“PLAYOFFS?!? PLAYOFFS?!?!”
Don’t worry, that’ll be the only Jim Mora reference in this post. However, I am talking about the playoffs. Not for the Indianapolis Colts though, who probably won’t be talking playoffs, but for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. NASCAR’s version of a playoff system, “The Chase for the Sprint Cup", starts Sunday afternoon at Chicago Speedway. It is the first of 10 races to decide the 2011 Champion.
After last Saturday night’s race in Richmond the Top 12 in points were reset at 2000, and three bonus points were given for each win each driver had. So tied for the points lead now is Kyle Busch (unfortunately) and Kevin Harvick who both have four wins this season. Jeff Gordon starts 3rd, three points behind Busch and Harvick. Matt Kenseth starts 4th, six points behind the top two. Then there are four drivers that are nine points behind the leaders; Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards, Kurt Busch, and Ryan Newman. The final four positions start 12 points behind, these drivers are: Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Brad Keselowski, and Denny Hamlin.
Here’s a list of the Top 12 going into Race 1 in Chicago
Driver Points
1. Kyle Busch 2012
2. Kevin Harvick 2012
3. Jeff Gordon 2009
4. Matt Kenseth 2006
5. Jimmie Johnson 2003
6. Carl Edwards 2003
7. Kurt Busch 2003
8. Ryan Newman 2003
9. Tony Stewart 2000
10. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2000
11. Brad Keselowski 2000
12. Denny Hamlin 2000
What sets this year apart from past years is that there really seems like anybody could win it. If somebody is going to end Jimmie Johnson championship-winning streak at five, this is the best year to do it.
Kyle Busch has been knocking on the door of a Cup Championship for a while and it seems like he finally has the consistency to get it done. Kevin Harvick has four wins but he has trouble getting consistent Top 10 finishes which are necessary to win it all. Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth, both previous Cup Champions, have multiple wins this season. Kenneth’s teammate, Carl Edwards, was great until the past few weeks but he says that’s because he and his crew chief have been working on different setups. The hottest driver in NASCAR (and my girlfriend’s favorite for some reason), Brad Keselowski, has to be considered a contender as well. Ever since Brad’s win at Pocono in August he has jumped up nearly 10 spots in the points standings and has been better than any other driver.
So who doesn’t have a great shot at winning? Kevin Harvick has four wins but he has trouble getting consistent Top 10 finishes which are necessary to win it all. If he gets a couple of Top 5’s or 10’s the first two races then I’ll put him in my “contenders list”. Stewart-Haas teammates Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman have not been strong this season and even Stewart believed he wouldn’t make the Chase. Denny Hamlin made it into the Chase by the skin of his teeth. He is having a serious letdown after last season’s Championship runner-up performance. Last but not least is Kurt Busch. This guy must have switched brains with neurotic brother, Kyle. At the last race he wrecked, then got wrecked, by Jimmie Johnson. He verbally attacked a newspaper reporter and “snatched” papers out of the hands of another reporter. Attacking a journalist cost you a few points with me, Kurt.
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| The 12 "Chase for the Sprint Cup" drivers |
Prediction for the Chase: Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth, and Carl Edwards will separate themselves from the other “Chasers” as legit contenders by the 5th or 6th race. Kevin Harvick will find a way to get a bad finish and take himself out of contention. The other six just won’t get it done on the track and will fall too far behind in the points standings. Going into the final race at Homestead, only Johnson, Busch, Gordon, and Edwards will remain in contention. Edwards will win the race and the Championship.
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