NASCAR Chase Standings: Jimmie Johnson Moves Into 1st Place

Jimmie Johnson has moved into first place in the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings.

NASCAR At New Hampshire Results: Denny Hamlin Calls His Shot, Wins Sylvania 300

After his pit crew ran him out of gas on the last lap at Chicago, Denny Hamlin took to Twitter and declared that they would rally and "win next week" in New Hampshire. After Hamlin's crew mistakenly sent him out to qualify on low air pressures used for the start of a race instead of those suited for a qualifying run, leaving him 32nd on the grid, he eased off his guarantee a little bit.

He shouldn't have. It took just 93 laps for him to take the lead, and he led 193 of the remaining 207 laps to win the Sylvania 300. It is Hamlin's fifth win of 2012, his third in the last five races, the 21st of his career, and the 100th for Joe Gibbs Racing as a Sprint Cup organization. In honor of his Ruthian achievement, Hamlin hopped out of his car on the front stretch, pointed into the crowd, and mimicked a left-handed baseball swing before driving to victory lane.

Jimmie Johnson was the best of the rest, finishing second for the second-consecutive week to open the Chase. He takes a one-point edge over Brad Keselowski, with Hamlin seven points back. Jeff Gordon took third with a great rebound from his 35th-place finish last Sunday, but remains last in the Chase, 45 points back. Clint Bowyer and Kasey Kahne were solid all day, rounding out the top-five.

Keselowski finished sixth, while Tony Stewart was seventh. A trio of non-Chasers - Joey Logano, Brian Vickers, and Ryan Newman, rounded out the top-10.

The rest of the Chasers were Kevin Harvick (11th), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (13th), Matt Kenseth (14th), Martin Truex Jr. (17th), and Greg Biffle (18th). It is the first time in Chase history (since 2004) that no Chaser finished outside the top-10.

Kyle Busch, who led 48 laps early, wound up a disappointing 28th after dropping a cylinder near the race's midpoint.

NASCAR At Loudon: Denny Hamlin Remains Out Front With 100 Laps Remaining

The major story of a largely uneventful opening 200 laps at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway, of course, has been Denny Hamlin's charge to the front early in the race. He remains out front with 100 laps remaining and, though anything can happen in a NASCAR race, seems well on his way to a big win in the Sylvania 300.

Another driver who's made his way up through the field is Brian Vickers, who had to start at the rear of the field due to an engine change. Vickers, making one of his limited starts behind the wheel of Michael Waltrip's No. 55 Toyota - normally driven by Mark Martin - currently runs second after taking two tires on his most recent pit stop. Jimmie Johnson runs third, Tony Stewart holds fourth, and Clint Bowyer rounds out the top-five.

The top-10 is completed by Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne, Joey Logano, Ryan Newman, and Brad Keselowski.

It has been a struggle of a day for Chasers Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Greg Biffle, who have struggled all race. Biffle runs 16th, matching his car number, with Earnhardt one spot behind him.

Kyle Busch, who has led the second most laps on the race, has had some sort of engine malady creep up with his No. 18 Toyota. He now runs 22nd, next to last on the lead lap, after running 20 spots better behind his teammate Hamlin earlier in the race.

NASCAR At New Hampshire: Denny Hamlin Takes 93 Laps To March To Lead

Denny Hamlin's march to the front of the field in the Slyvania 300 at New Hampshire has finally concluded - after just 93 laps on one of the toughest tracks to make passes in NASCAR racing. Hamlin, who said before the race in his interview with ESPN that the goal would be to reach the top-10 by lap 100, far and away exceeded that goal in one of the most impressive drives to the front of the field in recent memory. While Hamlin looks unstoppable right now, however, the race is only one third complete and anything can happen.

Hamlin's Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch, runs second. Busch, the lone non-Chase driver inside the top-10 in the running order, had led a race-high 48 laps before surrendering the top-spot to Hamlin. Hendrick Motorsports teammates Kasey Kahne, Jeff Gordon, and Jimmie Johnson (who made a push from 25th spot) round out the top-five.

