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Edwards, Johnson set for Kansas showdown

With great track records, both drivers should contend for the checkered flag

Image: Carl EdwardsGetty Images for NASCAR
Inspired by a "banzai move" he had executed on a video game, Carl Edwards tried to pass Jimmie Johnson on the last lap of last year's Kansas race by hitting the wall and using that momentum to sling him into first place. The gamble left him in second.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series moves to Kansas Speedway for the 29th race of the 2009 season, the Price Chopper 400. Brian Brown took a look at past performances, practice sessions, season trends, and spoke with NASCAR contacts to predict how the field should finish on Sunday.

When
Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009
2:16 p.m. ET

Weather
A chance of scattered showers with a high of 61; wind out of the East at 8 mph. There is a 30 percent chance of precipitation on race day.

The Track
Kansas Speedway is a 1.5 mile quad-oval. It has 15 degree banking in the corners and 10 degree banking in the tri-oval and five degree banking on the straight-aways.

Key to Race: Kansas isn't just the name of a band
Kansas is another 1.5 mile oval which favors teams like Roush-Fenway and Hendrick Motorsports. Jeff Gordon is the only two-time winner, and Jimmie Johnson has taken three poles in the eight Cup races the track has hosted.

Qualifying Procedures
Forty-five cars will attempt to qualify for 43 spots. Cars not in the top 35 in the 2009 point standings will have to qualify based on speed. Starting positions 1-43 will be determined by a two-lap qualifying run on Friday, Oct. 2 at 4:40 p.m. ET.

Fantasy Cheat Sheet

Top 5
No. 48 Jimmie Johnson: Johnson dominated last year's race at Kansas. He has five top 10 finishes in seven career starts at Kansas. He will be tough to beat.
No. 99 Carl Edwards: Edwards has top six finishes in three of the last four races at Kansas. He does very well at 1.5 mile ovals and is a great pick.
No. 16 Greg Biffle: Biffle won the 2008 race at Kansas and has finished 12th or better in the last six races at the track.
No. 24 Jeff Gordon: Gordon has two career wins at Kansas and has finished 13th or better in seven of his eight starts at the track.

Slideshow
Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin, Brian Vickers
  NASCAR crashes
Sparks fly and cars spin out wildly when NASCAR drivers get into accidents.

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No. 14 Tony Stewart: Stewart has five top 10 finishes in eight career starts at Kansas. He won the 2006 race and is a lock to crack the top 10 on Sunday.

6 to 10
No. 5
Mark Martin: Martin won the 2005 race at Kansas. He will drive his usual smart race and should finish near the top five.
No. 33 Clint Bowyer: Bowyer has always brought fast cars to his home-track. He is a great pick on Sunday.
No. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya: Montoya has been fantastic lately. We aren't going to pick against him.
No. 2 Kurt Busch: Busch led 76 laps on his way to an 11th place finish at Kansas in 2007, but he struggled in last year's race. He is a decent pick this weekend.
No. 07 Casey Mears: Mears has cracked the top 16 in the past four races at Kansas. He is a great sleeper option this weekend.


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