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Veteran
Driver: Kyle Busch
Points Position: Leader
Wins: 8
Kyle Busch has had a year that will never be forgotten, and it's not over. So far, he has tallied up 8 wins in 26 races. During the Chase, Kyle will get to go back to many of the tracks he has won at; that's an advantage. "Shrub" has managed to start a few rivalries this season with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Carl Edwards. Look for Busch to not back down in the Chase and be the most competitive all season. Back at Bristol, he even said that he will race dirty with Carl in the Chase. He'll be around at Homestead. History has shown that the driver leading the points after the recede at Richmond has ALWAYS won the Cup.
Driver: Carl Edwards
Points Position: 2nd
Wins: 6 (only gets credit for 5)
Carl Edwards has shown this season that he is ready to win a Championship. He has the consistency, the motivation, and the equipment to pull it off. He will get to go back to all of his favorite 1.5 mile tracks like Atlanta and Texas. Carl has also shown that he is a driver not to be reckined with. If a driver takes him out, he will take him out. Jack Roush believes and I believe, too, that he is ready for the Cup. Look for him to be doing back flips a lot and to be around at Homestead.
Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Points Position: 3rd
Wins: 4
Jimmie Johnson is currently on a hot streak I highly doubt will come to an end. He has 4 wins this year, and 2 of them have been in the past 2 races. Look at what he did last year. Jimmie will get to visit many tracks that he has run well at. I won't be surprised if he wins four races again during this years Chase. He is my pick to win the Championship. Jimmie is on a champion team with a champion organization, and we cannot ever count him out. The history I said up there will be broken this year. Johnson already broke history by being the first driver to win from the pole at Auto Club Speedway. Why not break even more?
Driver: Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Points Position: 4th
Wins: 1
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. probably made one of the biggest team moves in NASCAR history at the beginning of this year by leaving his father's organization. It turned out to be a great move that allowed him to once again compete for the Championship. Dale made opening statements back at Daytona by winning the Budweiser Shootout and Gatorade Duel One. He has been pretty consistent all year and finally won a points race. It may have been fuel mileage, but still, it was a POINTS race. Junior has the motivation to be consistent throughout the Chase. Earnhardt has fallen in points throughout the Race to the Chase with several poor finishes, but his good finish at Richmond more than likely will carry over to Loudon. Look for him to be around at Homestead but not to take home the trophy.
Driver: Clint Bowyer
Points Position: 5th
Wins: 1
Clint Bowyer has had a year with many ups and downs. He has had consistent finishes and has had some terrible runs. I never knew whether he was going to finish strong or go out with trouble. Bowyer was always a gamble for my fantasy roster. What he pulled out of it all was a very crucial win. If he can do what he did last year, Clint should be around for at least the majority of the ten races.
Driver: Denny Hamlin
Points Position: 6th
Wins: 1
Denny Hamlin has had a pretty good year. His win at Martinsville was one of the most meaningful ever for him. He dominated at Richmond and almost was able to check off both Virginia tracks. For part of the year, he was really in a hole. At one point, Denny did not even think he was Chase deserving. In the past three races, Hamlin has gotten 3 third place finishes in a row. His momentum probably will carry him through Loudon and most of the Chase. I think Denny Hamlin will fall out of the running though before Homestead.
Driver: Jeff Burton
Points Position: 7th
Wins: 1
Jeff Burton has had a great season. He has proven that a veteran racer can still compete for the Championship. Jeff was rejoiced when he got his first ever victory at Bristol and his only win this season. When I think of consistency, I think of Jeff Burton. He was second or third in points most of the season but dropped significantly during the Race to the Chase. His terrible finish in the Sharpie 500 really knocked him down in points. Look for his consistency to continue throughtout most of the Chase. As I have said though, consistency is not enought. To be a champion, you have to go out there and win lots and lots of races.
Driver: Tony Stewart
Points Position: 8th
Wins: 0
Now, we are down to the drivers that really aren't Chase deserving. As I have said, DW has said, and many people have agreed on, a driver needs to win a race in order to qualify for the Chase. Is a driver that worthy of the postseason if he is 0 for 26? Tony Stewart has had an aggravating and frustrating year. In the midst of it, he made the decision to depart from Joe Gibbs Racing at the end of the season and start his own team. Stewart has the momentum to do well in the Chase even though he really shouldn't be there. Tony's second place finish at Richmond has set the guy on fire, and I really believe that he will get his win during the Chase. He is a driver that could possibly still be around at Homestead. But with having to compete with the guys at the top of the pecking order, one wrong move and you're out, buddy.
Driver: Greg Biffle
Points Position: 9th
Wins: 0
Greg Biffle has had a run-of-the-mill season. He has let the win slip from his hands at tracks like Darlington and Dover. I really thought he would get to victory lane during those 26 races. I am not sure if he will even be celebrating during the Chase with having to compete with all of the other guys. Biffle will get some good, consistent finishes but won't be around at Homestead.
Driver: Jeff Gordon
Points Position: 10th
Wins: 0
I don't know what to say about Jeff Gordon. All I can say is that this year hasn't been his time, and I have no clue how in the heck he managed to get into the Chase. I guess his experience pays off to get him out of trouble. Jeff has had some consistent finishes in the past 3 races, something he has needed for a while. He just has had a lot of trouble adjusting to the new car. Sometimes Gordon gets caught up in another guy's trouble, sometimes he crashes and burns, and sometimes he makes his way to the front. We just never know; the guy could suddenly get hot during the Chase and start to be a Cup contender. I doubt it though; don't count on him being around at Homestead.
Driver: Kevin Harvick
Points Position: 11th
Wins: 0
Kevin Harvick is everyone's darkhouse during the Chase. He has shown the consistency and the drive to fight for this thing. Harvick has had a pretty good Race to the Chase and has finished strong. Last week at Richmond, Kevin practically sent all of the other drivers a "beware of me" sign. He is excited about Loudon, and most importantly of all, he has proven that he can get himself out of the hole. Remember that race back Pocono where he wrecked at the beginning and still managed to get a top five finish. That was amazing! Kevin Harvick could very well be around at Homestead.
Driver: Matt Kenseth
Points Position: 12th
Wins: 0
Matt Kenseth has had a very interesting year. At the beginning of it, he was terrible and getting caught up in wrecks. But over the summer, Matt has made a dramatic comeback. It all started back at the night race at Daytona, and he has brought his momentum all the way into the Chase. I don't expect him to win the Title, and I don't expect him to win a race. Just making this battle is a major accomplishment for him; Kenseth is lucky to be in it. If it weren't for the new rule implemented last year, he would be crying back at home. Don't expect him to be around at Homestead, but do expect him to get some good finishes.
That was my Chase preview. I hope you enjoy the battle for the Cup, and I will write more posts throughout the next ten weeks.