Chase contenders
The second edition of NASCAR's Chase for the Nextel Cup begins at Loudon, N.H., on Sunday. The 10-driver field for the Chase was set this past Saturday at Richmond International Raceway, where Kurt Busch won his third race of the season.
NASCAR reset the points for the Chase contenders following the Richmond race, with points leader Tony Stewart being placed at 5,050 points – out of the reach of the driver who sits 11th, even if that driver should win all of the remaining races.
Positions two through 10 drop in five-point increments. Yahoo! Sports breaks down the Chase field.
 Stewart |
1. Tony Stewart, 5,050 points
The real deal:
The hottest driver on the circuit during the summer months – he collected five wins in a seven-race stretch, including the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard – Stewart and crew chief Greg Zipadelli have cooled down somewhat, but not that much. Stewart hasn't won since Watkins Glen five races ago, but he also hasn't finished a race outside of the top 10 in three months. Although there may be some question about whether this team might have peaked too early, the competition isn't taking any chances. During its hot streak, the No. 20 was nearly invincible. This team easily can turn up the wick and leave the rest of the field scratching their heads – again.
Chase tracks:
Stewart has wins at Loudon (two), Dover (two), Charlotte, Martinsville and Atlanta. Although he hasn't won at Talladega, he led the most laps there in the spring race and collected his first career restrictor plate win this year at Daytona in July. Key factor: A huge plus for Stewart is that he also has won at Homestead – site of the season finale – twice.
Quotable:
" I feel like we're ahead of schedule compared to where we were in 2002 [when he last won the championship]. We've definitely been on a high this last 2½-month period. The guys are doing everything right, right now and this is the perfect time to be in that situation. We haven't finished outside of the top eight for almost three months now, so I'm really, really proud of the team and what we've been able to accomplish."
 Biffle |
2. Greg Biffle, 5,045 points
The real deal:
Biffle was Mr. Hot Streak for the first half of the season, collecting 11 top-10s and five wins. But in between those wins were some really bad races at Atlanta, Martinsville and Phoenix – all Chase tracks. Biffle and Co. haven't visited victory lane since the June race at Michigan, but they have scored three top-fives in the last three races. Crew chief Doug Richert is one of the smartest guys in the garage and a great team coach. Given the team's recent performances, he may have the winning game plan up his sleeve.
Chase tracks:
Biffle has wins at Dover, Texas and Homestead. His strong suit is the intermediate tracks, and he also has won a restrictor plate race (Daytona, July 2003). Key factor: He knows how to win at Homestead, but with four short tracks (Loudon, Dover, Martinsville, Phoenix) in the Chase, Biffle has his work cut out for him.
Quotable:
"I think that before tonight I felt like we were the team to beat and I still do," he said after finishing third at Richmond. "We've got so much momentum. Our cars are running so fast. I really feel like we're gonna be one of the teams to beat."
 Wallace |
3. Rusty Wallace, 5,040 points
The real deal:
Wallace certainly is retiring from Nextel Cup competition in style. He hasn't won yet this year, but Wallace has scored seven top-fives and 14 top-10s, and he has been a factor in nearly every race this season. Many of the great ones have retired at the top of their game. Wallace is doing just that this year. And what could be better than a second Cup title in 2005?
Chase tracks:
Wallace has wins at Loudon, Dover (three), Charlotte (two), Martinsville (seven), Atlanta (two) and Phoenix. Key factor: Wallace shines on the short tracks and a win at any one of the four in the Chase could help his chances.
Quotable:
" We've been top-five and top-10ing them to death all year long. And that's what got us in the Chase. I feel good that I'm in the Chase and ready to run for the next 10 races."
 Johnson |
4. Jimmie Johnson, 5,035 points
The real deal:
Johnson entered the season as the odds-on favorite to win the title after two consecutive runner-up finishes, but he's gone winless since the Coca-Cola 600 in May and has just two top-fives in the last 10 races. This team is headed in the wrong direction. As the only Hendrick Motorsports car in the Chase, he has all of that powerful organization's resources at his disposal – that's a huge advantage to have. But can they deliver the goods while under the gun?
Chase tracks:
Johnson has wins at Loudon (two), Dover (two), Charlotte (four), Martinsville and Atlanta. Although he's never won a points-paying restrictor plate race, he has captured the pole on a superspeedway three times, and Hendrick Motorsports has an excellent restrictor plate program. Key factor: Having never won at the last three tracks in the Chase – Texas, Phoenix and Homestead – is a huge problem for Johnson, crew chief Chad Knaus and Co.
Quotable:
" If you're hitting your stride, you're all about the Chase starting, but if you're downhill fighting your way up, you'd want a couple of weeks before the Chase starts so you can sort out your own stuff. We didn't get off to a good start last year and almost won it so we'll just have to work hard and see what happens."
 Busch |
5. Kurt Busch, 5,030 points
The real deal:
Defending Cup champion Busch got off to a quick start this season with three top-fives, but he followed up with three mediocre races. A win at Phoenix in April kick-started this team into what has turned out to be a rollercoaster season that shows no sign of changing course. Busch is either very good or very bad. Consistency wins championships in NASCAR, and Busch, Jimmy Fennig and Co. have not shown it all season long.
Chase tracks:
Busch has won at Loudon (two), Atlanta, Texas, Phoenix and Homestead. He won both races at Loudon last season and the win in the fall race gave him a points lead he never relinquished throughout the Chase. Key factor: Busch's strength is on the short tracks – just like the driver he'll be replacing in the No. 2 car, Rusty Wallace.
