Sprint Cup Chase Standings 2014: NASCAR Grid, Schedule After Sylvania 300

Joey Logano's Sylvania 300 victory on Sunday inched him closer to usurping Brad Keselowski atop NASCAR's Chase for the Sprint Cup standings.

During the second Chase event, Logano edged out Kyle Larson and Kevin Harvick to secure the first-place finish in New Hampshire. 

He shared his jubilation on Instagram:

The 24-year-old Connecticut native also used his words to express the significance of this victory, as relayed by USA Today's Nate Ryan.

"I watched my first Cup race here when I was 5," Logano said. "This means so much. ... We know what we gotta do to win this thing right now. To me, it's my home track. ... I went to sleep last night hoping for a top 5."

After NASCAR's recent Sprint Cup competition, the two Team Penske stars stand neck-and-neck in the standings. Here's a look at how the top 16 looks:

Rank	Driver	Points
1	Brad Keselowski	2097
2	Joey Logano	2096
3	Kevin Harvick	2090
4	Jimmie Johnson	2080
5	Kyle Busch	2077
6	Dale Earnhardt Jr	2077
7	Jeff Gordon	2070
8	Matt Kenseth	2057
9	Carl Edwards	2057
10	AJ Allmendinger	2056
11	Kasey Kahne	2055
12	Ryan Newman	2055
13	Denny Hamlin	2049
14	Greg Biffle	2049
15	Kurt Busch	2047
16	Aric Almirola	2045

A hazardous race sent many Chase contenders plummeting down the standings. According to Ryan, the sheer volume of caution flags set a dubious tally to beat:

As of result of the chaos, Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch and Denny Hamlin all finished outside the top 20 at the Sylvania 300, dipping each of them down at least five spots.

Logano considered himself fortunate to escape his chaos. Per NASCAR on ESPN, he described his thoughts when one of those caution flags emerged late in the proceedings:

"

"When the caution came out, a lot of things came to mind that I can't say on TV," adds Joey.

— NASCAR on ESPN (@ESPNNASCAR) September 21, 2014"

All the top contenders have plenty more chances to rise up the NASCAR leaderboard. Eight Chase for the Sprint Cup races remain this year, presenting drivers with a busy schedule over the next few months.

Before Sunday's hiccup, Keselowski won the Federated Auto Parts 400 and MyAfibStory.com 400. He captured first place by winning the Chase's opening event at Chicagoland Speedway, but Logano is now on the prowl.

The 2012 Sprint Cup winner is hungry to prove skeptics wrong with another crown.

“I feel like winning a second title would feel real and it could eliminate any doubts that I would have or anyone else would have for the remainder of my career,” Keselowski told the Boston Herald's Rich Thompson.

Yet he now must circumvent an altered, 10-race format that will keep him and all other premier drivers on high alert throughout the season. The 30-year-old can't get too comfortable perched in first place, for Logano and Co. have ample chances to knock him down a peg.

Date	Event	Location
Sept. 21	Sylvania 300	New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Sept. 28	AAA 400	Dover International Speedway
Oct. 5	Hollywood Casino 400	Kansas Speedway
Oct. 11	Bank of America 500	Charlotte Motor Speedway
Oct. 19	GEICO 500	Talladega Superspeedway
Oct. 26	Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500	Martinsville Speedway
Nov. 2	AAA Texas 500	Texas Motor Speedway
Nov. 9	Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500	Phoenix International Raceway
Nov. 16	Ford EcoBoost 400	Homestead-Miami Speedway

Following a top-five finish on Sunday, Jimmie Johnson climbed up four slots to fourth place. Prior to the Sylvania 300, he racked up just two top-five finishes in his last dozen events, failing to finish first since June.

Yet the reigning champion calmed any worriers with a strong outing, and he certainly can't be counted out in pursuit of his seventh title. 

Under the new rules, three drivers will be placed on the cutting block after the AAA 400. A disastrous day has Hamlin right on the edge of elimination at No. 13. Even if he survives the first purge, he'll have a high hill to climb to avoid the second round of drops.

He lamented his chances to ESPN's Marty Smith.

Sunday's upcoming race is a make-or-break event for a select few drivers toiling at the bottom of the Sprint standings. Hamlin and Kurt Busch are among the most notable names who must fend off elimination at Dover International Speedway.

The new format creates an added layer of suspense that is sure to show at the third Chase for the Sprint Cup race.