wildcard

on

Pos Driver Points 10th Wins Pos Starts Poles T5s T10s DNFs

1. Brad Keselowski 3 11 689 -21 24 1 6 9 1
2. Denny Hamlin 1 13 672 -38 24 0 4 8 2
3. Paul Menard 1 20 631 -79 24 0 4 7 2
4. Clint Bowyer 0 12 688 -22 24 0 3 9 4
5. A J Allmendinger 0 14 664 -46 24 0 1 5 1
6. Kasey Kahne 0 15 656 -54 24 1 3 8 2
7. Greg Biffle 0 16 649 -61 24 1 1 7 1
8. Martin Truex Jr. 0 17 645 -65 24 0 2 8 3
9. Joey Logano 0 18 642 -68 24 2 4 6 1
10. Mark Martin 0 19 633 -77 24 1 2 7 3
11. David Ragan 1 21 628 -82 24 2 3 6 3
12. Marcos Ambrose 1 22 627 -83 24 0 4 8 0
13. Regan Smith 1 25 552 -158 24 0 2 4 2

on

Guest Column By Cathy Elliott

When police captain Louis Renault sent his subordinates to “round up the usual suspects” after a shooting in the film “Casablanca,” they didn’t hesitate. They knew exactly who to look for.

The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup has been a little like that. With few exceptions, the drivers we have seen vying for the title since the Chase was implemented in 2004 have been the same ones we expect to see in Victory Lane each week, including Carl Edwards, Kurt and Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and of course, Jimmie Johnson.

In seasons past, the Chase field has been determined strictly by points. If you weren’t in the Top 12 following the August race at Richmond, you were out. This occasionally created a situation where winless drivers during the regular season were contending for the championship, while race winners could hope for no better than a 13th-place finish for the year.

Continue reading “Chase Gone Wild: Title Up For Grabs With New Win-And-You’re-In Playoff Format”

on

Paul Menard rumbled across the yard of bricks at full speed for the final time, signaling the crunching of a few couple key numbers: 14 different winners in 20 races, most since 2003; four different first-time winners, most since 2007; and the big one – five winners residing outside the top 10 in points.

“Wild Card Fever” has overtaken the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series garage, adding new faces to the championship discussion. Only six races remain before NASCAR’s “playoffs” – the 12-driver Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup – meaning fewer chances for Wild Card wins, and potential Chase bonus points.

After race No. 26 at Richmond, the top-10 drivers will earn berths into the 12-driver Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup field. Spots 11 and 12 will go to those drivers outside the top 10 with the most wins, provided they are in the top 20. Ties will go to the drivers with the best points position.

Continue reading “NASCAR Playoff Push Heats Up”