SPRINT CUP SERIES – CROWN ROYAL

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES – CROWN ROYAL PRESENTS THE SAMUEL DEEDS 400 AT THE BRICKYARD POWERED BY BIGMACHINERECORDS.COM, SUNDAY, JULY 28, 1 P.M. EDT ON ESPN

Break Time For Sprint Cup As Brickyard Challenge Looms

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, which began the second half of the season last weekend in New Hampshire, takes its final break of the season this week as teams prepare for the 20^th visit to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, July 28. Jimmie Johnson is the defending winner of the 400-mile race. Johnson’s fourth victory tied Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon for the most wins at the 2.5-mile Brickyard. ESPN/ABC will carry all of the 17 remaining races including the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™.

Post-Season Berth Remains In Reach Of Many

The point spread tells the tale as the battle for a berth in NASCAR’s post season heads into the final seven races. Tenth and 14^th places are separated by seven points. Twentieth-place Paul Menard – the last driver currently eligible for a Chase Wild Card – is just 36 markers behind 10^th-ranked Kasey Kahne. A year ago, 11^th-place Carl Edwards, who didn’t qualify for the post season, was 46 points out of the top 10 after 19 races and the difference between 10^th and 20^th was a whopping 127 points.

‘Comers’ And ‘Goers’ Continue On Weekly Basis

A year ago, nine of the top 10-ranked drivers after summer’s New Hampshire race qualified for the Chase. Don’t bet on that happening in 2013 – especially with 13 points the difference between ninth and 13^th. This week’s “comers” were reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Brad Keselowski – 13^th to ninth – and Kasey Kahne – 11^th to 10^th. The “goers” were Kurt Busch – ninth to 14^th – and Tony Stewart – 10^th to 13^th. Sixteen of this week’s top 20 drivers have spent at least one week ranked among the top 10.

Current Top 10 Drivers Hogging Sprint Cup Victory List

With top-10 ranked drivers accounting for 15 of the season’s 19 victories, the Chase Wild Card picture remains cloudy to say the least. Sonoma winner Martin Truex Jr. (11^th) holds the first Wild Card while Tony Stewart (13^th), the Kentucky winner, holds the second “free pass.” No other competitors ranked 11^th through 20^th – the criteria for qualifying as a Wild Card – have a victory. Talladega winner David Regan is 28^th while New Hampshire winner Brian Vickers is ineligible as a NASCAR Nationwide Series points eligible competitor.

Burton, Quiet For Four Seasons, Tosses Helmet In Chase Ring

Jeff Burton hasn’t qualified for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™ since 2008. Burton won twice and finished sixth in his third consecutive top-10 championship run with Richard Childress Racing. The Virginia veteran, ranked 17^th in the standings, remains something of a dark horse contender but looked like the Burton of yesteryear as he finished a strong third in Sunday’s race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The 46-year-old competitor is just 25 points out of a top-10 ranking.