Fearless predictions: Happy 4th

Published 7:51 pm Thursday, July 3, 2008

Okay, so last week I told you I was taking part in NASCAR’s “Race to the Chase” Media contest.

I picked Matt Kenseth to win in New Hampshire, and he ended up 18th. That put me in the lower half of the field of 116 media types. Specifically, I’m at No. 76.

But the thing to remember is this: we were only allowed to pick a driver once, so there are big blocs of ties as everyone who picked the same driver got the same number of points. (Note: There were even two who must be Tony Raines or Marcos Ambrose fans because they ended up with 0 points after those two drivers didn’t make the field.)

Things should start to clear up in the next couple of weeks, though.

I can remember when the July Cup race at Daytona was called the Firecracker 400, and it was always on the Fourth of July. Good times.

And with no racing at Evergreen Speedway this Saturday, I may even get to watch the race (broadcast by TNT with limited interruptions!) live instead on tape. Unfortunately for me, I’ll be working in the office on Friday, so the VCR will see some action for the Nationwide race.

Anyway, for Saturday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Coke Zero 400, I’m going with Kasey Kahne to make it a Dodge sweep at Daytona.

For Friday’s NASCAR Nationwide Winn-Dixie 250, I’m really torn. I’m thinking a Cupster has a better chance, and those JGR Toyotas looked so strong in February. Let’s say Denny Hamlin makes it a JGR-Toyota sweep in the No. 2 series at Daytona.

For Sunday’s Indy Racing League Camping World Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, I like the idea of a former Champ-ster showing the IndyCar types how to run a road course. Let’s say Graham Rahal wins his 2nd of the season, but don’t count Will Power out of the mix, either.

Sunday is a big day for open-wheel racing, as Formula One’s British Grand Prix is also slated to run. I’m going to be a homer and say Lewis Hamilton wins it to keep his championship hopes going.