August 21, 2009
By Rebecca Gladden
Winning a championship in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series happens differently now than it did just a few short years ago.
Under the Chase for the Championship format, which was introduced prior to the 2004 season, the top 12 drivers after the September race in Richmond (top 10 the first three years) compete against each other in a ten-race 'post-season' for the Cup title.
When NASCAR officials expanded the Chase field from 10 to 12 drivers in 2007, they also tried to remedy what had been a frequent criticism of the new format - teams racing conservatively for points rather than going all-out for wins.
That fix came in the form of a 'seeding' process for the 12 Chase competitors, in which each driver is awarded ten bonus points per regular season race win to start the post-season.
If the Chase began today, for example, Mark Martin would be the top seed with +40 points, followed by Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson with +30 each, and Matt Kenseth with +20. Four other drivers would have +10 and four more would start with no bonus points at all.
What makes this system interesting is the fact that it completely changes the dynamic among the top teams for the final ten races of the season. Tony Stewart, who currently tops the standings by 284 points over Jeff Gordon, would start the Chase with a ten-point deficit to Mark Martin; Martin, meanwhile, would move from last place in the standings to first among the top-12 drivers.
With three races to go in the Sprint Cup regular season - Bristol, Atlanta, and Richmond - there will surely be some changes in the standings before the Chase field is finalized.
That said, a lot of the media's attention this season has been focused on a few notable Chase storylines, including the fact that Tony Stewart is leading the points in his first year as an owner/driver with Stewart-Haas Racing. Also receiving a lot of play is Jimmie Johnson's quest for a fourth straight championship (a feat that's never been accomplished); Jeff Gordon's 'drive for five'; Mark Martin's run for his first title at age 50 after 25 years in the Cup series; and Juan Pablo Montoya's attempt to the be the first international driver to make the Chase.
But there are a few drivers currently in the top 12 in points who seem to be flying under the radar as far as media coverage is concerned, particularly as the regular season quickly winds down.
Does anybody remember Kurt Busch? The 2004 NASCAR Cup Champion - first under the new Chase format - is a 19-time Cup race winner and currently sits sixth in points. Busch has won at least one race in eight straight Cup seasons, but missed the Chase last year and finished 18th overall. Making the Chase this year would be a big story for Busch himself (who's been largely overshadowed by the achievements and antics of little brother Kyle the past few years), as well as for Penske Racing and Dodge Motorsports.
A second Dodge driver who appears quietly headed to the postseason is Kasey Kahne. Since winning a series-leading six races in 2006, Kahne failed to make the Chase for two years running. He's now eighth in points and, like Busch, would make a bold statement this year not only for Dodge, but for Richard Petty Motorsports as a title contender.
Also flying under the radar in the '09 Race to the Chase is the always subdued Denny Hamlin. Remarkably, this young driver has won at least one race and made the Chase every year since coming to Cup full-time in 2006. Would it surprise you to know that Hamlin is currently fifth in points?
Busch, Kahne and Hamlin are three Cup contenders that we don't hear much about, even on race day. Ryan Newman and Matt Kenseth could probably be added to that list.
In reality, every NASCAR team - including those outside the Chase - has a compelling story of one sort or another. Why 10 percent of the drivers dominant 90 percent of the headlines is a source of frustration for them, as well as their sponsors and fans.
The fastest way to remedy the situation? Be the fastest car on the racetrack.
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