New look, new rules for Kentucky Speedway NASCAR race
SPARTA, Ky. (AP) - No discussion of Kentucky Speedway is complete without mentioning Kyle Busch or Brad Keselowski, each of whom has won the 400-mile Sprint Cup Series race twice and loom as the favorites on Saturday night.
Matt Kenseth won here in 2013 and boasts an impressive resume on the 1.5 mile tri-oval. The big question is whether somebody else finally breaks into the exclusive club this year.
The opportunity is certainly there after Kentucky resurfaced and reconfigured the track to create two distinctive corners. NASCAR also has implemented a new rules package reducing downforce and side force in hopes of creating more side-by-side racing.
Whether those changes lead to someone in victory lane not named Brad or Kyle remains to be seen. But drivers are eager to find out.
"It's tough," Austin Dillon said of beating them. "Those cars are running really well and you've got to show that speed early. ... To knock those two off it's going to be tough, but it can be done."
Kevin Harvick will start on the pole for the first time at Kentucky after rain cancelled Friday's qualifying and set the field on owner points. The 2014 Cup champion was cautious about his prospects because of the renovations and new rules but sees potential after participating in one of last year's most competitive races.
"When you have racing that is capable of side-by-side that is a really good sign," said Harvick, who ran eighth here last July. "I'm pretty happy about that."
The hurdle for Harvick, Dillon and others is conquering the dual juggernaut of Joe Gibbs Racing and Penske Racing, whose drivers always seem to be in the mix at Kentucky.
Busch and Kenseth have combined for three JGR wins in Toyotas, while teammates Denny Hamlin and Carl Edwards finished 3-4 respectively last summer and led 14 combined laps.
Penske offers a strong tandem in Keselowski - who has won in a Dodge and Ford at Kentucky - and Joey Logano, who has finished second, ninth and fourth at Kentucky since joining the team in 2013. Having led 60 laps combined the past two years, he thinks he's ready to take the next step with everybody trying to figure out the track and downforce package.
"I know who the hitters are, but I think we have a good car," said Logano, who will start fourth. "Our team is really good at developing packages for new rules. There's a lot of unknowns, but they do a good job of preparing before they come to the race track and that helps."
Edwards cautions that Kentucky's new look and feel might offset past performance.
The headache-inducing bumps have been smoothed down, while increased banking in turns 1 and 2 sets cars up for higher speeds entering turns 3 and 4 that remain at 14 degrees. Last month's test provided teams a sneak preview, but Edwards believes the key is adjusting to changes that have occurred since then.
"It doesn't feel like much carries over at all anymore because things evolve so quickly," said Edwards, who will start fifth. "To me, it's a whole new track with this surface."
While Kentucky Speedway president Mark Simendinger would love to see another pass-happy affair and a different winner, there's still the matter of getting past those usual suspects named Brad and Kyle.
"I thought the new aero package would open it up last year," Simendinger said, "but lo and behold Keselowski and Busch were there and I suspect it might be that way again because their organizations have been so good.
"It could be Kenseth, it could be Carl or Denny, and it could be the same with Penske. Of course, Brad and Kyle are at the front because their confidence level is off the charts. When they walk in here, they truly think they're the ones to beat."