chase

on

Don’t be surprised to see a replay of Michigan’s late-race battle between Jimmie Johnson and Brad Keselowski carry over into the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™.

Keselowski has established himself as the most prominent newcomer to challenge the five-time champion and owns a statistical advantage over Johnson since late June.

Beginning with a victory at Kentucky Speedway, Keselowski has run off seven consecutive top-10 finishes with four of the last five among the top five. Johnson has one win and two top-five and four top-10 finishes during the same period.

The 28-year-old Keselowski likely would be fighting for the regular season points lead absent Penske Racing’s early-season electronic fuel injection (EFI) issues.

on

Kahne, Newman Retain Provisional ‘Wild Card’ Tickets
Kasey Kahne and Ryan Newman continue as provisional holders of Chase “wild cards” following third and eighth-place finishes in Michigan. Kahne (11th) has two victories, Newman (13th) one. Kahne remains the most significant threat to oust a current top-10 driver trailing 10th-place Denny Hamlin by 33 points. Kyle Busch (14th), Jeff Gordon (16th), Marcos Ambrose (17th) and Joey Logano (18th) have one victory apiece. Carl Edwards remains the most significant non-winning player – 12th in the standings and 38 points outside the top 10. Edwards won the Irwin Tools Night Race in 2007-08.
Busch is a five-time Bristol winner, most recently in the spring of 2011. Gordon also has five victories as does Kurt Busch, ranked outside the top 20 (25th) and not part of the “wild card” conversation.

on

At least six different winners will battle for two “wild card” spots in the Chase over the four races remaining in the Race to the Chase. Marcos Ambrose, who won the Coors Light Pole at Michigan in June with a speed of 203.241 mph, added his name to the “wild card” derby by posting his second consecutive victory at Watkins Glen International. Kasey Kahne (11th in points) and Ryan Newman (13th) are provisional holders of the two “wild card” spots. Kahne won Michigan’s spring race in 2006. Newman is a two-time Michigan winner. Kyle Busch (14th), Jeff Gordon (15th), Ambrose (17th) and Joey Logano (18th) are remaining winners ranked 11th through 20th. Gordon has two Michigan wins; Busch one.

on

Sunday’s Pure Michigan 400 gives four competitors the opportunity to clinch a top-10 spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™. The current top four in NASCAR Sprint Cup standings – Jimmie Johnson, Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth and Dale Earnhardt Jr. – can lock themselves into the post season by leaving Michigan with a lead of at least 145 points over the 11th-place driver with three races remaining in the Race to the Chase. Biffle, who trails Johnson by a single point, is the only one of the four failing to make the Chase a year ago.

Continue reading “Top Four Cup Series Drivers Can Clinch ‘Chase’ Spots In Michigan”