Keith takes a victory lap - as Grand Marshal
In the minds of Chicagoland Speedway officials, the choice of Grand Marshal for the LifeLock.com 400 couldn't have been more obvious.
Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith, who helped lead the franchise to its first Stanley Cup championship since 1961, was tapped to deliver the signal to start the engines Saturday in Joliet. Keith is the first player to win an Olympic gold medal, a Stanley Cup title and the Norris Trophy in the same year.
"The fans are coming out here to have a good time, and these athletes transcend all sports," said Chicagoland Speedway President Craig Rust.
Adding to the championship feel, Blackhawks national anthem singer Jim Cornelison brought his United Center magic to the track by singing the national anthem before the race.
Mr. 600: Jeff Gordon reached a significant milestone by competing in his 600th career Sprint Cup race. Even more impressive, the four-time series champion has run the races consecutively since 1992.
"It is something that I am very proud of," Gordon said. "Great race cars, great team and I've been healthy all these years to be able to do that."
Gordon ranks sixth on the all-time win list with 82, his first victory coming in 1994 in the Coca-Cola 600. His last win was in April 2009 at Texas.
"I never thought I would get to 600," he said. "It seems like an awful big number."
Chase changes: Several drivers addressed recent comments made by NASCAR Chairman Brian France regarding potential changes to the Chase format, the late-season playoff system that began in 2004.
The Chase has seen some tweaks in its six years, but bigger changes could be on the horizon. Among the rumored possibilities is the elimination of the bottom driver after each week of the Chase and even creating a winner-takes-all situation for the final race.
Reaction was mixed this week.
"I really think that the argument for that is split dead down the middle and there are great positives to each argument," Dale Earnhardt Jr. said.
Matt Kenseth was the last 36-race champion before the Chase took effect in 2004.
"I don't think the Chase is bad right now," he said. "I guess it doesn't matter to me as long as at the end of the day, the best driver and team win it."
Other drivers want stability.
"I hate the constant change," Denny Hamlin said. "Nothing ever stays the same."
The Decision: Drivers were asked their opinions on LeBron James' one-hour television special on Thursday where he announced he was signing with the Miami Heat.
"I think I learned what not to do," Gordon said. "I'm a big fan of LeBron and I think it's very cool that he's going to Miami, but I don't think the way they went about it is the best marketing idea in the world."
When speculation began that James might sign with the Bulls, Chicagoland Speedway sent an open letter to James offering to make him King of the Speedway and also dangling the possibility of renaming the track after him for the weekend.
"It was just something fun that we were trying to make happen," Rust said. "We're pretty sure he got the letter but we never heard back from him."