NASCAR Sprint Cup: After Charlotte, Jury Is out for the Rest of the 2011 Chase

Charlotte is an important race for all Chase drivers. It is a make-or-break type of scenario.

After this race, some drivers will be officially eliminated from contention. Others will be eliminated by anyone who is a firm believer in reality.

Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick will be contenders despite the worst results at Charlotte.  It could not have been much worse for Johnson.

Though Tony Stewart locked down a pole position, he gained ground, but still lost: he moved up two spots, but so did Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch gained four. Both are ahead of him.

Subtle and silent Matt Kenseth was the second biggest gainer at Charlotte after ripping off a dominating performance. No driver in the Chase has been able to grab less ink while simultaneously staying in the hunt for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

A $1 million prize awaits the 13th finisher; Clint Bowyer and A. J. Allmendinger still contend for this prestigious, yet secondary, prize.

This race rattled the points standings. However, it solidified the top three or four drivers that are making serious runs for the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup.

Blind prognostications aside, this is the race where hopes and dreams died. It separated the men from the boys. There is almost no hope for major comeback after Charlotte.

At this point, either you have it in the engine, or you don't.

Saturday night's race was not so much of a gainer for those looking to climb back into the Chase; rather, it was a demarcation.

By the end of this race, serious contenders were whittled down to five, not including Jimmie Johnson. He can still do it.

On to Talladega . . . .