The NASCAR Sprint Race to the Chase is now over and 12 drivers have officially made the Chase. The 26th race of the Sprint Race to the Chase held at Richmond International Speedway September 11th, 2010 was won by Denny Hamlin.
Hamlin's win was his sixth of the season and now gives him the points lead as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase begins in Loudon next Sunday. Hamlin will start the NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase with 5060 points to Jimmie Johnson's 5050 points. Hamlin won six races to Johnson's five wins.
Breakdown of the 12 Chase Drivers including Links to Their Profiles
Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs FedEx Toyota 5060 points
When it comes to peaks and valleys Denny Hamlin has been experiencing it all. Hamlin won early in the season before and after his knee surgery. Hamlin blew his motor last weekend in Atlanta and then came back and and won the NASCAR Richmond Air Guard 400 tonight. With his 60 bonus points for winning six races Hamlin now leads the NASCAR Chase as they head to Loudon next Sunday.
Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Racing Lowes Chevy 5050 points
Jimmie Johnson's best tracks just happen to be the last ten races of the season. This is the main reason why Johnson has won four consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Championships. This make Jimmie Johnson any instant favorite to win his fifth consecutive title.
There do appear to be some chinks in the armor of the Lowe's Chevy team. Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus have bickered as of late and when they made changes to their car in recent races they were not in total agreement.
Kevin Harvick Shell Richard Childress Racing Chevy 5030 points
Kevin Harvick held the NASCAR Sprint Cup point lead for 26 races and now is relinquished to third place 30 points behind new points leader Denny Hamlin. Harvick had a good attitude about the setback when interviewed by ESPN tonight. Harvick said. "I told my team. We have been beating them for the last 26 races, we can beat them for 10 more."
Kyle Busch M&M's Joe Gibbs Toyota 5030 points
Kyle Busch is having an off year? Not exactly. He has won 10 NASCAR Nationwide races, four NASCAR truck races and three NASCAR Sprint Cup races. Kyle Busch should do well in the last ten races and he is a strong restrictor plate driver. Busch is confident and he is only 30 points behind. He knows how to get to the lead and lead the most laps which will be critical to erase the lead of the top three.
Kurt Busch Roger Penske Miller LIte Dodge 5020 points
Kurt Busch is talking like he has already tired of Steve Addington his crew chief. His comments after the Richmond Air Guard 400 were almost a signal of surrender to the fact he would finish in the top five at the end of the season.
Tony Stewart Office Depot Stewart Haas Racing Chevy 5010 points
Momentum is everything in the last 10 races that make up the NASCAR Chase. Tony Stewart has the right attitude and he has won a NASCAR Chase and a regular NASCAR Championship. Stewart would be the first owner driver champion since the late Alan Kulwicki.
Greg Biffle 3M Roush Fenway Ford 5010 points
A wild car in the Chase is Greg Biffle. Biffle has been doing much better as the NASCAR Race to the Chase wound down and Biffle has been the best performing Roush Fenway car in the stable.
Jeff Gordon Dupont Hendrick Racing Chevy 5000 points
Winless in 2010, Jeff Gordon is frustrated he cannot make his way to the winner's circle. To be fair to his crew chief Steve Letarte is not to blame. Gordon was in position for at least two wins and his inability to have good restarts cost him the wins. Gordon has to win a race in the NASCAR Chase to have a shot at this NASCAR Championship title.
Carl Edwards Aflac Roush Fenway Ford 5000 points
Carl Edwards crawled into the NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase and has yet to win a race in the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. Edwards an Roush Fenway have several tracks they perform well on in the NASCAR Chase and this could be a feather in Edwards cap.
Jeff Burton CAT Richard Childress Racing Chevy 5000 points
Jeff Burton was resolute during the ceremony to celebrate the 12 NASCAR drivers in the Chase. BUrton said, "At my age you have to every opportunity you get. I can't waste this I have to take a shot." The 43 year old Burton knows the clock is ticking and he will be one of the aggressive drivers taking his best shot.
Matt Kenseth Crown Royal Roush Fenway Chevy 5000 points
A winner of the NASCAR Sprint Cup in 2003, Matt Kenseth title sparked enough controversy to create the first NASCAR Race to the Chase. His teammate at the time Kurt Busch won the next title. When Kenseth won the title he had only won one race and it sparked the debate that wins should be weighted so winners would win championships.
Clint Bowyer Cheerios Richard Childress Racing Chevy 5000 points
Midwest dirt track star Clint Bowyer made the Chase and he has nothing to lose. Bowyer is the driver to watch in the Chase he can win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase with just a few small breaks.
Todd Jacobs - Todd Jacobs is a freelance writer with publishing credits including USA Today, Orange County Register and Speed TV.
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