On the backslide is Tony Stewart, who led 38 laps early but has struggled with the handling on his Chevrolet, falling just inside the top-10.

NASCAR At New Hampshire Update: Tony Stewart Leads Early, Denny Hamlin On The Charge

Defending Sprint Cup champ Tony Stewart started third, passed Jeff Gordon on lap four, and currently holds the top spot in the Sylvania 300 at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway after 30 laps. Stewart, also the defending event champion, leads leads Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne, and Clint Bowyer in the infancy of the race.

Denny Hamlin, after starting 32nd, has already cracked the top-20. Hamlin runs 17th after his crew-induced poor qualifying run left his Toyota - which has dominated practice throughout the weekend - on the 16th row in today's grid. Hamlin's crew inadvertently used their much-lower race tire pressures instead of the higher pressures used to try to make a fast lap on the flat 1-mile oval. The mistake - very out of character for one hoping to contend for a Sprint Cup title - came on the heels of one last Sunday at Chicago that caused Hamlin to run out of fuel on the final lap and finish 16th. Hamlin took to Twitter after that race and essentially guaranteed a victory for his Joe Gibbs-owned race team today at Loudon.

NASCAR At New Hampshire Start Time, TV, Streaming Info And More

NASCAR returns to New Hampshire on Sunday for the Sylvania 300. The Sunday afternoon race will begin at 2 p.m. ET with the call for drivers to start their engines around 2:09 p.m. ET. The race is 317.4 miles at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon. Kasey Kahne, who's starting in the six position, won here in July.

TV, radio and live streaming: The race will be broadcast on ESPN this afternoon. If you're unable to get to a TV, there will be live streaming of the race at NASCAR.com's "RaceBuddy" site and on the "Watch ESPN" app. For your radio listings, check out the Performance Racing Network's web site for a list of affiliate radio stations in your area.

Here's the starting lineup for today's NASCAR race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (Chase drivers in bold):

1. Jeff Gordon
2. Kyle Busch
3. Tony Stewart
4. Brian Vickers
5. Carl Edwards
6. Kasey Kahne
7. Paul Menard
8. Ryan Newman
9. Martin Truex Jr.
10. Dave Blaney (qualified for Sam Hornish Jr.)
11. Jeff Burton
12. Clint Bowyer
13. Greg Biffle
14. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
15. Brad Keselowski
16. Kevin Harvick
17. Bobby Labonte
18. Joey Logano
19. Aric Almirola
20. Jimmie Johnson
21. Marcos Ambrose
22. Regan Smith
23. Kurt Busch
24. Juan Pablo Montoya
25. Matt Kenseth
26. David Ragan
27. Scott Speed
28. Landon Cassill
29. Jamie McMurray
30. Casey Mears
31. Michael McDowell
32. Denny Hamlin
33. Travis Kvapil
34. David Reutimann
35. Reed Sorenson
36. Joe Nemechek
37. David Gilliland
38. Kelly Bires
39. Stephen Leicht
40. Tony Raines
41. Mike Olsen
42. JJ Yeley
43. David Stremme

For more coverage of this race, stay tuned to SB Nation Atlanta. For more comprehensive coverage, visit SB Nation's NASCAR hub.

NASCAR At New Hampshire Qualifying: Jeff Gordon Claims Sylvania 300 Pole

If Jeff Gordon is to rebound from his 35th-place finish in last Sunday's Chase opener in Chicago, he has to win races. He's certainly getting his weekend at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway off on the right foot, winning the pole for the Sylvania 300. It is Gordon's second pole - the first time since 2008 he's won multiple poles - and the 72nd of his career.

