By Brian from Racedriven.com

Last night, the 400 at Richmond International Raceway was one for championship, the final race to determine which drivers will be in the Chase for the Championship and who was going to the lone driver out.

The focus for the broadcast crew was mostly on the points contenders, this race, every driver must finish in or better than a certain position to lock in the chase. Most of the points contenders had trouble in one way or another, Dale Earnhardt Jr. had raced his way up through the field before a brake problem put him on the bubble on whether or not he would make it in. Dale Jr's key position was 16th, other points contenders had similar brake problems during the race too, Matt Kenseth, Jeff Burton to name a few. Jeff Gordon found himself outside the top 30 and 1 lap down with cooked brakes, but found himself still in the hunt.

A good day was for Mark Martin who ran in the top 10 most of the night finishing 5th, but two contenders, Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick battled back and forth all night long for the top spot with Kevin Harvick passing Busch for the lead coming down for the white flag, Kevin Harvick would go on the sweep both the Busch Series and the nextel Cup races at Richmond.

At the end of the night, it would come down to Kasey Kahne in his Dodge vs. Tony stewart. The question was in someway answered by only 16 points differences with Kasey Kahne gaining enough positions to make the chase and the lone driver out was Tony Stewart. This will be the first time in so many years that Stewart will not finish in the top 10 in points. Saddly, Stewart will not defend his championship.

Going in the first chase race next weekend in Loudon, New Hampshire, it will be Matt Kenseth with the points lead followed by Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, the rookie Denny Hamlin, in 6th is Dale Earnhardt Jr., Mark Martin, Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon and in 10th with 45 points back will be Kasey Kahne.

This time around, I really have no predictions on who is going to win the championship, all I can say is, it will be the driver with the most consistent finishes throught these 10 races going into Homestead. A couple of drivers to look at, Kevin Harvick, who is all but clinched the 2006 Busch Series championship and has been on a roll as of late, Mark Martin could be a wild card as he could be in his last full time Nextel Cup season, or one of the young guns, Denny Hamlin or Kyle Busch. Who really knows at this point. I will as always be pulling for my favorite driver Dale Jr. to win his first Cup championship.

What a lineup compared to last year, four-five drivers that made the chase in recent years, this year are no where to be found including the Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards among others.

One final note, this will also be the last time this style of car will be run in loudon, as the Car of Tomorrow will be making its mark its next June/July.

Well see Yeah next week at NHIS.