Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!!

Quote from Spydertrader:

With only two races remaining until the 'playoffs' begin, The Top Ten Drivers remain separated by very few points. Only 138 points separate 4th from 11th place. As Mark Martin showed this past weekend at Bristol, a single bad finish can drop a driver 6 spots. Based on the 13 mathematically eligible drivers listed below, who do you think makes it, and who stays on the outside looking in?

<img src=http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=1180832>

Personally, you can stick a fork in Edwards and Biffle. While still mathematically possible, I really don't see it happening. They are both done. Kasey has an outside chance if one of the top drivers stumble. But who? Which driver experiences a part failure or simply chokes under the pressure? I'm going to roll the dice and say Kyle Bush. A horrible finish at Fontana combined with a late race blown tire at Richmond drop Kyle from the top ten and allow Kasey to back into the chase.

Thoughts?

- Spydertrader
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I believe the top 10 remain unchanged... we'll see!
 
Quote from Spydertrader:

I have held season tickets for both Bristol Spring and Fall Races since 1995. I plan to renew my seats again this year. If one wanted to attend only one NASCAR race Weekend a year, I recommend choosing Bristol over any other track. Watching the Bristol Race on TV doesn't come anything close to sitting in the stands for the live event. The sight of 43 cars spinning around a track close to the size of two football fields, the sounds of 7800 horse power engines and the smell of burning Goodyear tires and High Octane Sunoco fuel combine to create a truly unforgettable experience.

Bristol, Baby!! racing' the way it ought'ta be!

- Spydertrader
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Thanks for the info...Im gonna do that next year instead fo Talledega...I have Daytona passes ( 500 and Pepsi) so Talledega is a little overkill for restrictor....How does Bristol compare to Homestead? I was at homestead for the final last year and loved the track and proximity to the stands.
 
Congratulations Marco!

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Quote from TM_Direct:

Thanks for the info...Im gonna do that next year instead of Talledega...I have Daytona passes ( 500 and Pepsi) so Talledega is a little overkill for restrictor....How does Bristol compare to Homestead? I was at homestead for the final last year and loved the track and proximity to the stands.
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I've never had the opportunity to attend a race at Homestead. However, if you polled a large group of NASCAR Fans, most would choose to see a race at Bristol over any other track - especially the Bristol August Night Race. Watching on TV doesn't do the race justice. Nearly 160,000 fans packed into an area the size of two football fields. It doesn't get any better than that. If you need an inexpensive place to camp, I can point you to several places very near the track (a short walk).

Any thoughts on who might make the chase this year?

- Spydertrader
 
Quote from Spydertrader:

With only two races remaining until the 'playoffs' begin, The Top Ten Drivers remain separated by very few points. Only 138 points separate 4th from 11th place. As Mark Martin showed this past weekend at Bristol, a single bad finish can drop a driver 6 spots. Based on the 13 mathematically eligible drivers listed below, who do you think makes it, and who stays on the outside looking in?

<img src=http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=1180832>

Personally, you can stick a fork in Edwards and Biffle. While still mathematically possible, I really don't see it happening. They are both done. Kasey has an outside chance if one of the top drivers stumble. But who? Which driver experiences a part failure or simply chokes under the pressure? I'm going to roll the dice and say Kyle Bush. A horrible finish at Fontana combined with a late race blown tire at Richmond drop Kyle from the top ten and allow Kasey to back into the chase.

Thoughts?

- Spydertrader
More...

I'd say that Junior is the most at risk, based on their inconsistency. He has struggled at the mile and a half tracks, while the Roush and Hendricks teams have been strong. The Gibbs cars have been strong, but Stewart has had some poor finishes based on breakage, pit strategy, wrecks and brain lock.

Hamlin has to be the biggest surprise as a rookie, but he has been smooth and fast all year and has made it a habit to stay out of trouble, at least in the Nextel Cup races.

This week will be a key for those in the bottom of the top ten, as Fontana is an extemely boring track. Just go out there and snag a top ten and that's it. Richmond is a wild track where you can easily get caught up in someone else's mess and be looking at a DNF, so you really want a little margin of safety going in there.
 
Ya know...Im a little concerned about the future of the "Chase"....Im wondering if your going to have a watered down product ( much like the pre season of Football) in the future....Guys like Stewart and Gordon usually go balls to the wall to try to win every time out...Im concerned that they might just hold back and concentrate on top 10;'s until the chase...maybe its just me but it seems like its inevitable

I think the top 10 is set....I don't see Casey taking over Martin...je's too experienced and will cruise smartly into the chase...I think jr. will follow suit which is a shame...i prefer watching these guys bust their ass.
 
Quote from TM_Direct:

Ya know...Im a little concerned about the future of the "Chase"....Im wondering if your going to have a watered down product ( much like the pre season of Football) in the future....Guys like Stewart and Gordon usually go balls to the wall to try to win every time out...Im concerned that they might just hold back and concentrate on top 10;'s until the chase...maybe its just me but it seems like its inevitable

I think the top 10 is set....I don't see Casey taking over Martin...je's too experienced and will cruise smartly into the chase...I think jr. will follow suit which is a shame...i prefer watching these guys bust their ass.
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Points racing was the name of the game long before the Chase. Matt Kenseth's utterly boring Cup "Championship" in which he never tried to win but just drove around and avoided wrecks led to the Chase concept. I know NASCAR officials were very pleased by the interest last year but are not dead set against changes.

I think there should be a far greater premium for actually winning a race. As it is , if someone else gets bonus points for laps led, etc, a winner can end up with only a handful of extra points. I'd also like drivers to be able to drop one result during the Chase.
 
Was it more fun watching Kurt Bush do the same for 10 races to win the cup in the first chase? Im not sure I really like the chase set up....the system worked well for many years...we shall see.

I mean, Tony won every freaking race from May to august last year....for him to rest seems equally unfair.
 
Quote from AAAintheBeltway:

This week will be a key for those in the bottom of the top ten, as Fontana is an extremely boring track.
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Boring? Calling California Speedway 'boring' is like calling the Pacific Ocean 'a bit moist.' I'm still pissed NASCAR moved the Labor Day Race away from Darlington. At any rate, Gordon (#24) needs to score a Top Ten at Fontana in order to pad his points before Richmond. A Top Ten Finish would all but assure the Dupont Chevy a Spot in 'The Chase' this year.

As jzlucas pointed out, most talking heads don't anticipate any changes to the Points Standings in the next two weeks. However, as is often the case, anything can (and often does) happen.

- Spydertrader
 
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