Kentucky field is wide-open

Associated Press

SPARTA, Ky.

NASCAR drivers won’t be shocked if Kentucky Speedway’s fourth Sprint Cup Series race yields a repeat winner or new face spraying champagne in victory lane.

Either scenario could happen with past winners Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski trying to strengthen their bids for more success in tonight’s 400-miler by running companion series races this weekend. Keselowski earned the pole with a track-record speed of 188.791 mph in a Ford; Busch will start 18th.

Defending race champion Matt Kenseth, meanwhile, seeks to repeat the magic and earn his first win this season. He must start from 14th place but said Friday that past success “certainly gives you more confidence when you come back and you’ve won somewhere.”

Then there is reigning series champion Jimmie Johnson, points leader Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch and Martin Truex Jr., who have posted multiple top 10s on the 1.5-mile-track and aim to finally close the deal. All are hungry to find the right setup, timing and luck to solve the tough, bumpy track.

“I like (Kentucky) because it’s a challenging race track and I like a good challenge,” said Gordon, who was eighth last year and will start third tonight. “Our cars have been good here the last few times, so if I feel like we have a shot at winning I usually like that track.”

Here are four things to watch tonight at Kentucky Speedway:

BUMPY RIDE

Kentucky Speedway has hyped its rough surface in TV ads and some drivers believe it might be the circuit’s roughest. “It’s definitely a jolt, because you’re hitting concrete every time you through holes on the front stretch,” said rookie Austin Dillon, who has two Nationwide Series wins at the track. “I just try to get the car to turn through ‘em.”

SMALLER FIELD

Few spectators may notice or care that “just” 42 cars will start, one less than the standard grid. That hasn’t happened since 2001 at New Hampshire, but Clint Bowyer doesn’t believe it reflects the sport’s standing. “It’s more important to have quality cars on the race track week in and week out than a number,” he said.

LAST INTERMEDIATE STOP

Kentucky begins a 10-race stretch before the Chase and marks the circuit’s last 1.5-mile track until Atlanta on Labor Day weekend. Kurt Busch believes that recent intermediate-length performance will be important. “If you’ve been good on the mile-and-a-halfs here recently, you’re going to be good here,” said the 2004 champion, who has two top 10s in three starts at the track, but is struggling at that distance this season.

UNCONQUERED TERRITORY

Jeff Gordon can fulfill his quest to win at every Cup track by conquering Kentucky. The four-time champion has won at 23 sites.