Quotable:
"We're just racing our cars to the best of our ability. We've saved our stuff just like we did last year. With a little bit of racing luck and a little bit of staying on top of our game and not letting the big picture get away, we could do the same thing we did last year. Look out, Kurt Busch is running."
 Martin |
6. Mark Martin, 5,025 points
The real deal:
By now, everyone knows this was supposed to be Mark Martin's final year in a Nextel Cup car, but at Richmond, Martin said he'd be back next year. That's too bad, since Martin is having the kind of career year that would make for an ideal send-off. NASCAR's PR machine already is talking up the Chase as a battle between the Old Veterans and the Young Guys. Martin has no wins this year, but with six top-fives and 12 top-10s to his credit, he is overdue for a win in one of the 10 remaining races and has to be considered a real threat for the title.
Chase tracks:
Martin has wins at Dover (four), Talladega (two), Charlotte (two), Atlanta (two), Texas and Phoenix. Key factor: He is the most diverse driver of the Roush Fab Five, having won on all types of tracks, including road courses. Add in Martin's years of experience and he becomes a top-five threat every week during the Chase.
Quotable:
"The cards we were dealt this year are much better. Last year we had so many failures that we got so far behind and we had to fight our way in at the last minute," said Martin, who made the '04 Chase field in the final qualifier at Richmond. "We had to use all of our resources just to get there. This year we've been able to save a lot of our resources. We were basically pretty much out of tests last year. We have a lot more in the reserves going into this thing."
 Mayfield |
7. Jeremy Mayfield, 5,020 points
The real deal:
Last year, Mayfield eked into the Chase by winning at Richmond. He was immediately rewarded with a wreck at the first race in Loudon that virtually eliminated him from contention. This year, his consistency – four top-fives and 14 top-10s along with a win at the second Michigan race – shows the mark of a mature veteran. Although his teammate Kasey Kahne got the press, Mayfield got the better finishes and another shot at the title.
Chase tracks:
Mayfield hasn't won at any of the Chase tracks, but he has finished in the top-five 18 times at those venues. He also has captured poles at Dover (three), Talladega (three) and Texas. Key factor: The statistic regarding lack of wins says it all. Mayfield and crew chief Slugger Labbe will need to break new ground and kick it up a notch to have a chance to win the title.
Quotable:
"It feels good to get back in the Chase. I don't know what to tell you other than that. I'm really proud of these guys. They gave me good stuff all year. We just keep getting better and better. I'm just real proud of them and real happy and glad to be in the Chase two years in a row."
 Edwards |
8. Carl Edwards, 5,015 points
The real deal:
Edwards has shown flashes of brilliance this season, scoring a double win (Cup and Busch) at Atlanta early in the season. With eight top-fives and 10 top-10s plus another win at Pocono – a track he'd never seen before race weekend – Edwards deserves to be in the Chase. He also has been in the top 10 in points most of the season. But when he's having a bad race, it's very ugly. Edwards still is young and a couple of those bad races in the Chase could spell disaster for his title chances.
Chase tracks:
Edwards can claim only one victory at a Chase track (Atlanta). With a top-five at Charlotte and a top-10 at Phoenix, Edwards' track resume is pretty much an empty page. Key factor: Edwards' strong suit is that he has shown that he can win, and it's not too difficult to imagine him finding victory lane a couple of times during the Chase. But consistency wins championships and that's been a weak spot all season for this team.
Quotable:
"I'm very fortunate. You know where I came from. This is kind of wild for me to be involved in this this early. I feel like I've kind of got on board with Roush right at the crest. We have a great team and great race cars so if we can run consistently up front I don't think there's any reason why we couldn't be in contention for the big prize."
 Kenseth |
9. Matt Kenseth, 5,015 points
The real deal:
Past Cup champion ('03) Kenseth slid under the radar for the second half of the season and surprised a lot of people by getting into the Chase. Throughout a dismal first half of the season – crew chief Robbie Reiser said the team struggled to recover from the rules changes at the start of the year – Kenseth scored only three top-10s and most observers wrote this team off. But since Daytona in July, Kenseth has reeled off a string of seven top-10s, including his first Bristol win. This team just might be peaking at the right time to give Kenseth his second title.
Chase tracks:
Kenseth has wins at Charlotte, Texas and Phoenix, but he can't wait until the second part of the Chase to shine. Still, with momentum on its side, the No. 17 team could break through with wins elsewhere. Key factor: Top-five finishes at Atlanta, Dover, Martinsville, Loudon, Texas and Talladega show that with just a little racing luck, Kenseth and Co. could win at one of those tracks.
Quotable:
"This team really has a tremendous amount of momentum right now. We reached our goal of making it into the Chase and now our focus will be working towards another championship. I feel like the way our cars are running right now and the way this team is working together, we have a legitimate shot at the championship."
 Newman |
10. Ryan Newman, 5,005 points
The real deal:
Last season, Newman won twice and captured six poles. This season, Newman already has five poles, but points aren't awarded for poles. On race day, there's something out-of-sync with this team, and they know it. Newman has gone winless a Cup car this year and he hasn't had a top-10 since July 24. Funny thing is that Newman reeled off three straight Busch Series wins this season in cars built in the same shop as his Cup rides. If there is a true long shot for the title, Newman is it.
Chase tracks:
Newman has won at Dover (three), Loudon, Kansas and Texas. Key factor: Dover represents Newman's best shot a winning this season. It comes early in the Chase and could represent a real shot in the arm for this team.
Quotable:
"Just because of the position we ended up doesn't mean we're happy. We'd rather be first. But having another Dodge in the top 10 is a good deal. We just look forward to putting the Alltel Dodge in the best position we can every week and hopefully have no DNFs, a few wins, some good results and hopefully a shot at it going into Homestead."
