Sprint Cup - Wild Card Watch: Threesome Favorites To Kiss The Bricks

Indianapolis, July 28, 2011: “Home of Champions” is a slogan attached to many venues. Sometimes it’s apt. Most times it’s exaggeration. At Indianapolis Motor Speedway, it fits brilliantly.

Of the 17 races run at Indy, 14 have been won by past, reigning or future series champions. In eight of those seasons, the Brickyard winner went on to win that season’s championship.

This season especially, Indy could play an integral role in deciding the 2011 future champion – thanks to the Wild Card position.

Watch for three names in particular – Tony Stewart, Juan Pablo Montoya and Jamie McMurray.

Stewart, currently 11th in points, seeks his first win of 2011. A two-time Brickyard champion, Stewart looks to become just the second driver-owner to win at Indy; the first was Ricky Rudd in 1997. (For more on Stewart, see page 2 story on Indy natives.)

Montoya, currently 17th in points, finished second in the 2007 Brickyard 400 and might have won in 2009 if not for a late-race pit road speeding penalty while leading. He won the Indianapolis 500 in 2000.

McMurray, 29th in points, won last year’s Brickyard 400. Winless in 2011, McMurray has scored a Driver Rating over 100.0 in two of the last three IMS races.