Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch were treated to some New England hospitality last weekend at the Banknorth 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway.

The rest of their Nextel Cup brethren get their taste this weekend when the NASCAR road show visits New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon for four-days of racing, culminating Sunday with the Siemens 300.

A sold-out crowd of more than 101,000 is expected Sunday for the 18th stop on the Nextel Cup tour. Good seats are still available for the rest of the weekend, including Saturday’s doubleheader involving the Busch Series (Siemens 200) and the Busch North Tour (Siemens 125).

Qualifying for Sunday’s Nextel Cup race takes place Friday.

Current points leader Jimmie Johnson swept both races last year at NHIS. Dale Earnhardt Jr. sits second in the points race, 105 behind Johnson.

“We have a nice cushion over second right now,” Johnson said Tuesday in a teleconference call. “I’m looking forward to not having that pressure on us as a team for these next eight races and to go out and have some fun.”

Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Kenseth round out the top five

With the new 10-race “Chase for Championship” in place this year, that pressure is building on drivers who sit outside the top 10. Only the top 10 drivers after the 26th race will be eligible for the Nextel Cup title.

Ryan Newman sits on the bubble in 10th place, 65 points ahead of No. 11 Jeremy Mayfield. Dale Jarrett (90 points back), Jamie McMurray (105), Kasey Kahne (129) and Mark Martin (138) also remain in serious contention.

Gordon is seeking to tie a NASCAR record this weekend by capturing his fifth consecutive pole. Cale Yarborough and Bobby Allison hold the modern-era record.

Maine’s Ricky Craven will hear the loudest cheers when he returns to his “home track.” Craven has visited Victory Lane at NHIS in both the Busch North and Busch Series, but has yet to claim the checkered flag at the Nextel Cup level. Craven has struggled this year and sits in 31st place and is only ahead of three drivers who have competed in all 18 races. His best finish this season is 16th.

The Siemens 300 will be the first time NASCAR’s new “green-white-checkered” format is utilized. The new rule is an attempt to end all yellow-flag finishes. Instead of completing a race behind the pace car under caution, cars would get the green flag when the track is cleared and then the white flag the next time around, signaling the final lap. The “green-white-checkered” format is already in use on the truck circuit.

Thursday’s schedule includes practice and qualifying for the Featherlite Modified Series and the Busch North. The Busch and Nextel Cup drivers take to the track Friday morning before their two-lap qualifying runs that afternoon. The modified race is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Friday.

A large contingent of Nextel Cup drivers are expected in Saturday’s Busch race. The list includes Kenseth, Kahne, Kevin Harvick, Robby Gordon, Greg Biffle, Joe Nemechek and Michael Waltrip.

The Busch North series features several drivers with Maine connections. Two-time defending champion Andy Santerre of Cherryfield is the current points leader. The father/son combo of Kelly and Ryan Moore of Scarborough are both ranked in the top five.