The chase is On!
Welcome to the playoffs - that is if you are a Nextel Cup fan. Saturday night was basically, elimination night, to see who has a shot at the title, and to see who is racing for pride. Some of the names in the top ten are a
little bit of a surprise, but those that didn't make the chase for the 2005 Nextel Cup, and the head table in New York for the Nextel Cup banquet are even more of a surprise.
For starters, those who are in are; Tony Stewart, Greg Biffle, Rusty Wallace, Jimmy Johnson, Kurt Busch, Mark Martin, Jeremy Mayfield, Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth and Ryan Newman.
Notables not making the chase in 2005 are Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon. Junior has been nowhere most of the year, so to call it a surprise that he didn't make the grade is a bit of a stretch, but Gordon, who has had a good year, not making it is probably the biggest surprise of the year. He, like most teams in this era of huge dollars, can go hot and cold at a moment's notice, and Gordon picked a bad time to go cold.
All the top 10 have a similar set of problems to overcome, now that they have completed the first hurdle - making the chase in the first place. Firstly, in order to stand a chance you have to perform consistently over the 10 race haul to the championship. One bad outing, like Jimmy Johnson had last year, and four wins in the final ten won't help.
Probably
the most telling fact of this year's standings is that five of the 10 come from Roush Racing (Stewart, Biffle, Busch, Edwards and Kenseth).
While on the surface that may see like a blessing, after five of the ten races if all five drivers are in the hunt it could get ugly between teammates. "All of the teams are running good," Greg Biffle said after teammates Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards completed Roush's five-man entry into the 10-race playoff. "But the 20 car is still better than all of us."
Right now that appears to be true. Tony Stewart has had most peoples' number at times during the year, and so has Biffle. Busch, proved his worth in the chase last year, to become the now defending champion.
Most predict the winner will come from the top five going in, and I think my choice might well be Rusty Wallace. Even though I am by no stretch a member of the Rusty Wallace fan club, he has hung around in the top 10 all year and now more than ever that could well payoff in a championship, and that in his final year of Nextel Cup competition - we'll know in 10 weeks. All Wallace needs is a little dissension in the Roush camp, and he and the others will be ready to pounce.
Welcome to the playoffs - that is if you are a Nextel Cup fan. Saturday night was basically, elimination night, to see who has a shot at the title, and to see who is racing for pride. Some of the names in the top ten are a
 |
| Those who are in the chase are Tony Stewart, Greg Biffle, Rusty Wallace, Jimmy Johnson, Kurt Busch, Mark Martin (shown), Jeremy Mayfield, Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth and Ryan Newman. (Photo: Autostock) |
For starters, those who are in are; Tony Stewart, Greg Biffle, Rusty Wallace, Jimmy Johnson, Kurt Busch, Mark Martin, Jeremy Mayfield, Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth and Ryan Newman.
Notables not making the chase in 2005 are Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon. Junior has been nowhere most of the year, so to call it a surprise that he didn't make the grade is a bit of a stretch, but Gordon, who has had a good year, not making it is probably the biggest surprise of the year. He, like most teams in this era of huge dollars, can go hot and cold at a moment's notice, and Gordon picked a bad time to go cold.
All the top 10 have a similar set of problems to overcome, now that they have completed the first hurdle - making the chase in the first place. Firstly, in order to stand a chance you have to perform consistently over the 10 race haul to the championship. One bad outing, like Jimmy Johnson had last year, and four wins in the final ten won't help.
Probably
 |
| Most predict the winner will come from the top five going in, and I think my choice might well be Rusty Wallace. (Photo: Autostock) |
While on the surface that may see like a blessing, after five of the ten races if all five drivers are in the hunt it could get ugly between teammates. "All of the teams are running good," Greg Biffle said after teammates Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards completed Roush's five-man entry into the 10-race playoff. "But the 20 car is still better than all of us."
Right now that appears to be true. Tony Stewart has had most peoples' number at times during the year, and so has Biffle. Busch, proved his worth in the chase last year, to become the now defending champion.
Most predict the winner will come from the top five going in, and I think my choice might well be Rusty Wallace. Even though I am by no stretch a member of the Rusty Wallace fan club, he has hung around in the top 10 all year and now more than ever that could well payoff in a championship, and that in his final year of Nextel Cup competition - we'll know in 10 weeks. All Wallace needs is a little dissension in the Roush camp, and he and the others will be ready to pounce.