Pick 'em: New Hampshire

Johnson the pick, but Hamlin, Smoke not forgotten

By NASCAR.COM
September 13, 2008
11:46 AM EDT

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Each week the staff at NASCAR.COM will pick a race winner, a dark horse for the checkers and the ain't-got-a-chance driver (no scrubs; someone with a Q score).

Our scoring system: Experts receive as many points as the "winner" pick gets in the race.

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Writer	Winner	Here's why ...	Dark Horse	No Chance	Points

Josh Pate	Jimmie Johnson	With two consecutive victories heading into the Chase, Johnson is poised for another title run. The best way to start the Chase is to do what he does best -- win!	Kurt Busch	Carl Edwards	3,812
Raygan Swan	Tony Stewart	Smoke is way overdue and he runs well at New Hampshire.	Jamie McMurray	Kasey Kahne	3,773
Bill Kimm	Jimmie Johnson	Winning three in a row ain't easy, but if anyone can do it it's the 48 team. For some reason they peak in September and October so I'm getting on the bandwagon now.	Martin Truex Jr.	Matt Kenseth	3,732
Duane Cross	Jimmie Johnson	The reigning Cup Series champion begins his quest for a third consecutive title. No better way to get a jump on the competition than by taking the checkers.	Martin Truex Jr.	Dale Jr.	3,731
David Caraviello	Denny Hamlin	The Joe Gibbs driver has an average finish at NHMS of 6.8, best of any active driver. He has one win and four top-10s in five starts on the Magic Mile. He's also overdue for another victory.	Kurt Busch	Jeff Gordon	3,688
Joe Menzer	Jeff Gordon	With three wins at this track in the past, he becomes this year's surprise winner at the start of the Chase -- putting him squarely in the hunt for another championship. That's not to say he'll get it, but he could make it interesting.	Kurt Busch	Kasey Kahne	3,612
Dave Rodman	Jimmie Johnson	I hate to say it, but he has the potential, more than anyone else in the field, to stink up this Chase -- been there, done that.	Jamie McMurray	Matt Kenseth	3,504
Jarrod Breeze	Tony Stewart	Smoke and Zippy do-da their way to Victory Lane for the first time in 40 races. Post-race chatter is much lighter.	Bobby Labonte	Elliott Sadler	3,362
Mark Aumann	Denny Hamlin	He won here a year ago, has four top-10s and has never finished worse than 15th. It's a great place for him to get a jump on the Chase field.	Kasey Kahne	Dale Jr.	3,354

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Lineup

Pos.	Driver	Make

1.	Kyle Busch	Toyota
2.	Carl Edwards	Ford
3.	Jimmie Johnson	Chevrolet
4.	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Chevrolet
5.	Clint Bowyer	Chevrolet
6.	Denny Hamlin	Toyota
7.	Jeff Burton	Chevrolet
8.	Tony Stewart	Toyota
9.	Greg Biffle	Ford
10.	Jeff Gordon	Chevrolet
11.	Kevin Harvick	Chevrolet
12.	Matt Kenseth	Ford

Sprint Cup Series

Official Standings

Pos.	+/-	Driver	Points	Behind

1.	--	Kyle Busch	5080	Leader
2.	--	Carl Edwards	5050	-30
3.	--	Jimmie Johnson	5040	-40
4.	--	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	5010	-70
5.	+7	Clint Bowyer	5010	-70
6.	+5	Denny Hamlin	5010	-70
7.	-2	Jeff Burton	5010	-70
8.	--	Tony Stewart	5000	-80
9.	-3	Greg Biffle	5000	-80
10.	--	Jeff Gordon	5000	-80
11.	-4	Kevin Harvick	5000	-80
12.	-3	Matt Kenseth	5000	-80