Ten Drivers with a Serious Shot at the Championship

We know the top 12 drivers will make their way into The Chase this year, but it’s time to separate the contenders from the pretenders.

Some guys are locks for making The Chase, and have shown they have what it takes to compete in the final 10 races of the season. There are those that didn't perform so well at the past 10 tracks and will suffer the consequences, virtually eliminating their chances at a title with six or seven races to go. A slight miscalculation here, a risky move there, and it could all be out the window.

For other drivers, they know the game plan, they know what they have to do, and as always, they seem to have a little luck on their side. Most of these drivers are no stranger to The Chase, but figuring out who will emerge from this pack is the real challenge.

Here is the list of the 10 drivers who have a legitimate shot at this year’s Cup Title.

Kevin Harvick

The current points leader has had one of his best seasons so far. As he has been nicknamed, “Where Did He Come From” Harvick has two wins and 10 top-five finishes this season, despite only leading 170 total laps all year. The famous nickname is used a lot during the end of races, but that could also apply as the season comes down to the final few races.

Jeff Gordon

Gordon has come oh so close many times this year, and has been snake bitten in the final moments. Jeff’s streak is well documented, but the success the team has had this year despite having a single win is impressive. Jeff currently has ten top-five finishes, the most in the series (tied with Harvick). He has also lead 811 laps this year. The only problem with the “0” in the win column, is that it will force him to start back in the standings once they are reset. The four-time champion knows what he needs to do in order to get back to the top.

Jeff Burton

Jeff Burton could perhaps be the dark horse in this whole thing. Having zero wins under his belt this year will hurt him once the standings are reset, but he has had solid runs all year long. While he only has four top-five finishes all year, he does not have a single DNF. He hasn’t led many laps all year, but his consistent runs have him in third place heading into the race at Michigan this Sunday.

Kurt Busch

Kurt probably had the second best weekend on Sunday behind Juan Montoya. He was able to put the Pocono incident behind him and come home with a solid finish at the Glen. He leapt from seventh to fourth in the Cup standings. So far, Kurt has two wins, eight top five finishes, and has led over 800 laps this season, giving him a chance at another Championship this year.

Jimmie Johnson

Duh. I really shouldn’t have to explain anything on this one. Let’s just say that right now Jimmie is in fifth place in the standings, and has the most DNFs out of the top 12 drivers at this point. That should say how the rest of his races have gone. He has five wins this year (tied with Hamlin for the most) and has led 879 laps, more than any other driver. Why is he a contender? Well he is still trying for his fifth championship in a row…

Denny Hamlin

The favorite at the beginning of the season to be the one to finally end Johnson’s streak. He has lived up to it for the most part, with his five wins this year. His eight top-five finishes are another reason why Denny has a serious shot at the title. Depending on how things go the next few weeks, Denny could be looking at a top three spot in the standings as the Chase begins because of his win totals.

Kyle Busch

If this were the Nationwide Series nobody would stand a chance. The reality though, is that Kyle still has a legitimate chance at making a serious run. He is one of the select few drivers I would ever bet against in anything. The entire team is capable of making dramatic comebacks and they of course have one of the most talented drivers out there today. If he can get another win or two before the Chase starts, they could easily turn into one of the favorites to win it all.

Tony Stewart

While Tony may not have the same chances as some of the previous drivers, he does still have a shot at it. There have been a few races this year where they were able to finish far better than where they had been running for most of the day. That could be good, that could be bad. All we really know right now is that he is sitting in eighth place in the standings without a single win this year. If he is going to make a charge for it, they have to start racking up more top five finishes, and get a few wins.

Carl Edwards

Edwards has really turned it on the last few weeks, and it has been one of the biggest surprises all season. With the poor season that Ford has been having, they seem to have found something as of late, and their performance on the track is really showing it. After getting the pole for Sunday’s race at the Glen, it looked like he was ready to start making a charge. He will most likely need to get a win or two in the next month or so if they really want to contend for the title.

Greg Biffle

The drivers from eighth in the standings to 12th have a combined one win all season, and that one win belongs to this guy. His win at Pocono ended a long draught for Ford, and for Mr. Roush. Biffle has shown in the last few races that they have the speed, and he has enough talent to get them where they want to go. They will have a few hurdles to overcome before they can become a favorite to win a title.