The Race to the Chase is down to the last event.

The Race to the Chase is down to the last event.



The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup is right around the corner.

The drama that has become known as the Chase “cut-off race” is set for Saturday night at Richmond International Raceway, the Air Guard 400. A handful of drivers will vie for the last two sports open in the 12-driver Chase.


On addition, the NASCAR Nationwide Series races at Richmond on Saturday night; on Saturday afternoon the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series and the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge season end at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah. The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series has an open week.


NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES


Two Spots Open, Five Remain Eligible.
Coming into Richmond, the last two of 12 Chase berths technically remain up for grabs, although Greg Biffle certainly looks like a lock – he’s in 11th place, with a 161-point lead over 13th-place Ryan Newman and needs only a 42nd-place finish Saturday night to clinch.
Bowyer’s situation is promising but still extremely tenuous: he has a 117-point lead over Newman. He has to finish 28th or better to clinch.
Three drivers outside the current top 12 still have a chance: Newman, who is 117 points out of the top 12; 14th-place Jamie McMurray, 128 points out); and Mark Martin, 147 out, in 15th. (Anyone within 161 points of 12th place can still make it into the Chase.)


Last Chance for Bonus Points
The 12 drivers who qualify for the Chase will have their point totals re-set to 5,000. They then will get 10 bonus points for each pre-Chase victory; those new totals establish the Chase seedings.
Currently, Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin have five victories apiece and thus, a total of 50 bonus points each. They’ll start the Chase seeded 1-2 (Johnson gets the top seed via the traditional tiebreak of next-best finishes).
How important are the bonus points? Consider: Jeff Gordon currently is second in the series standings and has secured a Chase berth but because he has no race wins this year, he’s destined to have the lowest point total (tied with several others) to start the Chase – 5,000. Unless he wins Saturday night at Richmond, which would give him 5,010.
Guys to watch as they try to win Saturday: Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch, currently tied with three wins apiece. If one of them wins at Richmond, they’ll start the Chase seeded third with 5,040 points, only 10 behind Johnson and Hamlin.


Chase Qualifiers: A Closer Look At Elite Group
The 10 drivers who have already qualified for the 2010 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup are an elite group to say the least. Collectively, they have combined to win 12 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships.


Check out the following, further info about those 10:


1 – Kevin Harvick
· A leading candidate for the Comeback Driver of the Year in 2010.
· Points leader the majority of the regular season.
· Has led the charge for the resurgence of Richard Childress Racing in 2010.
· A championship for RCR would be Childress’ first since the late Dale Earnhardt in 1994.
· Harvick is prime example of a NASCAR contender that progressed up through the ranks – won the 1998 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West championship and is a two-time Nationwide Series champion (2001, 2006).
· He and his wife, DeLana, are entrenched in NASCAR racing, as they are team owners in both the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series.


2 – Jeff Gordon
· Contending for his 5th series championship – which would rank 2nd all-time behind Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt (both with 7). His last series crown came in 2001.
· Family man – his family expanded this summer with the birth of his second child – a son, Leo.


3 – Kyle Busch
· 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series champion – can he capture his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series crown?
· Recognized as one of the most talented drivers in the sport – he has success across all three national series.
· Can he rebound from last year’s disappointing season of not making the Chase?
· Started his racing career at the NWAAS Bullring at Las Vegas Speedway.


4 – Tony Stewart
· Two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion – can he add a third title and become the first driver-owner to win the championship since Alan Kulwicki did it in 1992?
· Former open wheel driver who had success in both forms of motorsports.


5 – Carl Edwards
· In 2008, he won eight races – since then he’s been winless in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series – can he put together a championship run during the Chase?
· Another example of a driver progressing through the ranks – winning two track championships in NWAAS divisions, then racing trucks and Nationwide Series


6 – Jeff Burton
· Along with Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer, has been key cog in the resurgence of RCR.
· Considered one of NASCAR’s greatest ambassadors; has talked about a career in politics after racing.
· Started racing in the Pure Stock Division at his hometown track in South Boston (Va.).


7 – Jimmie Johnson
· Will he be successful in his quest for an unprecedented 5th consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship?


· Unbelievable chemistry with crew chief Chad Knaus?
· Became a father this year?
· Have his accomplishments received the attention they are due? How does this type of dominance rank when compared to other sports?


8 – Matt Kenseth
· 2003 series champion – he is the last champion under the former points structure.
· Often considered to be one of those drivers “under the radar” but consistently a threat to win races and titles.
· NASCAR Home Track product, competing in NASCAR’s Elite Division in 1995 before working his way up through the national series.
· His son, Ross, is becoming quite the driver himself.
· Can he, Edwards and Biffle lead a charge for Roush Fenway during the Chase?


9 – Kurt Busch
· His 2004 series championship was the first under the Chase format.
· He has led the charge for the Dodge contingent
· Two wins in 2010 – first Atlanta and the Coke 600.

10 – Denny Hamlin
· His five wins in 2010 tie him with Jimmie Johnson for the most in the series.
· Knee surgery early in the year; he’s rebounded admirably.
· Defending race champion at Richmond – considered to be his “hometown” track.
· At mid-season, he was considered to be one of the top contenders to unseat Johnson – can he take the next step to claim his first national series title?
· Another product of NASCAR’s “Home Track” program – he raced late models in Virginia and became the youngest driver (16) to win the NWAAS Mini Stock championship at Langley Speedway at the age of 16.