Lessons learned, drivers chase consistency at New Hampshire

Sunday's Lenox Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway kicks off the "Race to the Chase" for the Sprint Cup Series, a 10-race stretch that will determine this year's Chase playoff field.

While Kyle Busch is cruising on top of the standings, the battle for the 12th and final transfer spot is the one that generates the most attention over the summer months, beginning with Sunday's first of two stops at the one-mile New Hampshire oval.

Reigning race champ Denny Hamlin hopes to hoist another trophy. (Getty Images)

What makes Sunday's race even more important is that when the Chase does kick off in September, it will do so right back at New Hampshire. So both doing well and learning what works at the flat New England track are the goals for many drivers this weekend.

But it might not be that easy.

Past success at a particular track doesn't necessarily translate into repeating those achievements in today's ultra-competitive world of NASCAR.

"This sport changes so much that I really don't see us going back with any great advantage having won a race there," said defending New Hampshire race winner Denny Hamlin. "Even though we did win there last season it was one of those days where we maybe didn't have the best car. (Crew chief) Mike (Ford) made a great call and the crew was great in getting us the track position when we needed it and then we made the most of it over the final laps."

Clint Bowyer, who dominated last September's New Hampshire race by leading 222 of the 300 laps on his way to his first career Sprint Cup Series win, agrees with Hamlin's overall assessment.

"Last year it was good to me, but that's not to say that it will be this year," Bowyer said. "At least this did happen once. It was so dominant. You can only ask for so much."

In Bowyer's case, who couldn't ask for a better type of track than New Hampshire, with its long and fast straightaways and tight corners that feature little or no banking.

The former dirt track driver believes the track's layout fits his driving style perfectly.

"I like that style racetrack," he said. "It's not just New Hampshire in particular, I like the short tracks. The mile race tracks and tracks that are close to that size ... I just enjoy that type of racing. Since last fall, anytime anyone asks about my favorite race track, I tell them New Hampshire. How can I not? That's where I got my first win."

"Hopefully, we can go back there this weekend and be as fast as we were last time. I'm sure everyone else has gotten better since then, but we're hoping the same package we ran in September will be competitive again this Sunday and we can race for another win."

Kyle Busch will be racing for his sixth win of the season and has visited New Hampshire's Victory Lane before -- in 2006. But Busch, who dominated in win No. 5 last Sunday at Infineon Raceway, isn't taking anything for granted.