The 15th annual Allstate 400 hits the bricks at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this week, leading up to the 2 p.m. race July 27. Fans gathering up their coolers and race gear aren’t the only ones preparing for the Brickyard. Mark Martin, driving the No. 8 U.S. Army Chevrolet fielded by Dale Earnhardt Inc., began discussing setups with his crew chief following qualifying for the Pocono race in early June.

Martin faces some stiff competition. Kyle Busch, in the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 M&Ms Toyota, leads the points standings. In fact, with seven wins so far, the 23-year-old phenom is dominating NASCAR Cup racing this year. Having left the Hendrick Motorsports “dream team,” he’s driving like a man with something to prove — and he’s proving it all over the place.

Second in points is Dale Earnhardt Jr., currently driving the AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet for that dream team (Hendrick Motorsports). Despite his high ranking and one race win, he hasn’t had a dream season. However, top notch equipment has provided consistent Top 5 and Top 10 finishes, which can ultimately deliver a championship. Pleased with the results of a tire test at the Speedway earlier this year, Earnhardt looks forward to the race.

His teammates Jimmie Johnson, in the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, and Jeff Gordon, in the No. 24 Nicorette/DuPont Chevrolet, also sit in the Top 10 in the points and are always contenders. Gordon’s fourth victory at Indy came in 2004; it’s no secret he’d like to add a record fifth.

But he’ll be battling with nemesis Tony Stewart, in his last year in the No. 20 Home Depot Toyota for Joe Gibbs. Despite the success of the Toyota, Stewart’s unhappiness with the make is widely known — as is his scheduled 2009 switch to Haas CNC Racing (renamed Stewart-Haas Racing) as owner-driver. Perhaps having his future settled before he gets to Indianapolis will help him turn around a winless season.

While the Indy spotlight so frequently focuses on Stewart, expect a little glow to fall on Ryan Newman this year. The Dodge No. 12 Kodak driver has been released from Penske Racing at the end of the season and is rumored to be chasing fellow Hoosier Stewart for a seat next year. Wherever he lands, the “Rocketman” is likely to find more success than he has at the surprisingly struggling Penske operation.

Penske is never down for long, and with GM cuts expected to affect NASCAR, the wily master of the Speedway may be able to turn a dismal season around.

In only 15 years, the Brickyard has become one of NASCAR’s premier events, one drivers yearn to win, one fans loyally attend.

Tickets for the Allstate 400 are available online at online at www.indianapolis

 motorspeedway.com, by phone at 800-822-INDY and 317-492-6700 or at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway ticket office in the IMS Administration Building at 4790 W. 16th St.