Questions Remain About The Chase After Phoenix

April 16, 2007

By Chuck Abrams

Chuck Abrams

I recently read that if a driver is outside of the top 12 leaving Texas, they are most likely not going to be in the Chase.

Last year, Harvick, Kurt Busch and Truex were outside the top 12 after Texas but still made the Chase.

• In 2006 it was Hamlin and Burton that got back inside the top 12 after Texas.

• In 2005 it was Edwards and McMurray.

• In 2004 it was McMurray, Martin and Labonte.

So I guess historically speaking, odds are a tad against you. And leaving Phoenix, one race removed from Texas, you have to think Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth, Truex and Kurt Busch all have to be wondering who will be the odd men out this year.

Gordon has some significantly strong tracks coming up and Hendrick seems top be getting better as a whole. Truex has had a couple of string races and rose 2 spots in the standings this week. On the other hand, Kenseth and Kurt Busch seem to be having major problems. After a strong end to the season last year, Busch is not having as much success as teammate Newman. Kenseth has been flirting with the top 12 but has had little luck staying there.

Obviously for them to get into the Chase, someone else has to fall out. Based on the struggles the Dodge teams have had this year, Newman and Kasey Kahne come to mind first. Clint Bowyer has to show he has staying power after his nice run last year and Greg Biffle needs to show he is back.

Of course, all the teams are prone to bad races and mechanical problems, but chances are more remote that one of the top 5 teams will get that far into trouble over the next 19 races. Personally, I think Gordon is a shoo-in for the Chase but trouble is lurking for the 17 and 2 cars specifically. While Matt Kenseth has proven to be one of the most consistent and resilient drivers on the circuit, he no longer paired with crew chief Robbie Reiser.

Kurt Busch has great talent but the Blue Deuce has seen its share of struggles the past couple of years. Unless Team Penske can somehow package the Newman mojo and transfer some of that to Busch, he may miss the Chase this year.

Fike comes clean?
Suspended CTS driver Aaron Fike admitted that he shot up with heroin on days he competed in the truck series. That is absolutely devastating news. Unlike the stick and ball sports where no one is going faster than is “humanly” possible, race drivers reach speeds near 200 mph with 40 additional competitors on the track with them at the same time. Additionally, the vehicles are going to do way more damage to spectators than a Lambeau Leap should they get into the crowd.

While I am glad Fike is still undergoing treatment and trying to get his life back in order, this admission should shake the very foundation of NASCAR's testing policy. NASCAR tends to leave the testing in the hands of the teams. That may need to change.

Remember when NASCAR used to leave safety issues in the hands of the teams and drivers? It took a rash of deaths and the death of the sports most influential icon before they made any changes in their policy. If Fike’s admission can have any positive influence on drugs in NASCAR, let’s hope that teams and NASCAR take this issue to heart before it is too late.

That’s all for this week. Let me know your thoughts.

Drive fast, turn left and keep the shiny side up.

Feel free to send Chuck your thoughts on this and other race topics at Insider Racing News.

The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN.

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