Maybe New Hampshire's not as important as we're all led to believe

In 2004, the year Kurt Busch won the Nextel Cup, he did so by sweeping the season's races at New Hampshire International Speedway. That 2nd win vaulted him from 7th in the Chase seedings to a tie with Dale Earnhardt Jr., and he never looked back.

Last year, however, Jimmie Johnson wrecked in the Sylvania 300 at NHIS and finished 39th. He still showed he had plenty of time to rally back and win the Cup, the 1st of his career.

"I don't think you necessarily are going to lose, and lose the championship in the first race," said defending Sylvania 300 champion Kevin Harvick. "I think Jimmie's proven that. And last year, (Johnson proved) that you can make mistakes and still come back, but you have to be able to go out and win races."

Harvick didn't discount the Chase opener on Sunday in Loudon, N.H., however, saying teams need to pick up wins in the Chase wherever they can get them.

"You've got to win a couple races, I think, you know, to be where you need to be come (the final race at) Homestead," said Harvick, who is tied with 5 other drivers for the 6th seed in this year's Chase. "I think you guys all make too big a deal about what you're going to change. You're going to obviously look to pick the intensity level up just another notch just because that's what you do when you're racing for championships.

"You know, if you're playing sports and trying to win in the end of a game or whatever the case may be, the good teams and the good players always seem to pick it up a notch, and you have to do that."