Our friends at NASCAR Public Relations have crunched the numbers.
Next Saturday night’s race, at Richmond International Raceway, will complete the field for the Sprint Cup Chase, NASCAR’s playoffs as follows:
Eight drivers have clinched a top-10 spot – Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman.
Brad Keselowski, with three victories, has clinched, at least, a Wild Card berth. Eleventh in the standings Keselowski can earn a top-10 spot if he gets 23 more points than Tony Stewart. The significance of moving into the top ten would mean Keselowski would transfer bonus points for wins in the regular season into the Chase.
Here’s what the number crunchers in Daytona Beach, Florida have supplied.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Earnhardt is currently 25 points ahead of 11th place. Regardless of any other driver’s finish, Earnhardt will clinch if he finishes:
• 20th or better
• 21st or better and leads at least one lap
• 22nd or better and leads the most laps
Tony Stewart
Stewart is currently 23 points ahead of 11th place. Regardless of any other driver’s finish, Stewart will clinch if he finishes:
• 18th or better
• 19th or better and leads at least one lap
• 20th or better and leads the most laps
A number of different finishes affect the Wild Card scenario.
• With a victory, Denny Hamlin will earn at least a Wild Card spot.
• With a victory, Paul Menard will earn a Wild Card spot.
• With a victory AND entry into the top 20, Marcos Ambrose or David Ragan will earn a Wild Card spot. Both drivers are currently outside the top 20. Ambrose is seven points outside the top 20; Ragan is 20 points outside the top 20.
All drivers through 23rd place in the series standings remain eligible for a spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Aside from the scenarios listed above, those without an already-clinched Chase spot need a win, a top 20 spot and various finishes from other drivers to earn a Chase spot.
Next Saturday night’s race, at Richmond International Raceway, will complete the field for the Sprint Cup Chase, NASCAR’s playoffs as follows:
Eight drivers have clinched a top-10 spot – Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman.
Brad Keselowski, with three victories, has clinched, at least, a Wild Card berth. Eleventh in the standings Keselowski can earn a top-10 spot if he gets 23 more points than Tony Stewart. The significance of moving into the top ten would mean Keselowski would transfer bonus points for wins in the regular season into the Chase.
Here’s what the number crunchers in Daytona Beach, Florida have supplied.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Earnhardt is currently 25 points ahead of 11th place. Regardless of any other driver’s finish, Earnhardt will clinch if he finishes:
• 20th or better
• 21st or better and leads at least one lap
• 22nd or better and leads the most laps
Tony Stewart
Stewart is currently 23 points ahead of 11th place. Regardless of any other driver’s finish, Stewart will clinch if he finishes:
• 18th or better
• 19th or better and leads at least one lap
• 20th or better and leads the most laps
A number of different finishes affect the Wild Card scenario.
• With a victory, Denny Hamlin will earn at least a Wild Card spot.
• With a victory, Paul Menard will earn a Wild Card spot.
• With a victory AND entry into the top 20, Marcos Ambrose or David Ragan will earn a Wild Card spot. Both drivers are currently outside the top 20. Ambrose is seven points outside the top 20; Ragan is 20 points outside the top 20.
All drivers through 23rd place in the series standings remain eligible for a spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Aside from the scenarios listed above, those without an already-clinched Chase spot need a win, a top 20 spot and various finishes from other drivers to earn a Chase spot.