SO,.. who'll miss top 10

[Chris]

OK race fans,... we are down to one race...
Who's gonna be the person left on the outside looking in after Richmond.

Kahne, Martin, Burton,.. or will it be someone else...
Let's hear it.

[SMOKEN14]

IM thinking either kyle Busch or Denny Hamlin might overdrive  being rookies in the chase [I know Busch is not a rookie] and crash out of the chase. then again both are pretty cool cookies. guess we will know saturday night 

[Tonyfan14]

I don't know about anyone else but I for one am getting really nervous. Last 2 years Smoke has been all ready locked in but not this year. Now no matter what anyone else does if he finishes 7th or better he makes it. That is not a real comfortable number. As for who will miss the Chase. I really don't know. I think it will come down to the very last lap.

[smyler]

Night racing in Richmond.  We won't know who is in till about 11:30 on Saturday night.  There will be a few extra seats in church on Sunday, lol. 

Mark Martin and Jeff Burton are not driving their best right now.  It seemed like JB was a lock, just 3 weeks ago... and then they raced some more.  Remember, Kasey won at Richmond last year, so he does know how to get it done.  Jeff Gordon ran awful here, last year.  He was mathematically in the top 10 half way through the race, and then... well, his car just went out.  The point of my rant is that anything can happen at Richmond.  Brakes can go out, engines can blow, tempers can flare.  It should be fun to see what happens.

[Chris]

yep,.. your right smyler,...
and a FEW paybacks YET to be doled out yet from earlier this season... hhuummm

[Dustcloud]

I'd hate to be the oddsmaker for this race.

I predict the answer will be determined by which one becomes an "innocent bystander" - One of those borderline drivers is gonna get caught in someone else's mess and lose it that way. All those guys in the top-10 right now know they just need a clean race, so I think they'll be racing a little more cautiously. But someone locked in or locked out already doesn't have near as much to lose and can afford to drive stupid... and if there's one thing they've all proven this year is a lot of them drive stupid now and again. and I think it's easier at Richmond :-/

[Checkeredflag]

Ugh - this is not easy. 

Barring unforeseen circumstances (like wrecks), it's between Mark Martin and Jeff Burton, and I believe Kasey will be in.

Mark's and Jeff's stats are so close, with Mark having a slight edge in Top 5's (5-4) and Jeff in Top 10's (14-11).  Each has to finish 4th or better to clinch himself a spot on his own, and I don't beieve either one will, so it comes down to which driver can beat the other head to head.

My gut keeps saying Jeff Burton will be the odd man out.  My heart keeps saying my gut is stupid. 

It's too close to call between those 2.

Unless Kasey has a letdown and doesn't pick up enough points on any driver?  I can live with that one, because Mark won't have any more chances for the Chase, and Jeff's almost 40, so who knows how many more chances he will have.

Remind me never to get a job as an odds-maker.  I don't think I would do too well. 

[Dustcloud]

You mean Martin finally quashed those rumors that Roush was gonna guilt him back for another season?

[smyler]

I'm gonna say something really obvious here.  It's hard to feel too sorry for any of these bubble drivers.  They all had their chance for the past 25 races.  It would be different if you had ten guys who all had won a couple of races and were competitive for all of the rest, but JB and MM didn't win anything. 

KK is another story, since he won FIVE races.  How is it possible for him to miss?  This points system is just goofy.  If I were allowed to race for just four races and was asked, would you rather A) have one win and three eleventh place finishes or B) four seventh place finishes... no contest... gotta say I'd rather win just one race.  Winning is what it is supposed to be about.  Statistically, the B choice is the better driver?  I don't think so.

At least Kyle, Jeff, Tony and Dale all won races.  If one of them misses, but MM or JB makes it... yuck on this points system.  Consistency is great, but just give more incentive to win (or at least finish top three).

[Dustcloud]

I sort of agree, sort of disagree. Individual races are supposed to be all about winning. Championships are supposed to go to the best driver. Ideally, that person wins several races, but really, I'd say a consistant front-runner is a better driver than the guy who can sling it to the front sometimes, and other times finishes for crap. And then there's luck, which is really what's kept Khane down this year.

Do I feel bad for whoever misses the cutoff? Not really - and that doesn't matter if it's someone who's won or not. I don't think I could say anyone in that top-11 wouldn't *deserve* to be in the playoffs, wins or not. In fact, in a way the winless ones might deserve it more, since they're playing the game NASCAR's given them to the hilt. ;-)

[smyler]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/news?slug=ap-nascar-richmond-scenarios&prov=ap&type=lgns

They done did the math. 

[nascarbabe2U]

I kind of agree with what Dustcloud said about somebody getting caught up in a mess but off hand I have to say Burtons out and Khane is in. But Stewart and Martin had better driver their hineys' off. But I can see why TF20 is nervous and after todays little mishap...I dunno! It's almost too close to call.

[Chris]

Jr could be questionable too...
He stated he wasn't too good in practice (he was 33rd) and then he qualified 33rd also.
I dunno... that boy seems to have a horse shoe up his butt lately.
Good thing is he has an 80 point cushion on Kahne...
Long as he don't crash he SHOULD be OK

[Tonyfan14]

I kind of agree with what Dustcloud said about somebody getting caught up in a mess but off hand I have to say Burtons out and Khane is in. But Stewart and Martin had better driver their hineys' off. But I can see why TF20 is nervous and after todays little mishap...I dunno! It's almost too close to call.

I need some Tums after yesterday's diaster. Nothing like coming home, turning on the tv and them showing Tony hitting the wall. Then to make things even worse he starts 40th tonight. I know that Tony can easily come from the back to the front in no time espically at Richmond and he did say his backup car is good in race trim but still. I will def be pacing back and forth all race long tonight.

[paulfan]

I think Junior will be OK.  Last night DEI power kept Menard in the hunt and he didn't qualify so good either.  His second practice was really dismal.