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Within every race, there are over 100 separate races going on. Each driver has something, or someone to race against. In this section I will highlight a few races within this weeks race. The Racers Race.
With the new chase format of the Nextel Cup Championship, every driver within the top ten, or 400 points of the leader of the league with ten races left, make the chase. When the season comes to the point of only 10 races left, the championship contenders point totals are erased, and the new point total race begins. At this point in the season, the 10th place driver, (Kyle Busch,) is 449 points behind the league leader, (Jimmy Johnson.) Thus, it looks like the chase may be made up of only the top ten drivers.
Racers Race: Dover
1. Greg Biffle #16 - Any NASCAR fan can tell you that Biffle has been a strong contender all year. Along with a win from the Dodge Charger 500, and 4 additional top ten finishes, he has had some rotten luck. He has run out of gas, got thrown to the wall by one the Busch brothers, has had engine failure, you name it. What is also well known about Biffle, is he has lead a ton of laps thus far this year, and has been a threat for most every race. At this point, Biffle is ranked 13th, and 521 points behind the league leader. Biffle won this race last year, and he is my pick to win it again this year. But winning is not everything at this point of the season. Look for Biffle to try to lead a few laps, (leading a lap gives 5 extra points to the team,) and place at least in the top 5. Putting himself back in the hunt.
2. Tony Stewart #20 - Smoke's race may be a quick one, since he is injured, and is believed that he is going to start the race, then be replaced by a backup driver, Ricky Rudd, just to gain the points necessary to stay within the top ten. Not much of a race, but he has been the headline grabber of the week, and expect to hear a ton more about it. He had wrecked twice last weekend, in the Busch Series on Friday night, and in the Nextel Cup the next night. Two trips to the hospital, and a broken shoulder later. No one but myself thinks he will race beyond the first caution. If he does continue to finish the race, you can bet he will be posted on the front page for next week as well.
3. Elliot Sadler #38 + Dale Jarrett #88 - The whole Yates team has been under a microscope for most of the year. These two teammates have been the escape goat for most of it. True insiders will tell you that it's an engineering problem, and has nothing to do with Jarrett leaving the team next year for Toyota, but you won't read that in much of the things written about the Yates team. Dale Jarrett was wrecked last week within the first lap, and slipped from 12th to 16th place as a result. What's most important for these two drivers is to place within the top 15 this week. They are both in 16th and 17th place thus far, and anything but bad luck would be good news for both of them.
4. Jeff Gordon #24 - Even though Gordon is ranked 7th in the league, he has only a 39 point cushion from the 10th place driver. He really needs to put his muscle where his mouth is this week in Dover, and get a strong finish. Anything less then a top ten finish, and we are going to start hearing a ton about why Gordon is going to miss the chase. This weeks race may not be a deal breaker for Gordon, but it IS about how fast the rumors are going to spread around the garage.
5. Ryan Newman #12 - The Penske team has been on the brink of a downward skid in the Nextel Cup, and they are in desperate need of some good news, (smooth sailing for them in the Indy league.) Teamate, Kurt Busch #2, is 19th in the standings, and Newman is currently in 22nd place. Both are in a dangerous position at this point in the season. Each week has now become critical for them making the chase. Newman has a history of being strong in Dover, winning 3 out of the last 6 races at the track. Anything less then a top 5 finish, and most people are going to be writing them off as finished.
Honorable Mention - Matt Kenseth #17 - Kenseth needs to do nothing different then what he has been doing every race this season. He has been solid, and has ran up front for most of the year. Currently in 2nd, Kenseth is pretty much a sure-in for the chase. A strong finish in Dover, and everyone will start talking about how Jimmy Johnson has to start looking in his rearview mirror for a speeding Kenseth hot on his tail. He has been a highlight to watch, and has become one of the top respected driver this season. Except, maybe within the Tony Stewart camp.