Kyle Busch - whom Gordon displaced with one car remaining to take the top spot - will start outside the front row. Tony Stewart, ranked third in the standings as he looks to defend his title, will start third on the grid as he looks to defend his Sylvania 300 triumph. Brian Vickers, making another of his limited starts with Michael Waltrip Racing, qualified fourth, while Carl Edwards completed the top-five.

Kasey Kahne was sixth, third behind Gordon Stewart among championship hopefuls. Paul Menard took seventh, while Ryan Newman was eighth. Martin Truex Jr., the fourth of four Chasers to crack the top-10, was ninth. Dave Blaney - qualifying and practicing the No. 22 Dodge for Sam Hornish Jr. while Hornish is in Kentucky running his Nationwide car - rounded out the top-10. Hornish will have to drop to the rear of the field Sunday, however, because of the driver change.

While only four championship challengers are in the front five rows, five of them in a row took positions 12-16. Clint Bowyer, a two-time winner of this race who ran out of gas to hand the lead to Stewart last year, holds that 12th spot. Greg Biffle and Dale Earnhardt Jr. come next, followed by Chicago winner and Sprint Cup point leader Brad Keselowski. Kevin Harvick rounds out the mini-group of Chasers in 16th.

Jimmie Johnson qualified a disappointing 20th, with Matt Kenseth 25th. The biggest surprise of the session was probably Denny Hamlin, who led practice after declaring earlier this week that he would win the race. To make good on that prediction, he will have to come from 32nd on the starting grid.

As far as Georgian drivers go, David Ragan was 26th. Reed Sorenson was ten spots worse in 36th. Truex's ninth-place effort in the NAPA Auto Parts-sponsored Toyota led the way for Atlanta-based companies. Joey Logano was 18th in the Home Depot ride.

David Stremme, Scott Riggs, Jason Leffler, and Jeff Green failed to qualify.

NASCAR At New Hampshire Qualifying Start Time, TV Info

A weekend of NASCAR action from New Hampshire starts Friday as three sets of qualifying start the run up to Sunday's SYLVANIA 300.

Teams will be looking to qualify for a variety of races, including this weekend's SYLVANIA 300, as drivers look to join points leaders Brad Keselowski and Jimmie Johnson on the track on Sunday. The full schedule for qualifying is as follows:

Practice sessions will run throughout the morning in preparation for the afternoon's qualifying races.

Preparation for the K&N Pro Series East qualifying for the G-Oil 100 starts at 8:30 a.m. In preparation for F.W. Webb 100, Whelen Modified Tour drivers will hit the track at 10:10 a.m. And finally, Sprint Cup Series practice runs will get underway at noon before qualifying starts at 3:40.

Keselowski leads the points chase after winning last weekend's race from Chicago.

For more coverage of this race, stay tuned to SB Nation Atlanta. For more comprehensive coverage, visit SB Nation's NASCAR hub.

NASCAR At New Hampshire: Race Festivities Begin Thursday

NASCAR is in New Hampshire this week preparing for Sunday's SYLVANIA 300. Race festivities begin with FanFest on Thursday afternoon and continue through the rest of the weekend. Qualifying for the SYVANIA 300 is scheduled for 3:40 p.m. ET on Friday, and the race begins at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday.

Here's a look at the schedule for the days ahead. (All times Eastern.)

For more coverage of this race, stay tuned to SB Nation Atlanta. For more comprehensive coverage, visit SB Nation's NASCAR hub.

NASCAR At New Hampshire: Points Leader Brad Keselowski Seeks First Sprint Cup Title For Roger Penske

As the Sprint Cup Series heads to New Hampshire Motor Speedway this weekend, exactly one quarter of the 2012 season remains. Nine races is simultaneously a blink of an eye and an eternity in big time stock car racing. No one knows that better than Brad Keselowski, who sits atop the standings after his win at Chicago last Sunday. The Michiganite has shocked the NASCAR world so many times already that it probably won't come as much of a surprise at all if he wins the title in just his third full season. Still, it would be a historic and momentous accomplishment, not just for Keselowski and Dodge - departing NASCAR after this season - but also for the man fields the No. 2 Miller Lite Chargers that currently stand at the head of the pack.

