Chase Clinch Scenarios...

It's that time of the year again when the Sprint Cup Series converges upon the 3/4 mile Richmond International Raceway to determine the 12-member Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The last 25 grueling races all come down to 400 laps on Saturday night. I've decided to post on here for easy reference the Chase clinch scenarios for the drivers who are still not mathematically eligible for getting into the Chase.

First and foremost, the following drivers are locked in going to Richmond: Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin.

The following drivers are still eligible and here are their scenarios for getting in (from NASCARMedia.com)

Carl Edwards
Edwards is currently 105 points ahead of 13th place. Regardless of any other driver’s finish, he will clinch if he finishes:
· 24th or better
· 25th and leads at least one lap
· 27th and leads most laps

Kasey Kahne
Kahne is currently 96 points ahead of 13th place. Regardless of any other driver’s finish, he will clinch if he finishes:
· 21st or better
· 23rd and leads at least one lap
· 24th and leads most laps

Kurt Busch
Busch is currently 95 points ahead of 13th place. Regardless of any other driver’s finish, he will clinch if he finishes:
· 20th or better
· 22nd and leads at least one lap
· 24th and leads most laps

Juan Pablo Montoya
Montoya is currently 88 points ahead of 13th place. Regardless of any other driver’s finish, he will clinch if he finishes:
· 18th or better
· 20th and leads at least one lap
· 21st and leads the most laps

Ryan Newman
Newman is currently 81 points ahead of 13th place. Regardless of any other driver’s finish, he will clinch if he finishes:
· 16th or better
· 17th and leads at least one lap
· 19th and leads the most laps

Mark Martin
Martin is currently 69 points ahead of 13th place. Regardless of any other driver’s finish, he will clinch if he finishes:
· 12th or better
· 14th and leads at least one lap
· 15th and leads the most laps

Greg Biffle
Biffle is currently 68 points ahead of 13th place. Regardless of any other driver’s finish, he will clinch if he finishes:
· 11th or better
· 13th and leads at least one lap
· 15th and leads the most laps

Matt Kenseth

Kenseth is currently 20 points ahead of 13th place. Regardless of any other driver’s finish, he will clinch if he finishes:
· Second and leads at least one lap

· Third and leads the most laps

Brian Vickers currently sits 13th, 17 points ahead of Kyle Busch. He would need to gain 21 points on Kenseth and stay ahead of Busch to clinch a Chase spot.

Busch, 37 points behind 12th, needs to gain 17 points on Vickers and 37 points on Kenseth to clinch.

David Reutimann, 132 points behind Kenseth, has an outside shot at clinching. He would have to gain 133 points on Kenseth. A maximum of 161 points can be made up in a given race.


Ok... now that you are totally confused, just watch the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 Saturday night. It'll all make sense in time.