Time to hit the road (course that is)

It's time to go road racing boys!!!  Sprint Cup teams head out west this weekend for the first roadcourse race of the season at Infineon Raceway.  Headlines always seem to go to the roadcourse ringers but those so called "ringers" haven't been able to seal the deal in a long time.  So here are my picks to win this weekend:

Robby Gordon, No. 7 Robby Gordon Motorsports Dodge (Robby Gordon Motorsports)

Last Week: 4oth place finish in the LifeLock 400

Career at Infineon: 20.7 Avg. Finish, 1 win, 2 top 5's, 3 top 10's

Why he could win: When you go to a roadcourse, no matter where it is, Robby Gordon is a threat to win.  He led the most laps in this race last year before falling behind via strategy and losing the race to Juan Pablo Montoya.  He also has an extra reason to race this weekend, he doesn't yet have a sponsor for this weekend.   A good showing will help him lock one up for any remaining sponsorless weekends this season.

Tony Stewart, No. 20 Home Depot Toyota (Joe Gibbs Racing)

Last Week: 5th place finish in the LifeLock 400

Career at Infineon: 10.0 Avg. Finish, 2 wins, 3 top 5's, 5 top 10's

Why he could win: Stewart hasn't been having a stellar season so far, but last week's top 5 could be a start of some much needed momentum.  And of course he's always been good at Infineon.  Could we see Smoke back in victory lane this weekend?

Juan Pablo Montoya, No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge (Chip Ganassi Racing)

Last Week: 38th place finish in the LifeLock 400

Career at Infineon: 1.0 Avg. Finish, 1 win, 1 top 5, 1 top 10

Why he could win: Last year Montoya came into this race with a lot of expectations.  What did he do?  He went out and won this race to earn his first Sprint Cup victory.  Now I don't know if he can do it again, but I wouldn't bet against Montoya on a roadcourse, ever.

Usually I choose an underdog who could surprise and come out with a strong run but this week I won't pick just one.  Actually, i'm gonna pick several.  Why you ask?  Because frankly there are several underdogs that could win this weekend, and I do mean several.  I'm not going to go into full detail like I usually do, i'm just gonna list the driver and team and a bit about why I think they might surprise.

Ron Fellows, No. 01 DEI/Principal Financial Group Chevrolet (Dale Earnhardt Inc.)

Fellows steps in for Regan Smith this week so the team can gain maximum owner points.  DEI couldn't have picked a better roadcourse ringer in my opinion, he finished second several years ago driving for Joe Nemechek at Watkins Glen in a Cup race.

Patrick Carpentier, No. 10 Valvoline Dodge (Gillett Evernham Motorsports)

Carpentier got noticed last year by winning the pole for the Nationwide roadcourse race in Canada and finishing second.  He then jumped in a cup car and lead some laps at Watkins Glen.  Anyone else think he could really surprise?

Marcos Ambrose, No. 21 Little Debbie Honey Buns Ford (Wood Brothers Racing)

Ambrose should have won the Nationwide race in Canada last year had it not been for an arrant Robby Gordon.  I suspect that Ambrose, who will be making his first Cup start, will certainly try to impress on the roadcourse in California this weekend.

Jamie McMurray, No. 26 Crown Royal Ford (Roush Fenway Racing)

McMurray won the pole for this race last year and battled Juan Pablo Montoya late in the running before running out of gas.  Don't be surprised to see him up front again this weekend.

Dario Franchitti, No. 40 Texaco/Havoline/The Hartford Dodge (Chip Ganassi Racing)

Dario hasn't had much to smile about this year.  He's had bad finish after bad finish, not to mention suffering a broken ankle.  Maybe this weekend he can show his driving skills by racing circles around some of the Sprint Cup competition.  

Scott Pruett, No. 41 Target Dodge (Chip Ganassi Racing)

When NASCAR goes roadcourse racing Scott Pruett almost always shows up in someone's car.  This weekend he takes over for Reed Sorenson to try and earn the team maximum points.  Pruett should finish in the top 10, maybe even compete for the win.

Terry Labonte, No. 45 Wells Fargo Dodge (Petty Enterprises)

Labonte nearly shocked the world a few years ago when he was driving the No. 96 car for Hall Of Fame Racing.  He led late and almost won this race before falling to third.  It was a good showing for Labonte and he could surprise again.

Boris Said, No. 60 7-Eleven Slurpee/No Fear Ford (No Fear Racing)

The Said Heads will be out in force this weekend to root on Boris in his attempt to win his first Cup race.  Boris almost always finishes in the top 5 or top 10 on the roadcourses so watch out for him, he is a real threat to win.

Max Papis, No. 66 Haas Automation Chevrolet (Haas/CNC Racing)

Papis has been trying to break into NASCAR for a few years and a good run this weekend might just earn him that ride.  Don't underestimate Papis, he's an accomplished roadcourse racer and could earn a top 10.

Sam Hornish Jr., No. 77 Mobil 1 Dodge (Penske Racing)

Hornish had a great run last week until a late spin ruined everything.  This week though will be the first roadcourse race for Hornish since joining the cup series and there is a chance he could make up for last weeks spinout.  

A.J. Allmendinger, No. 84 Red Bull Toyota (Red Bull Racing)

Allmendinger made a name for himself by winning a bunch of roadcourse races in 2006 in the now defunct CART Series.  Will that translate to the Cup Series this weekend?