Chaser Or Racer: NASCAR's Race To The Chase (Richmond)

Here we are! After 25 races, the magical night has come.

At around midnight on Saturday, we will know who the 12 Chasers will be.

As it stands right now, the top 10 are (relatively) safe. Sure, the likes of Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth have clinched, but not making a mistake (or simply starting in Stewart’s case) will assure drivers of a spot in NASCAR’s playoffs.

Position 12 (Clint Bowyer), however, is a different story. He can’t relax in any sense. I’ll delve into his story later.

This will also be the last race in which Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, and Jimmie Johnson won’t have to worry about points. Each of those three has had the place all but solidified for about a month now, meaning their focus shifted toward winning races and bonus points.

However, come Loudon next Sunday, the game will completely different. All of a sudden, they may not be able to take chances they did over the past month. They’ll have a championship to fight for.

10^th place Jeff Gordon

Big Daddy has been very up and down over the summer. He hasn’t had consecutive top fives since June, and has seen many of his races ruined by bad luck.

He’ll be in The Chase (he’s more than 100 points ahead of 13^th place David Ragan), but I don’t think he’ll be a true contender. The momentum may not be there this year. However, as is always the case with Gordon and the No. 24 team, they can’t ever be ignored.

11^th place Denny Hamlin

Like Gordon, he should clinch on Saturday night. However, also like Gordon, I don’t see him contending for a championship. His consistency has lacked over the summer.

He may go out and dominate this race as he did back in May, but I don’t it will carry over into The Chase.

This team has yet to figure out how to frequently close the deal and win races. Until they do, they won’t contend for a title.

12^th place Clint Bowyer

Ah, we have finally come to a bubble driver. While the two in front of him can be slightly comfortable this weekend, Bowyer can’t and won’t. He only leads David Ragan by 17 points.

The good for Bowyer: he won here in May. The bad news: Ragan has a habit of being right there with him. One mistake by Bowyer will cost him a Chase spot…and I think it will happen. I will say that the No. 07 car will not be in this year’s Chase.

13^th place David Ragan

Ragan has been hanging around, lurking just on the outside. And, Bowyer and has let him do just that. Now, Ragan is well within striking distance of Bowyer, and I anticipate him taking the last spot.

Ragan’s been very fast this year, and been much more consistent that Bowyer. He’ll likely shadow Bowyer much of the race.

However, I anticipate something going for Bowyer. I’ve learned to never trust an underachieving “big dog,” but always have faith in the “overachieving underdog.”

The underdog will always do that little bit more to win. Look for Ragan to bump his way in on Saturday night.

14^th place Kasey Kahne

Well, Kahne isn’t going to be able this time (I know, bad joke). His two wins won’t be enough to put him in. This team fell on its face at Michigan and Bristol, with consecutive 40^th place finishes.

Their eighth last week wasn’t enough to put them in realistic contention to get in. He is the third driver looking for a way in, but he needs both drivers in front of him to have bad luck. I don’t seem that happening. Sorry, Kasey.