What to watch for: Kentucky bumps, weather may dictate race

The fact that Kentucky Speedway bumps are challenging Sprint Cup drivers this weekend is not a surprise.

The track has been bumpy for several years, with Nationwide drivers talking five or six years ago about how the track might need repaving because of the bumps.

MORE: Lineup breakdown | Picks | Odds

So it's no surprise what leads his version of 'what to watch for' heading into the Quaker State 400 on Saturday night, as teams try to survive 267 laps around the 1.5-mile track (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT).

1. The bumps

So where are the bumps? Pretty much everywhere; definitely more pronounced, though, on the frontstretch and somewhat more volatile in the lower groove in Turns 1 and 2.

The drivers also have talked about the start-finish line creating chatter from some apparent grinding work done in that area. The key will be to avoid hitting a bump and having the car kick out in the rear or push the front right of the car toward the wall.

The other key will be not to damage the car going over the bumps. Brian Vickers said he broke a wheel last year at Kentucky.

2. Penske drivers

Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano are starting on the front row, so they won't be hard to find.

They won the first two 1.5-mile races of the season with Keselowski capturing Las Vegas and Logano winning at Texas. They should be strong, especially at a track where handling can at times mean as much as horsepower, especially on the bumpy frontstretch.

Who has won the other two 1.5-mile races this year? The guys from ...

3. Hendrick Motorsports

Jeff Gordon won the 1.5-mile race at Kansas and Jimmie Johnson won the 600-mile marathon at Charlotte. Gordon has a stout car. He proved that by qualifying right behind the Penske drivers.

Johnson? He's starting 25th. But he has a fast car, too. He was fastest among all cars in 10-lap average in the final Cup practice. Only a handful of cars went 10 consecutive laps, but Johnson appears to have his car dialed in for the race.

The two other Hendrick cars are joining Johnson with disappointing starting spots - Kasey Kahne will start 20th; Dale Earnhardt Jr. starts 29th.

4. Track changes

The race is scheduled to go green at 7:45 p.m. Eastern with sunset not until 9:08 p.m.

That means changing track conditions, with a drop in temperatures and likely humidity. So while a somewhat short race at 400 miles, drivers who are strong for the first two-thirds of the race could find themselves a little off late in the event.

Also, there is a possibility of rain, with the highest in the late afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. The track has had a lot of grip by taking a great deal of rubber, but if much of that gets washed away, drivers could be chasing the setup early.

Lokasi:

Share :