Chicagoland Victory Lane sees variety

Chicagoland Speedway’s Victory Lane Has Seen Wide Variety Of Winners

Kevin Harvick, Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet), Jeff Gordon and Ryan Newman (No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet).

Sounds like a dream lineup, right?

Perhaps, but what they also have in common are NASCAR Sprint Cup Series wins at Chicagoland Speedway. And two drivers have more than one victory here.

In only eight years, the track has seen six winners – including Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart, who both have two Chicagoland wins.

In fact, Harvick won the first two NASCAR Sprint Cup races the track hosted in 2000 and ’01 and has the best average finish at Chicagoland: 7.375.

Could returning to a track where he knows how to win be the boost Harvick needs in a difficult season? Chevrolet leads all manufacturers at the Joliet, Ill.-track with six and currently is leading the series in manufacturer points with 135 over Toyota (100), Ford (84) and Dodge (77).

One driver who could join Harvick and Stewart as a two-time Chicagoland winner is Kyle Busch, who won both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and NASCAR Nationwide Series races at Chicagoland last season. Currently eighth in the standings, Busch said last year’s sweep was special.

“Winning both races at Chicago last year, it was just a great weekend,” he said. “It was special, but there have been several special wins the last couple of years.

“Winning at Atlanta, Daytona, and Infineon last year, and winning at home in Vegas and on my birthday in Richmond were also great races. But winning Chicago last year and beating Jimmie (Johnson) was definitely neat.

“Ultimately I have a lot of respect for him, Jeff Gordon, and anybody in this sport since it’s so competitive. To go out and beat guys like that, it’s something that’s pretty special. I really cherished that … and I know M&M’s did, too.”

Another driver battling for Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup eligibility, Kasey Kahne, would like to change his Chicagoland luck.

“I think this weekend could be one of those weekends where we qualify well and have a good race Saturday night,” Kahne said.