at Pocono and Darlington this season.
    #51-Kurt Busch: Chassis No. 557: This weekend's Geico 400 will be the fourth race of the 2012 season for this chassis. It made its last appearance two weeks ago at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where Busch battled back from three laps down to finish 13th and on the lead lap. Prior to the race at Atlanta, the car made appearances at Dover (Del.) International Speedway in June, when Busch picked up the ninth starting spot but had his day end prematurely due to an engine failure, and at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway in May, when Busch competed in the top-10 during the majority of the event before settling for a 21st-place finish due to a late-race spin. Prior to the 2012 season, the car was used as a roadcourse car. Hendrick Motorsports built this chassis with a universal clip, which allows for greater adjustments with the geometric points on the chassis. As such, the team converted the car from a road-course car to an intermediate-track car for this season.
    #55-Mark Martin: Chassis 720 - finished second at Pocono in June. Also raced at Las Vegas, Kansas and Pocono August race. Backup - 732 - raced at Charlotte
    #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr.: Crew chief Steve Letarte and the No. 88 team will unload Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 88-726 this weekend at Chicago. Earnhardt raced this car twice this season at Pocono Raceway, notably recording an eighth-place finish in June.
    #99-Carl Edwards: RK-739 - Last ran at Michigan in August, finished sixth
    (from team PR's/sites if reported)(9-14-2012)


Goodyear Tires Notes / Fast Facts

  • Tire: Goodyear Eagle Speedway Radials

  • Number of Tires:
    Sprint Cup: Left-side -- 1,300, Right-side -- 1,300;
    Nationwide: Left-side -- 500, Right-side -- 500

  • Set limits:
    Sprint Cup: 5 sets for practice/qualifying and 10 sets for the race;
    Nationwide: 6 sets for the event

  • Tire Codes: Left-side -- D-4392; Right-side -- D-4410

  • Tire Circumference:
    Left-side -- 87.2 in. (2,215 mm);
    Right-side -- 88.4 in. (2,246 mm)

  • Technical Inspection Inflation:
    Left Front -- 30 psi; Left Rear -- 30 psi;
    Right Front -- 48 psi; Right Rear -- 45 psi

  • Minimum Recommended Inflation:
    Left Front -- 20 psi; Left Rear -- 20 psi;
    Right Front -- 48 psi; Right Rear -- 44 psi

  • Notes: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series will run the same tire codes at Chicagoland this weekend . . . this is the same combination of left- and right-side tires that teams in these two series ran at Chicagoland last season . . . this is also the same exact tire set-up that Sprint Cup and Nationwide teams have been scheduled to run at Texas and Homestead in both 2011 and 2012 . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners on all four tire positions at Chicagoland . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.


PAINT SCHEME NEWS

See all Paint Scheme news, links and chart for this race on the:
Paint Schemes Gallery & Race Chart page

The chart was removed from here as it was also posted on the Paint Schemes Gallery page, makes no sense to post the same info in two spots


Race / Cup Odds

Vegas Insider
NASCAR Race and other odds
GEICO 400 Preview by Micah Roberts
NASCAR Top-Five Finish Prediction

World Sports Exchange:
GEICO 400
2012 Sprint Cup Championship

Bovada Sportsbook:
GEICO 400

(this is not to promote gambling but to offer readers odds and ideas on what the 'experts' think about the upcoming race and the Cup series season)

Race / Event Information

Advance Auto Parts Clash Info page

Daytona 500 Race Info page


Homestead Race Info page