The Nextel Cup Chase Commences at Loudon, New Hampshire, Sunday
This is the racing playoff. Race fans everywhere will sit on the edge of their seats hoping their man will persevere. Who's your favorite?
The top ten going into the Chase:
Jimmy Johnson, Chevrolet, Lowe's 48
Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, Dupont 24
Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, Home Depot 20
Carl Edwards, Ford, Office Depot 99
Kurt Busch, Dodge, Miller Lite 2
Denny Hamlin, Chevrolet, FedEx Express 11
Martin Truex Jr., Chevrolet, Bass Pro Shops/Tracker 1
Matt Kenseth, Ford, DEWALT 17
Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, CARQUEST/Kellogg's 5
Jeff Burton, Chevrolet, AT&T Mobility 31
Up until last weekend's race in Richmond, Gordon led the standings in the top position. Johnson swiped the position with his win. Johnson has had six wins this season, giving him a 60 bonus point lead going into the playoffs. You may recall he had the same at the end of the 2006 season when he out shone the others and clinched the Championship. Will this momentum bring him back-to-back Championships?
Gordon has had a few set backs, but over all great consistency. The most heart wrenching setback was in the final lap at Watkins Glen where he spun out, lost his lead, and finished 8th. He is only 20 points behind Johnson. Gordon has four Championships under his belt. He's the favorite to score another Championship in this household.
Stewart holds two Nascar Championships. He's vying for his third. He's won 3 races this season, 9 top 5 finishes, and 18 top ten finishes. He may climb the fence to victory.
Carl Edwards has 2 wins this season. With 7 top 5's and 11 top 10's. He could be back flipping his way to a championship. This would be his first Nextel Cup Championship. Is he your man?
Are you a Miller fan? Then Kurt Busch's 2-5-10 season, including one pole, may do it for him. Personally, I'm still upset by his exit from the Roush team. Unfortunately, I still mistake the Miller Lite 2 car for Ricky Rudd. Some things you just can't forget.
The last five drivers in the Chase Hamlin, Truex, Kenseth, Kyle Busch, and Jeff Burton each only have one win this season so far. Kenseth is the only driver in the 6th through 10th position holding a Nextel Cup Championship. Can any one of them pull it off?
One face missing from the chase is the #8 Budweiser driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Between engine failures and wrecks he has not had the best season. He still may overcome and catch the 11 spot, with the Million Dollar Bonus, and move on to the Hendrick team to gain his first Championship in the future. Only time will tell. Good luck to him on his new team.
Here is my prediction:
Gordon will gain his 5th Championship!
Johnson
Stewart
Kenseth
Edwards
Burton
Kurt Busch
Kyle Busch
Truex
Hamlin
Published by Eclectic Muse
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- NASCAR Nextel Cup Report Cards- 3rd Quarter
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- My prediction to clinch the 2007 Championship: Jeff Gordon!
4 Comments
Post a Commentthanks for the fine review...
I don't follow racing, but enjoy it when it is on.
Oh my God, you are so right. I'm not a fan of the 2 I'm actually a Mark martin, Roush racing fan. I'm still flabbergasted about the Busch thing. Well, you know how it goes.
Good article. I have to go with Gordon too the way he was running earlier this year was close to 1998. My picsk will be 24-20-48-11-2-5-99-17-29-1-31-07
Dont you mean the #2 of Rusty Wallace? Of all the drivers that retired in the last few years I miss him the most.