Chase For Cup Getting Hotter
By Covers.com
Not even Saturday night racing has done anything to cool off tempers around NASCAR. Every week there seems to be a new wreck that fires up plenty of emotion.
Last weekend in Chicago, veteran Mark Martin left the competition fuming on Sunday night after he dominated the field at the LifeLock 400.
Let’s take a chance to cool down and look at the odds for the top 12 drivers currently in position to qualify for the Chase for the Sprint Cup a the end of the season.
1. Tony Stewart (+200)
The driver known as “Smoke” has excelled in his first year as an owner. Stewart has claimed the checkered flag twice through 18 races to go along with 11 top-5’s and 14 top-15’s.
2. Jeff Gordon (+400)
The face of Hendrick Motorsports finds himself 175 points behind Stewart. Gordon has only one win this year, but his average finish of 10.7 has kept him right on Stewart’s rear bumper.
3. Jimmie Johnson (+300)
The three-time defending champion appears to be rounding into form. He has finished in the top 10 in six of his past seven races, including a victory at Dover. If Johnson can quit fighting with Kurt Busch, he might be able to make up his 212 point deficit on Stewart.
4. Kurt Busch (+1500)
Busch appeared to be rubbed the wrong way when he made contact with Johnson again, knocking him off his path and forcing him into a 17th-place finish on Saturday night. Busch needs to add to his six top five finishes to have a shot of catching Stewart.
5. Denny Hamlin (+1500)
Hamlin has yet to win a race or a pole this season. He has, however, come very close to locking up a spot in the Chase by finishing in the top 10 eight times. Hamlin trails Stewart by 427 points.
6. Carl Edwards (+700)
ESPN.com’s preseason pick to bring home the title hasn’t disappointed this season. Edwards has finished in the top 10 nine times this year, but needs to win his first race of the season if he is to make up his 446-point deficit on Stewart.
7. Ryan Newman (+1200)
Newman claimed a pole earlier this season and proved he belongs in the Chase by finishing five times in the top 5. Newman trails Stewart by 499 points.
8. Kasey Kahne (+1500)
For Kahne, the math is simple. He is in the thick of things this year because he has managed to finish nearly every race while winning once. Entering the season, he had failed to finish 31 times in five seasons. Kahne trails Stewart by 548 points.
9. Juan Pablo Montoya (+4000)
The former F1 star has finally taken the next step as an elite racer. Already this year, he has three times as many top-10 finishes as last season. He trails Stewart by 563 points.
10. Kyle Busch (+800)
One of the sport’s most polarizing figures continues to have a roller-coaster season. Busch has three wins and one pole this year, but has finished in the top 10 just six times. He trails Stewart by 586 points.
11. Mark Martin (+500)
The 50-year-old has seen his career rejuvenated after winning his fourth race this past weekend. Martin has never won a cup title, but may have his best ride ever. He also has claimed three poles. Martin trails Stewart by 588 points.
12. Matt Kenseth (+3000)
One of only two drivers to make the Chase every year since its inception in 2004, Kenseth has won twice this year after not claiming a checkered flag last season. He must find a way to become more consistent if he is to hold onto the Chase’s final spot and make up some of his 589-point gap on Stewart.