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What to Watch For: New Hampshire Motor Speedway

What to Watch For: New Hampshire Motor Speedway

CONCORD, N.C. -- The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup continues this Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Here is a look at what to keep an eye on entering the race, which is scheduled for 2 p.m. on ESPN.

A WIN WOULD BE:

Kasey Kahne's 18th career, second of the season and first of the Chase.

Jeff Gordon's 92nd career, fourth of the season and first of the Chase.

Jimmie Johnson's 70th career, fourth of the season and first of the Chase.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s 23rd career, fourth of the season and first of the Chase.

A win would also automatically put that driver through to the Contender Round of the Chase.

A win would be Hendrick Motorsports' 229th all-time, and would make New Hampshire Motor Speedway the 11th track where the organization has double-digit victories. Hendrick Motorsports currently has 10 or more wins at 10 tracks on the Sprint Cup Series circuit.

HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS AT NEW HAMPSHIRE

In 142 starts, Hendrick Motorsports has nine wins, 40 top-five finishes, 65 top-10s and has led 2,524 laps around the 1.058-mile oval. Kahne most recently led the team to Victory Lane in July 2012, when he started from the outside pole and led 66 laps en route to the organization’s ninth victory at New Hampshire.

APPROACHING 200:

This weekend, Hendrick Motorsports could reach yet another milestone. With one more Sprint Cup Series pole position, the organization will have earned 200 in its 30-year history. Currently, Hendrick Motorsports sits at 199 poles, with Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson combining for three so far in the 2014 season.

KAHNE AT NEW HAMPSHIRE:

In 21 Sprint Cup Series starts at New Hampshire, Kahne has collected one win, three top-five finishes and eight top-10s and has led 305 laps. He has started from the outside pole position five times at the 1.058-mile oval, including three of the last six events there.

GORDON AT NEW HAMPSHIRE:

In 39 Cup starts at NHMS, the driver of the No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet SS has three wins and four pole positions while his 16 top-five finishes, 22 top-10s and 1,371 laps led are the most all-time at the 1.058-mile track. With Jeff Burton not scheduled to participate in this Sunday's event, Gordon will become the only driver to compete in all 40 Sprint Cup Series races at the New Hampshire track provided he takes the green flag.

NEARING 450:

Last Sunday’s second-place result marked Gordon’s 449th career top-10 finish. The driver of the No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet is third all-time in that statistical category, four behind Mark Martin (453) and another couple (hundred) behind Richard Petty (712).

JOHNSON AT NEW HAMPSHIRE:

In 25 starts at New Hampshire, Johnson has recorded three wins, nine top-five finishes and 17 top-10s. He has an average start of 12.0 and an average finish of 10.5. Johnson has led 322 laps around the 1.058-mile track.

EARNHARDT AT NEW HAMPSHIRE:

In 30 Cup starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Earnhardt has led 368 laps en route to seven top-five finishes and 13 top-10s. He has an average finish of 15.5 at the 1.058-mile track. He ranks fourth among drivers for laps run in the top 15 at New Hampshire in the past 19 races. During that span, he has spent 75 percent of his laps at the oval running in the top 15.

LOUDON LEADERS:

Three-time victor Gordon ranks first among drivers all-time at New Hampshire Motor Speedway with 16 top-five finishes, 22 top-10s and 1,371 laps led. Johnson, also a three-time winner at Loudon, ranks third among active drivers with an average finish of 10.5.