Ultimate Race Day

By: Chris McCaffrey

Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images

Jamie McMurray continues to soar as he hooks the Pole in the #1 Bass Pro Shops Chevy for what is considered the “real” start to the 2010 NASCAR season.   The second race of the season at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California is the first true litmus test for how teams can perform and a leading indicator on what the season may yield for each.  Earnhardt Ganassi Racing is proving fast this week with teammates Jamie Mac and Juan Pablo taking the front row in qualifying for the start of the Auto Club 500.  After Mark Martin and Dale Jr took the front row at Daytona, can it be teammates Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer of Richard Childress Racing or will it be Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle of Roush Fenway Racing to be the next team duo to take the front row next week at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to keep this unusual streak alive?

While trying to maintain the feel-good 2nd place finish at Daytona, the #88 team must also feel the looming pressure as well as the overwhelming enthusiasm from JRNation, for a break out season after a deflated 2009.  We’ll find out shortly how the #88 team has gelled in the off season.  Hopefully DaleJr’s poor qualifying effort that was plagued by brake issues is no indicator of how the orange #88 Amp Energy Juice car will perform on the track this Sunday.

Both Kasey Kahne and Clint Bowyer looked solid in qualifying, though don’t ever under estimate the #48 team after a poor finish at Daytona.  Be assured Chad and Jimmie will be hard to stop with the best overall performance average at Fontana with two wins, a second, third and ninth place finish in last five races at Auto Club Speedway.

Week #2 Fantasy Picks:

Jimmie Johnson, Clint Bowyer, Kasey Kahne, AJ Allmendinger