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USG Durock 300 Preview

Jul 14, 2007 - 10:46 AM

July 14, 2007 
Chicagoland Speedway 
Joliet, Illinois 
Race 19 of 34 on Busch series circuit 

TV: ABC, 2:30 p.m. EDT

Laps: 200 
Track length: 1 1/2 miles 
Race length: 300 miles

Qualifying record: Ryan Newman, Dodge, 186.438 mph, 2005
record: Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 130.340 mph, 2005


DRIVERS TO WATCH
----------------

Dave Blaney 
Team: Braun Racing 
Car: No. 10 Toyota Camry
2007 Earnings: $578,399

Rebounded with a third-place finish at Daytona to move up two
spots into fourth after steadily losing ground in the points
standings over the previous two races; after getting as high as
second in the points standings last month, had dropped to sixth
following a 35th-place finish at New Hampshire; still seeking
his first win of the season; has three top-five finishes and
five top-10s in 18 starts; did not race here last year.


Carl Edwards 
Team: Roush Fenway Racing 
Car: No. 60 Ford Fusion
2007 Earnings: $776,355

Finished 11th last week at Daytona after dropping to the rear of
the field at the start of the race for changing an engine after
practice; despite a rare finish outside of the top 10, he
continues to maintain a commanding 798-point lead in the points
standings; he has led in the standings for 17 consecutive weeks;
in 19 starts this season, he has a series-best four wins; has
posted 12 top-five finishes and 15 top-10s; started from the
pole here last year and finished second to race-winner Casey
Mears.


Kevin Harvick 
Team: Richard Childress Racing 
Car: No. 21 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 
2007 Earnings: $560,755

Reigning series champion moved to second in the standings, 798
points Edwards, after finishing second at Daytona; has raced 
in just 14 of 19 races this season; held off a late challenge 
by Edwards for his second Busch victory of the season at New
Hampshire two weeks ago; has five top-five finishes and has
finished in the top 10 in all but two starts this season;
finished fourth here last year.


Jason Leffler 
Team: Braun Racing 
Car: No. 38 Toyota Camry 
2007 Earnings: $605,939

Finished ninth after starting from the pole in Daytona last week
to continue his recent hot streak; in his last six races he has
moved from 20th to fifth in the standings; that stretch
includes a pair of third-place finishes, with his lowest showing
being a 14th at Milwaukee; has been inconsistent with seven
finishes of 30th or worse in 19 races this year; finished 19th
in this race last year.


David Reutimann 
Team: Michael Waltrip Racing 
Car: No. 99 Toyota Camry 
2007 Earnings: $584,009

Dropped a spot to third in the standings, 841 points behind
Edwards, after finishing 40th at Daytona; prior to Daytona, had
posted back-to-back top-10 finishes with an eighth at New
Hampshire and a seventh at Milwaukee; best finish was second at
Nashville; has six top-10s but has also finished 30th or worse
four times this season; did not race here last year.


2006 Top 10
-----------
 1. Casey Mears (42) Dodge
 2. Carl Edwards (60), Ford
 3. Jeff Burton (29) Chevrolet
 4. Kevin Harvick (21), Chevrolet
 5. Matt Kenseth (17), Ford
 6. Kurt Busch (39) Dodge
 7. Clint Bowyer (2), Chevrolet
 8. Reed Sorenson (41), Chevrolet
 9. Tony Stewart (33), Chevrolet
10. J.J. Yeley (18), Chevrolet

Past Champions
--------------
2006  Casey Mears
2005  Kevin Harvick
2004  Justin Labonte
2003  Bobby Hamilton
2002  Johnny Sauter
2001  Jimmie Johnson