The name Roger Penske is synonymous with success. Indeed, the legendary car owner has dominated open wheel racing like no one, with an incredible 15 victories in the Indianapolis 500, 12 championships, and over 160 victories with such luminaries as the late Mark Donohue, Rick Mears, Emerson Fittipaldi, Al Unser, and Al Unser Jr.

While his success in NASCAR hasn't come close to matching those numbers, Penske has enjoyed plenty moments of glory with his full-fendered cars. He won five times in the 1970s, once with Donohue (the last win to date for a so-called "road course ringer") and four more with Hall of Famer Bobby Allison, but his team only competed a full season once, with Allison in 1976. They finished fourth in points.

In 1991, Penske returned to stock cars full-time with driver Rusty Wallace and business partner Don Miller each holding a stake in the race team. Wallace - voted into the Hall of Fame earlier this year - won 37 races at the wheel of the No. 2 machine before retiring in 2005. Kurt Busch won eight times in the "Blue Deuce," while Keselowski has won seven times over the past two years. Jeremy Mayfield, Ryan Newman, and Busch also added 18 more wins to Penske's total in his Nos. 12 and 22 cars.

The one thing missing from Penske's resume is a Sprint Cup championship.

He came closest with Wallace in 1993. In one of the most dominant seasons that didn't end in a title, Wallace won a third of the races (10 out of 30) including four of the first eight and five of the last eight, and had 21 top-10 finishes (19 of those in the top-five). Dale Earnhardt equaled Wallace's top-10 total, but had two fewer top-fives and four less trips to victory lane. Yet, when all was said and done, Earnhardt had his sixth championship.

The difference came in those 14 races between Wallace's hot streaks. Riding a three-race win streak entering the ninth race of the year at Talladega, Wallace flipped across the finish line after a nudge from Earnhardt. He finished sixth, but he was badly beaten up in the crash. His luck took a tremendous hit as well. Four of his five total DNFs (he also flipped in the season-opening Daytona 500) came in the next four events, dropping him to fifth in points and nearly 300 back of Earnhardt after 13 races. Wallace won just once - at New Hampshire, no less, in the inaugural Sprint Cup race there - over the next nine races following that dreadful stretch. After coming home third the Southern 500 at Darlington, he still sat 304 points back.

In his next six races, however, Wallace went on a tear. He won at Richmond, then took a controversial victory at Dover the next week after being involved in a restart incident that wrecked Earnhardt and left him 27th. A second at Martinsville was followed by a win at North Wilkesboro, a fourth at Charlotte, and another win at Rockingham. With two races left, Wallace had cut his deficit to just 72 markers. A 19th-place finish at Phoenix, however, ballooned the margin back up to 126 points, and Wallace's dominant victory in the finale at Atlanta could only trim it down to 80 by the time things were all said and done.

The difference between 1993 and 2012 is, of course, the Chase for the Sprint Cup. NASCAR fans hate to hear "if this" and "if that," especially when it comes to the polarizing playoff system. Still, had the Chase been around 19 years ago, Wallace's five-for-10 stretch (with just one finish worse than fourth) to close out the season would have left Earnhardt (no wins and a 27th and a 29th) in the dust despite all the problems he endured in the late spring and into the summer.

If Keselowski can come close to replicating Wallace's run - he's off to a good start after beating Jimmie Johnson last weekend - he very well could make up for the missed opportunity and give Penske that first title at the top level of stock car racing.

NASCAR At New Hampshire Preview: Denny Hamlin Looks To Make Up For Missed Opportunity

NASCAR returns to the New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the second race of the 2012 Chase for the Sprint Cup, the Sylvania 300. Tony Stewart won last year's race, while Kasey Kahne beat Denny Hamlin to win at Loudon this July.