by Jeff Hammond

Updated: July 8, 2005, 11:32 AM EST

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The kind of racing that we will see this weekend depends on the tire that Goodyear brings and how it works with Chicagoland Speedway and this new handling package. So far this season, we've seen fast qualifying times and faster than normal race speeds.

With less spoiler, straightaway speeds have picked up. It seems like the tires are pretty grippy, and if the groove moves around a little bit, and the drivers lay down more rubber, we might be lucky enough to get that second groove that the teams have been looking for the last few years.

Who to Watch

Rick from Lexington, Ky.: If you had to pick three drivers to win or finish in the top five this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway, who would they be?

Jeff Hammond: You have to give a nod to Tony Stewart because of the roll he's on (two consecutive wins) and the fact that he won at Chicagoland year ago. Carl Edwards and Jimmie Johnson run well at 1 1/2-mile tracks like this one. And with the strength that I've seen lately, you have to give a little nod to Rusty Wallace. He's been pretty consistent, and it's the type of racetrack where he can run well. Another driver who has been lurking in the background and could do pretty well this weekend is Matt Kenseth.

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What to Watch

Two-groove racing: If the second groove happens to come in, teams will make their cars work on the top or the bottom, depending on driver preference. Tony Stewart is predominantly a bottom feeder. He likes to run the bottom of the racetrack, but several drivers, especially Carl Edwards and Jeff Gordon, are not afraid to search around and find whatever grip they can find anywhere.

Waltrip wildcard: That's not to say the rest of the drivers don't search around for grooves, but Edwards and Gordon come to mind really quickly along with Michael Waltrip. Even though, the 15 team had some bad luck at Daytona, crew chief Tony Eury Jr. and Waltrip have definitely clicked and been on the same page. They've been making good runs at racetracks like Chicagoland.

Tire talk: may see a more competitive race than we've seen in years past if Goodyear brings the right tire combination of tire so drivers get a little more grip. If they can lay down rubber just a little bit higher and get that second groove going, we may see a lot more passing than we've seen in years past.

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FOX race analyst Jeff Hammond led Darrell Waltrip to two of DW's three Winston Cup championships as his crew chief. They also teamed to win the 1989 Daytona 500.

For autographed copies of Jeff Hammond's new book "Real Men Work in the Pits" plus magnets, hats and more, check out www.dwstore.com.

For photos and appearances, visit Jeff's web site www.jeffhammond.com.