Watch Out For Stewart-Haas At New Hampshire

Tony Stewart has little left to prove this season. Any questions about his
decision to co-own a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team have mostly been
answered. His goals checklist is full - almost.

He already has a points race victory (as well as a win in the prestigious
NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race). He has the points lead. He has put both his
cars in the top 12 in points through 16 races.

What's left?

For one, Stewart would love to see his teammate - and employee - Ryan
Newman visit Victory Lane before the season's through.

Two, another win of his own would make him the first driver-owner with
multiple wins since Ricky Rudd in 1997.

And three, a championship.

One of those goals can be checked off the list this weekend at New
Hampshire, where Stewart and Newman have combined for four wins and five
poles.

Stewart is strong there, posting some series-best statistics since the
inception of Loop Data in 2005. He led a race-high 132 laps in last year's
summer New Hampshire race and seemed like a sure winner, but rain snatched
victory away.

Since 2005, Stewart has a series-high Driver Rating of 115.6, a third-best
Average Running Position of 9.9, a series-high 235 Fastest Laps Run, a
series-best average Green Flag Speed of 124.308 mph and a fourth-best Laps
in the Top 15 percentage of 78.7%.

Despite a DNF in last season's September NHMS race, Newman is also solid
at the Loudon track. Since 2005, Newman has a Driver Rating of 92.7
(ninth), an Average Running Position of 14.7 (12th), 96 Fastest Laps Run
(ninth) and a Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 67.8% (seventh).

A strong New Hampshire race is especially important for Newman, who is
looking to break out of a mini-slump. After finishing in the top 10 in six
consecutive races (and the top five in five out of six), Newman has failed
to crack the top 15 in the last two events. A win at New Hampshire would
end a 51-race winless drought.

Loop Data Tabs Stewart As The Driver To Beat

As the Race to the Chase begins, two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
champion Tony Stewart (No. 14 Old Spice Chevrolet) leads the series
standings heading into Sunday's LENOX Industrial Tools 301.

If statistics hold firm, he may occupy that position when the Race to the
Chase ends at Richmond.

That's according to NASCAR Loop Data from 2005 through the current season
at the 10 tracks featured in the Race to the Chase.

Per that Loop Data, Stewart owns the top Driver Rating (106.1).

He also claims the top Average Running Position (10.545) and the
second-best Average Finish (12.5) behind Jeff Gordon's (No. 24 DuPont
Chevrolet) 12.2.

Stewart (75.3) again trails only Gordon (76.5) in Percentage of Laps in
the Top 15.

Gordon, the four-time series champion, is right there statistically with
Stewart.

Second in the standings (he trails Stewart by 84 points), Gordon leads all
of the current top 15 drivers with 35 wins, 114 top fives and 164 top 10s
in 266 career starts in the 10 tracks that make up the Race to the Chase.
He also has the top average start (9.7), the highest percentage of laps
led (12.2) and a top average of 136.3 points scored. Stewart ranks second
in average number of points scored (134.8) in events at the 10 tracks
included in the Race to the Chase.

Reigning and three-time series champion Jimmie Johnson (No. 48
Lowe's/KOBALT Chevrolet) has the third-highest driver rating at Race to
the Chase venues - 130.8.