Chaser or Racer: NASCAR's Race to the Chase (Infineon)

(Photo by Jason Smith/Getty Images)

10th Place: Denny Hamlin

It’s hard to believe he’s the “senior” driver in the Joe Gibbs team, but the 2006 Rookie of the Year is indeed the elder statesmen of the coach’s driver lineup. Unfortunately, his driving performances haven’t indicated that very much.

Hamlin is the epitome of “woulda, coulda, shoulda.” Since 2007, he has had the best car in a given race probably more than a dozen times, but has only two wins in that time period to show for it.

Now, that’s not to say he hasn’t run well, because he has. He consistently puts himself in the in the top ten, but can’t seem to find his way to Victory Lane. His consistency will help him (assuming he can avoid bad luck), but his lack of wins will hurt his title chances.

Hamlin is heading to one of his better tracks in New Hampshire in a couple weeks, and he’s usually very good in the summer. Maybe he can take advantage and grab a win during this stretch? He’s capable of doing so, but he’ll have to learn to seal the deal. Otherwise, a title chance may be just out of his reach.

11th Place: Matt Kenseth

He became the first driver since Jeff Gordon (1997) to win the opening two races. Since then, however, the Roush Fenway driver has struggled mightily, and has fallen out of the top 10.

This is a driver that should be slightly worried. He and the team have been off since those two wins (even though their results have picked up, ever so slightly, recently) and can’t afford many more bad runs.

Kenseth has had to come from behind to make the Chase twice, in 2005 and 2008. He may have to do it again this year, since it seems they may be on the verge of falling out.

Watch for him in the coming weeks. They may be important to his Chase aspirations.

12th Place: Jeff Burton

The Richard Childress driver is barely hanging on to a spot in the top 12 (David Reutimann is only three points behind him). The best of the RCR bunch, Burton has been a staple in the top 12 throughout the year, but is beginning to struggle as the year goes.

In fact, all of the RCR teams are struggling (including Clint Bowyer, who was second in the standings at one point). It’s hard to believe that a group that put all its outfits in the Chase one year ago might see none of its teams make it this year.

But, that appears to be a road RCR is going down. As of now, Burton may be their best bet to crack the Chase field. But, that is far from a good bet, given the performance of the team.

This is another driver who should be worried right now; like Kenseth, keep an eye on him over the next few weeks. If the struggles continue, he may very well find himself on the outside looking in after Richmond.

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