Who's Feeling the Most Pressure as the 2015 Sprint Cup Chase Approaches?

NASCAR’s version of musical chairs, otherwise known as the “Race to the Chase,” is underway.

With seven races remaining to fill out the 16-driver field of NASCAR’s marquee event—the Chase for the Sprint Cup—it will wind up being sweet music for some and ultimately sour notes for many others.

As the series leaves New Hampshire and heads to one of the most important races of the season, Sunday’s Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, let’s take a look at the five drivers who potentially have the hardest road ahead of them to make—or ultimately miss—the Chase.

But before we get to that quintet, a bit of clarification: Kyle Busch is not being included in this exercise. With three wins and now just 58 points out of the Chase-eligibility cutoff of 30th place, Busch is in a special category of his own.

Sure, after winning three of the last four Sprint Cup races, Busch could tank in one or more of the remaining seven races and still miss the Chase. But for now, let’s assume he’ll make the Chase.

Granted, there are several drivers I haven't chosen, including AJ Allmendinger, David Ragan and others. But it's the following five drivers whose Chase chances I feel are evaporating the fastest of all drivers still Chase-eligible.

Not only have they not won a race this season, but they’re also all but out of Chase contention unless they can manage to reach Victory Lane soon:

Cheryl Senter/Associated Press

Clint Bowyer: This was supposed to be Bowyer's big comeback season, but it's been anything but. While Bowyer is 16th in the standings after Sunday’s race at New Hampshire—technically the cutoff qualifying spot for the Chase—Bowyer is actually on the outside looking in now.

Don’t forget that Carl Edwards, who is ranked 17th, has one win thus far this season, which would vault him over Bowyer. The Kansas native is en route to not only the worst season of his Sprint Cup career, but he also hasn’t reached Victory Lane since 2012 and is facing missing the Chase for the second consecutive season.

Jim Cole/Associated Press

Greg Biffle: With Carl Edwards having left for Joe Gibbs Racing after last season, Biffle was elevated to the No. 1 driver at Roush Fenway Racing for 2015. Expectations were high, but Biffle has failed to deliver thus far. Even worse, the new anchor of RFR's Sprint Cup operation is 18th and continues to sink further and further away from making the Chase.

He hasn’t won a Cup race since 2013—and only three since 2011—and has been virtually out of sight thus far in 2015, with just one top-five and one other top-10 in 19 starts. If Biffle doesn’t pull a rabbit out of a hat in the next seven races, it’ll be a very long and lonely Chase for him, having to watch from the outside in.

Terry Renna/Associated Press

Danica Patrick: I must admit: I had very high hopes that Patrick would make the Chase this year. She looked strong during the first third of the season, but she has slowly fallen backward to where she sits now—22nd place.

While I still hold out hope Patrick can win a race, particularly on a short track such as Bristol or Richmond, I can’t help but feel that time is running out on her chances. Making the Chase would have gone a long way toward helping her leverage in a contract year.

John Raoux/Associated Press

Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: It’s only a coincidence that we put 25th-ranked Stenhouse behind Patrick, his significant other. But while Patrick has had some good runs thus far this season, Stenhouse has been MIA, with just one top-five finish—and no other top-10s—in the first 19 races in his third full-time season in the Sprint Cup Series.

That’s hard to believe from a guy who came into the Cup ranks after back-to-back Xfinity Series championships (in 2011 and 2012). There’s no way Stenhouse makes the Chase—let alone win a race—in the next seven races.

Mel Evans/Associated Press

Tony Stewart: After two terrible seasons in 2013 and 2014, Stewart was primed to make a big comeback in 2015. Unfortunately, he's off to the worst start of his lengthy Sprint Cup career. With just one top-10 finish in the first 19 races, Stewart's chances of making the Chase are non-existent if he doesn't regain some of his old success—and fast!

The 26th-ranked Smoke is not only headed towards the third-consecutive season without making the Chase, but it’s also hard to believe his last win was back in 2013. However, if there’s any driver who is a wild card and could still pull out a surprise win, it’s the driver of the No. 14 Chevrolet. Remember: This is a three-time Cup champion; you have to have some faith still left in him.

With seven races remaining before the Chase, let's be realistic. One—or maybe two at most—of these drivers listed has the capability to win a race and punch his or her playoff ticket. Bowyer has a good chance to win at Bristol or maybe Richmond. Stewart is a threat to win anywhere, but I like his chances at Michigan, Bristol and Richmond.

Biffle is a 1.5-mile kinda guy, but unfortunately there are no 1.5-mile tracks between now and the start of the Chase. His best shot is either the 2-mile Michigan or maybe the 1.33-mile Darlington.

As for Patrick and Stenhouse, short tracks such as Bristol and Richmond offer them the best chance of making the Chase—not to mention a Hollywood-like storyline that they potentially could ride for some decent mileage in the Chase.

Follow me on Twitter @JerryBonkowski