Nascar Sprint Cup Series Top 12 After Martinsville

The 2010 Nascar Sprint Cup Series is well underway and with six races down, only 30 races to go and only 20 till the chase its hard to believe. The season seems so long but it goes by so fast. Were going to take a look at the top 12 in Sprint Cup points after Martinsville on Monday and see who you think may be there come chase time.

• Brian Vickers currently sets 12th in the Sprint Cup Point Standings. Vickers had a great year in 2009 and scored the first win for Red Bull Racing last August at Michigan International Speedway. So far 2010 has'nt went there way. Brian only has 2 top 10 finishes after six races with no poles, wins or top 5's but i do look for the 83 team to be good long term and i see them making the chase come September at Richmond.
• Paul Menard has had a dream season so far in 2010, considering what the team has faced before. Menard has had 1 top 5 and 1 top 10. He currently sets 11th in the Sprint Cup Point Standings which is very impressive considering how the team has ran the past few years. I think 2010 will be a breakout year for Menard and i do believe running the full Nationwide Series schedule has helped on the cup side. I give Menard a 50/50 chance of making the chase.
  
• Dale Earnhardt Jr has had a rollercoaster start to his season. Coming off a second place finish in the Daytona 500, he has had 1 top 5 and 2 top 10's and is currently sitting in the 10th spot in points going into a few good race tracks for Dale Jr such as Phoenix, Texas and Talladega where he has five wins. I do believe Dale Jr and the 88 team will make the chase this season.
• Clint Bowyer is currently 9th in Sprint Cup points and has 1 top 5 and 4 top 10's. The downside he has 1 dnf at Bristol due to engine failure. I do see Clint Bowyer making the chase and going back to victory lane as the RCR cars have been phenominal so far in 2010.
• Jeff Gordon the four time Sprint Cup Series Champion has been on a roll with 2 top 5's and 2 top 10's and is 8th in points. Gordon who lead the most laps only to lose at Las Vegas. Gordon was very strong at Martinsville, and came with a 100 feet of taking the white flag that would have secured his victory and eighth Martinsville win overall. The caution came out and it was Denny Hamlin who stole the show. Gordon will make the chase and possibly contend for a fifth Sprint Cup Title.
• Tony Stewart is currently 7th in Sprint Cup Points as we go to Phoenix. Stewart has 1 top 5 and 3 top 10's for the season so far. Tony Stewart was very strong in 2009 and had a big lead going into the late summer heading to Richmond for the chase but things kinda feel off. I do see Stewart making the chase and being a title contender he is just that good.
• Kurt Busch is sitting 6th in Sprint Cup Points, he has a win at Atlanta and almost another win at Bristol a race he dominated only to lose. He has 2 top 5's and 2 top 10s and ran very strong at Martinsville only to have issues that would plague his day. Kurt Busch should make the chase and be a contender for the title as he was in 2009.
• Jeff Burton is 5th in Sprint Cup Points and this goes along with the strong runs that all the RCR teams have been having in 2010. Jeff Burton had a great run at Martinsville despite a flat tire that took his chance away at a win with only a handful of laps to go. Burton has 1 top 5 and 2 top 10's and is very close to securing a win. He was second at Phoenix last fall can he score the victory this time around?
• Kevin Harvick is 4th in the Sprint Cup Point Standings and has been i would say the second best car to the 48 if not somewhat equal. Kevin Harvick has 2 top 5's and 4 top 10's. Harvick has came very close to wins at Daytona and California and was dominating Martinsville until brake failure early in the race. I do see Kevin Harvick being in the chase and possibly the guy to knock Johnson off the top.
• Matt Kenseth has started off to a great run in 2010. The 17 team seems to back and was in contention for the win Monday at Martinsville. Matt Kenseth and his new crew cheif Todd Parrott are a winning combo and i do see Kenseth getting several wins and contending for the championship. Kenseth currently 3rd in points has 3 top 5's and 5 top 10's.
  
• Greg Biffle is off to one of the best years. Biffle has 2 top 5's and a impressive 6 top 10's and is currently 2nd behind the point leader Jimmie Johnson. Biffle went winless in 2009 but i do see Biffle getting some wins soon and be a contender come chase time in September.
• Finally Jimmie Johnson what else can you say but simply amazing as he has 3 wins not counting the Duel At Daytona win that would make 4. Johnson has 3 top 5's and 4 top 10's in his 6 starts so far in 2010. Jimmie Johnson has done amazing things in his career winning the Daytona 500, Brickyard 400, Southern 500, the Coke 600 all races 1 or more times. Johnson has 50 wins in his cup career to go with 4 straight titles. Im guessing Johnson is'nt done yet i can see him going all the way to a fifth title and i do think he may be the first driver to surpass the seven championship won by Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty. Only time will tell but im sure well almost 100% confident that Johnson will qualify for the chase.