Tracks often have a unique nickname that distinguishes them from the other tracks on the circuit. Bristol is the "bull ring," Martinsville is known as the "Paper Clip," and then you have the infamous "Lady In Black" at Darlington.
This weekend, another nickname is on the NASCAR circuit as we head up into seafood country, where the winner of the race gets a trophy that looks like a lobster.
Welcome to the "Magic Mile" at New Hampshire. It's a track that has sweeping corners and fast straightaways. Some even refer to it as a bigger version of the Martinsville, and that can be both good and bad for some drivers.
It also has played host to both some good and bad drama in the sport.
Go back to 2009 where Joey Logano played the strategy card and won a rain-shortened race, then in the fall Mark Martin started his campaign to go for his first championship. It ended up short, but the victory was one that Martin was happy to get.
Just last year, the Chase drama heated up when Clint Bowyer jumped from 12th in the standings to second, but had it disappeared when it was discovered the car was not within requirements. That one race cost him a shot at the championship.
So what can happen next?
Here's a look at who the writers believe will win Sunday's Lenox Industrial Tools 301:
Misan Ayuka: Ryan Newman
Newman has been up and down this year. Loudon is where he won his first career win and he has another win there as well (beating current car owner and teammate Tony Stewart in 2005) after a top five at Kentuvky Newman must be feeling confident heading into a track where his worst finish in the last three races there is still in the top ten.
James Broomhead: Jimmie Johnson
In year’s gone by a flat track would have been an automatic Denny Hamlin pick for me, but Virginia’s own is having a slump in 2011. Johnson’s strength in his title years has been the Chase – the ability to come alive when it actually counts, and he and Chad Knaus have made little secret of concentrating on the ten tracks that have decided the title.
New Hampshire has been one of the regular tracks for the post-season, so I’m hoping the full Hendrick cheat sheet can come to play.
Kelly Crandall: Jimmie Johnson
A tough pick for me this week but I'm hoping that the 48 team is finally hitting their stride after what has been a less than 48-characteristic start to the season.
Billy Fellin: Kurt Busch
In the last six races, he's had only one finish outside of the top 10 and in that stretch has 1 win and 3 Top 5's. He's been strong as of late and I can imagine he wants to get another win to try and catch his brother's total.
Michael Hirshbein: Kyle Busch
No reason given.
Christopher Leone: Greg Biffle
Just a good feeling. The 16 car in the Nationwide is carrying the colors of the New England Sports Network this weekend, and although that has nothing to do with anything (except Loudon is my home track and I love NESN), I feel like the 16 cars in both series will have good luck this weekend.
Kara Martin: Denny Hamlin
I am going on the fly here.
Ryan O'Hara: Jimmie Johnson
Ryan made his pick while stuck in heavy traffic in Los Angeles. We all know the 405 freeway is being closed this weekend for construction, so the fact he managed to send it was a miracle.
Dustin Parks: Tony Stewart
Let's go back to last year. Smoke was just over one lap away from getting the first win in the Chase, but then the fuel ran dry, handing the last lap to Clint Bowyer. If you go back to 1999, the same scenario cost him is first career victory when he ran short on fuel during his rookie campaign.
The way I see it, this track owes him a victory from last year. He needs one as he is only a wild card at this point by being the highest driver in the top-20 without a victory. Plus, I need a victory to catch up to everyone else in this pool.
He runs well at New Hampshire, so I'm hoping the No. 14 team gets it done.
Sal Sigala Jr: Kyle Busch
So far this season we have only had one back-to-back winner which happens to be his nemesis Kevin Harvick. Busch is the best driver in NASCAR and probably has the best chance at stopping Jimmie Johnson's championship run.
Rob Tiongson: Clint Bowyer
I realize that the No. 33 team hasn't been on the strongest of rolls lately but it could all very start at Loudon, the site of their most recent victory on the Cup circuit.
If Clint and his team want to make a strong case for the Chase, it begins now at "The Magic Mile." He has two wins here, all coming in the fall races of 2007 and '10.
Standings following Kentucky:
Sal Sigala Jr. (631) Kyle Busch WON (3)
Kelly Crandall (624) Kyle Busch WON (3)
Billy Fellin (612) Carl Edwards finished fifth (2)
James Broomhead (602) Carl Edwards finished fifth (1)
Michael Hirshbein (592) Kyle Busch WON (3)
Christopher Leone (578) Jeff Gordon finished 10th (2)
Kara Martin (560) Tony Stewart finished 12th (1)
Ryan O'Hara (556) Carl Edwards finished fifth (1)
Dustin Parks (540) Joey Logano finished 14th (0)
Rob Tiongson (536) Joey Logano finished 14th (1)
Misan Ayuka (515) Tony Stewart finished 12th (2)
Final Thoughts: As you can see by the picks, it is hard to choose a favorite at this track. So many variables and so many different drivers are good at New Hampshire, and it means that everyone has an opportunity.
This track has seen crazy finishes, and has also seen a driver lead every lap. That came in the fall of 2000 after the deaths of Adam Petty and Kenny Irwin led NASCAR to run restrictor plates at this track.
Since then, the track has been reconfigured, and has provided excellent racing.
Coverage begins at Noon ET with "Countdown To Green" on TNT, the final race in their summer series of races. An hour later, Adam Alexander, Wally Dahlenbach and Kyle Petty provide the flag-to-flag call.
Summary of Picks:
Jimmie Johnson-3
Kyle Busch-2
Greg Biffle-1
Clint Bowyer-1
Kurt Busch-1
Denny Hamlin-1
Ryan Newman-1
Tony Stewart-1
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