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(Back row L-R) Tony Stewart, Brad Keselowski, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon (front row L-R) Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards, Ryan Newman, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth and Denny Hamlin pose after clinching spots in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup following the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Wonderful Pistachios 400 at Richmond International Raceway on Saturday.

PHOTO CREDIT: NASCARMEDIA

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RACE RECAP | RICHMOND
10 Mark Martin
9 Denny Hamlin
8 Ryan Newman
7 Tony Stewart
6 Kyle Busch
5 Kurt Busch
4 David Ragan
3 Jeff Gordon
2 Carl Edwards

VICTORY LANE

1 Kevin Harvick takes the win after his pit crew got him out first on the “money stop” It’s Kevin’s 4th win of the season, tying himself for the points lead with Kyle Busch

Continue reading “Fast pitstop put Kevin Harvick into Richmond Victory Lane”

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14 Drivers, Three Spots, One Race

In no time at all, the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regular season will be no more. Its ending will fit perfectly with its beginning, and everything in between.

What started with Trevor Bayne’s stirring victory in the Daytona 500, continued with a record-tying finish at Talladega Superspeedway, a mix of victories from usual suspects (Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, etc.) and newbies (Regan Smith, Paul Menard, David Ragan and Marcos Ambrose) and Jeff Gordon’s historic 85th victory all ends this Saturday night at Richmond International Raceway.

CHASE SCENARIOS – LISTEN HERE

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At what many call the perfect track, we could all see the perfect ending.

So much is known about the makeup of the 2011 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Yet, so much can still happen. Nine of the 12 spots are locked up. The top eight drivers – Johnson, Busch, Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth, Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman – have each clinched at top-10 spot. Brad Keselowski, with three wins, has locked up at least a Wild Card berth.

After Saturday night’s race, the top 10 drivers make up the first part of the 12-driver Chase. Spots 11 and 12 go to those drivers outside the top 10 with the most wins, provided they are in the top 12. The

Wild Card tiebreaker is points position.
Only three spots remain. And thanks to the Wild Card factor – which is in its inaugural year – a whopping 14 drivers remain mathematically eligible.
In terms of drivers outside the top 10, positions 11-23 are all mathematically eligible for a Chase nod. In 2005, seven drivers outside the top 10 still had a mathematical chance, the previous high going into Richmond.

A tale of the tape of the 14…

Continue reading “Richmond, The Chase: 14 Drivers, 3 Spots Remain”

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Chase For The NASCAR Sprint Cup Field Taking Shape
Six Drivers Currently Guaranteed Spots In 12-Driver Chase

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 29, 2011) — Two races remain before the complete 12-driver Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup is set, seedings and all.

Six drivers have clinched a Chase spot in some fashion. Kyle Busch, five-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards have locked up top-10 spots. Kevin Harvick (three wins) and Jeff Gordon (two wins) both have clinched, at the least, Wild Card spots; both will likely cement top-10 berths in Sunday night’s AdvoCare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

After race No. 26 at Richmond International Raceway, the top-10 drivers in points will fill out the first portion of the 12-driver Chase. Spots 11 and 12 go to drivers outside the top 10 with the most victories, provided they are in the top 20. The Wild Card tiebreaker is points position.

Continue reading “Chase For The NASCAR Sprint Cup Field Taking Shape”