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Posted by: MSulka on Sunday, May 24, 2009 - 11:19 AM Lowe's: NASCAR Sprint Cup Starting Line-up & Race PreviewBy Mike Sulka

The NASCAR Sprint Cup series concludes their week long stay at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina with their longest race of the season, the Coca-Cola 600!

But who is gonna win ?

Jeff Burton has won three times in 30 tries at Lowe's, but hasn't won at the 600 since 2001. Even so, five of his last six visits to the track, Burton has finished in the top six, thus he is always a contender for a solid finish.

Pole sitter Ryan Newman has won the Pole at Lowe's 7 times in 16 tries, but his best finish in the last six races is a woeful 21st. Though Stewart-Haas Racing has been getting better, and the team seem certain for a breakout win... We wouldn't bet on Newman pulling it off.

Nor do we believe that the Tony Stewart - winner of last weekend's All-star race - will supress his string of mid-pack performances at Lowe's. The numbers just don't back up the possibility as much as we'd like to see it happen.

Kyle Busch is also starting on the front row, and he's had 4 top six finishes in his last five trips to Charlotte. Busch also has three wins - most in the NASCAR Sprint Cup - in 11 races in 2009, though tempting, we see Busch putting in another strong finish, but not a win.

Now let's take up the case of Jimmie Johnson. While the 3-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion might have had the Charlotte circuit renamed the Johnson Motor Speedway at one time, three of his four recent runs have finished 10th or lower. Johnson is no longer the shoe-in to a Lowe's victory.

Nor is 4-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jeff Gordon who has won 5 times at Lowe's, has raced strong the last three outings, but hasn't won the Coca-Cola 600 since 1998.

Today, we are going out on a limb, and picking a Dodge for a victory. Though the limb feels quite stable considering that Kasey Kahne has won three of the last six visits to Lowe's including two CC600 wins. But add in his second place finish last fall, and its amazing 4 out of six with a first or second place finish.

While there are a number of solid challengers who could upset our pick, Lowe's is a bit of a streaky circuit... So whatever happens, enjoy the show... its the grand finale (after the Monaco Grand Prix & Indianapolis 500) to a great Memorial day weekend of racing! Read more... (19945 bytes more)

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