Oct 5, 2006

This Week's Auto Racing Picks

The weekend is closing in and I'm ready to roll with my weekend predictions- from Talladega, Alabama, US all the way to Suzuka, Japan.

NASCAR Nextel Cup- UAW Ford 500 at Talladega

1. Dale Earnhardt Jr- Earnhardt Jr is well overdue for a restrictor plate victory, if you call 2 years overdue. His last win at the 2.66-mile super speedway was during the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Chase for the Championship, and everyone remembers his little four word slip-up in his victory lane speech that cost him 25 championship points.

2. Tony Stewart- Stewart is Dale Earnhardt Jr's unofficial teammate at Talladega and Daytona.

3. Jeff Gordon- Okay, the top three is very conventional, but it's hard to neglect the track records of Gordon, Stewart, and Earnhardt Jr.

4. Ryan Newman- Because Newman is having such a pitiable season, it is easy to overlook his two top five finishes in the previous four restrictor races.

5. Dale Jarrett- Why not! Jarrett is the defending champion of this race, and he finished fourth last weekend at Kansas. Could there be some momentum escalating?

Other favorites- Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, and Matt Kenseth

Darkhorse picks-Clint Bowyer and Elliott Sadler

Formula One- Japanese Grand Prix

1. Michael Schumacher- When Schumacher gets hot, he's virtually impossible to beat, and after two straight wins in Italy and Shanghai, it's safe to say the he has caught fire.

2. Kimi Raikkonen- Raikkonen is arguably the best driver not to win a race in 2006. He may give Schumacher all he can handle.

3. Felippe Massa- Massa may be able to slide past Giancarlo Fisichella for the third spot in the Formula One standings.

4. Fernando Alonso- While Schumacher has caught fire, Alonso has finished outside of the top ten in two of the previous four races.

5. Giancarlo Fisichella- Expect Fisichella to be among the frontrunners.

Other favorites- Jensen Button

Darkhorse pick- Rubens Barrichello