The NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup has had plenty of controversy surrounding it this season with the addition of a 13th driver as well as the replacement move of adding Ryan Newman and now things will move from Chicago last Sunday into New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon for the very anticipated Sylvania 300 and it will be on ESPN starting at 2 pm on Sunday.
The Chase will be close all the way to the end and if no drive pulls away, the early races could be key in deciding things and last season's winner of the race is not in the Chase, as Denny Hamlin took the checkered flag last season The Cup Standings currently have Matt Kenseth in first place after his performance last week at Chicago and the next racer is eight points behind him, as Kyle Busch is in the second slot in the standings heading into the Sylvania 300.
Last year's champion Brad Keselowski is not in the Chase this season after winning it last season and in third place is multiple champion Jimmie Johnson and he is just 11 points back and he could be a force after having some past success at the track and behind him in the standings is Kevin Harvick and he is just 15 points back and he will be a factor on Sunday as well. The top five is rounded out by Carl Edwards and Kurt Busch, who each are 23 points behind Kenseth and everyone will be gunning for the top heading out of Sunday's race.
Last week the race in Chicago was marred by a rain delay, but it set up an exciting finish in the evening and now it appears that weather won't be much of an issue, as the Northeast has some great weather going around and should make for a nice afternoon for the race and Kenseth will be in the top spot in the standings when things start. Newman will be in the first spot on the track after the record setting run he had to win the pole and in the top 10 of the standings, Jeff Gordon, who was added in late, is moving up and is in seventh after being the 13th driver.
Newman won the pole and is tied for eighth place in the Standings with Clint Bowyer, who was part of that controversial race in Richmond that cost Martin Truex his spot, while Kasey Kahne and Greg Biffle is tied in 10th at 31 points behind, while Joey Logano and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are in 12th and 13th place. The Chase will be from Loudon in New Hampshire for the Sylvania 300 and will be on ESPN at 2pm.
Check here for the ESPN coverage of the race on Sunday from New Hampshire.