NEW HAMPSHIRE INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

TRACK FACTS

Opened: 1990

Location: Loudon, N.H.

First NASCAR Cup Series Race: July 11, 1993 (Rusty Wallace, winner)

Qualifying Record: Ryan Newman, Dodge; 133.357 mph (28.561 seconds), September 12, 2003

Race Record: Jeff Burton, Ford; 117.134 mph (2:42:35), July 13, 1997

Distance: 1.058 miles

Front Stretch: 1,500 feet

Back Stretch: 1,500 feet

Banking in Turns 1-4: 12 degrees

Banking in Straights: 2 degrees

Miles/Laps: 317.4 miles/300 laps

Grandstand Seats: 91,000

Tickets: 603-783-4931

Website: www.nhis.com

Did You Know? If you were to line-up the RVs that visit "The Magic Mile" for a NASCAR Cup Series weekend, they would stretch from the speedway to the New Hampshire/Massachusetts border, which is 52 miles away.

Track Report:  Martinsville on steroids.  You try to carry as much speed into the corner as you can.  You're hard on the brakes just for a second, then roll through the corner.  A difficult track to pass on because everybody wants the same real estate.  That's why makes drivers frustrated at the end.

Last Year: Tony Stewart climbed yet another fence as he powered to his third win in four races by winning the New England 300 on July 17.  Ryan Newman barely made the chase, but quickly reminded everyone he was there with a win in the first Chase race edging out Tony Stewart at the Sylvania 300 on Sept. 18.

Hot Spots: There may not be a track where it is more difficult to pass, so it often requires some bumping to make it happen.  Wrecks happen on the exits of Turn 2 and Turn 4 here.

Who To Watch: Look for Kurt Busch and Brain Vickers to win here this year.  Yes, Brian Vickers.  Vickers won the pole in July and his teammates know how to get around here.  Jimmie Johnson swept in '03 and Jeff Gordon has three wins and more top-fives than anyone.  Others not in the Top 10 (Below) to watch include Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kasey Kahne, Kyle Busch, and Jamie McMurray.  Rookies to look at are Denny Hamlin, and Clint Bowyer.

Tracking The Top 10

Best active drivers at New Hampshire based on average finish (minimum of four starts)

Driver               Races   Avg Fin   Wins   Top 5s   Top 10s   DNF   Avg Start   Poles

Ryan Newman      8          7.9         2          5            7          1          6.6           3

Jimmie Johnson    8          8.6         2          2            4          0          9.0           0

Matt Kenseth       12        10.7        0          5            8          0         16.3          0

Mark Martin         22        11.3        0           7          12          0         14.5          2

Dale Jarrett          22        12.6        1           7          14          1         16.1          0

Tony Stewart        14        12.6        2          8            9          2          11.1         1

Jeff Gordon           22        12.7        3          9           12         2          10.2         3

Bobby Labonte     22         13.7       0          5            9          0          11.4         1

Jeff Burton            22         13.8       4          7            9          3          20.4         0

Kurt Busch           10         13.8       2          4            5          1          18.1         0