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Cup Series

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For the second consecutive week rain has forced the postponement of the Sprint Cup race. The Heluva Good! at The Glen has been rescheduled for noon ET Monday.

- Spydertrader
 
Cup Series

<img src=http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2008/08/large_Green%20Flag%20Oct%20Talladega%202007.jpg>

Green Flag about to drop at The Glen.

- Spydertrader
 
Your boy looked a little out of it after his crash.

And waddaya think about the Robby Gordon - Joey Logano dustup in the Nationwide race?

personally, I liked Logano's quote about not being able to fix stupid, LOL.

Robby needs to stick to Baja and Paris-Dakar with that type of driving...
 
Quote from Haroki:

Your boy looked a little out of it after his crash.
More...

He sure did. Jeff took one real hard lick. In an interview, I heard him say he 'messed up' his back again as a result of the incident and was very thankful not to be racing at Bristol next week. He didn't think Michigan would present a problem and hoped 2 weeks would provide him enough time to heal before heading to Thunder Valley.

Quote from Haroki:

And waddaya think about the Robby Gordon - Joey Logano dustup in the Nationwide race?
More...

Robbie continues to do what he has always done - replacing the Bodine Brothers as NASCAR's rolling chicane. He's a hothead, who, whenever he feels 'dissed' on the track, reacts in a fashion detrimental to himself (and to others, unfortunately). To me, the inexperienced Logano showed more class in this one incident than Robbie has shown his entire carrier.

While I respect any driver's attempt at the Owner / Driver combination (a rare bred in today's NASCAR), I felt the powers that that be over in the red trailer should have parked Robbie this time (and if that didn't work, yank his hard card as they have done to other drivers in the past).

Quote from Haroki:

personally, I liked Logano's quote about not being able to fix stupid, LOL.
More...

Yup. In the words of Ron White, "Stupid is Forevah!"

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Quote from Haroki:

Robby needs to stick to Baja and Paris-Dakar with that type of driving...
More...

While Robbie sits comfortably within the 'Top 35' at present (by about 100 points if memory serves), a few more incidents such as this one should create just the scenario you describe. Once he misses a race or two, sponsorship troubles will take care of the rest.

- Spydertrader
 
Night-'Lanta

Hell'uva race last night. One of this year's best, methinks. Although, I remain unhappy with NASCAR's failure to return the Southern 500 to its traditional (and appropriate) locale (Darlington), Night-'Lanta's race clearly surpassed anything offered by (the snoozefest known as) Fontana over the last several years.

I thought maybe Harvick could have pulled out a win (would've been his first in 95 races or some such thing), but knew he was finished when the late caution flag flew with 17 to go. On that note, why the hell does it take 7 laps for NASCAR to pick up one damn piece of rubber off the track as it did in that final caution?

Congrats to Casey and the entire Budweiser #9 Team.

With Richmond next week, and only 4 (Tony Stewart (#1) , Jeff Gordon (#2), Jimmie Johnson (#3) and Denny Hamlin (#4) ) of the Top 12 Drivers currently 'locked' into a 'Chase' Position, the final race before "The Chase" promises some exciting racing.

While Bowyer (16th) and Reutimann (15th) mathematically have a small (slim to none, and slim has left town) chance to get in, I believe (if my math skills remain somewhat intact) all Kenseth has to do is start the race next week (and collect the 34 points for finishing dead last) and that small mathematical chance evaporates. As a result, Vickers (14th) and Kyle Busch (13th) have the only real shot at making it into 'The Chase' from outside. Both drivers are breathing down Kenseth's (currently in the 12th spot) neck - 20 and 37 points back, respectively.

This leaves one race to go and ten drivers vying for the last eight spots in the Chase. With only 85 points seperating (5th place) Edwards from (12th place) Kenseth, we have Kahne (6th), Kurt Busch (7th), Montoya (8th), Newman (9th), Martin (10th) and Biffle (11th) who also control their own destiny. Each of these ten drivers is sure to be feeling the pressure next week.

In a strange twist of events, Mark martin (currently in 10th place) could find himself barely making it into the Chase, but due to the odd way drivers are seeded (by number of wins), Mark could end up the #1 seed after next week's race - should he make it in - even though this week Mark's presence in the chase has not yet been guaranteed.

Strange days indeed.

- Spydertrader
 
You're right. It was far better than anything fonana could put on, and unlike fontana, there were actually people there. Not Darlington, but the dmbasses running NASCAR are living proof that family businesses really begin to struggle by the third generation.

How many points are available at richmond? I mean, how high do the drivers on the bubble have to finish to get in?

I know one thing. If I'm Tony Stewart, I'm desperately hoping that Kyle Busch gets in. After dumping Kyle at the finish at Daytona when Kyle was about to take the win, I would not want to contemplate him in my rear view mirror during the Chase if he had nothing to lose from wrecking me.
 
Quote from AAAintheBeltway:

How many points are available at richmond? I mean, how high do the drivers on the bubble have to finish to get in?
More...

Since each NASCAR <strike>Winston</strike> Sprint Cup Race awards the same amount of points (irrespective of location) each Race, we need to start with how the Points Break Down.

NASCAR awards 185 points for a Race Win. In addition, drivers can earn Five Bonus Points for leading a single lap. NASCAR awards an additional Five Bonus Points for leading the most laps of a race. Therefore, the most points a driver can earn in a single race is 195. If a driver wins the race and leads the most laps that driver would receive 185 for winning, five bonus points for leading a lap and five bonus points for leading the most laps. In addition, The driver who finishes last (43rd) in any race receives 34 points.

The points for each finishing position (other than first and last as outlined above) breaks down as follows:

First Place - 185 points
Second Place - 170 points

2nd - 6th seperate by 5 points each position
6th - 11th seperate by 4 points each position
11th - 43rd seperate by 3 points each position

After reviewing my math from the previous post, I can confirm both Reutimann [16th] and Bowyer [15th] (as I orginally posted) become mathematically eliminated once Kenseth qualifies for Richmond (and since Matt has the 'Past Champions' Provisional [from his 2003 Championship] unless Kenseth finds himself run over by a bus tomorrow, Matt starting the race at Richmond appears to be a forgone conclusion). As such, we can eliminate Reutiman and Bowyer. This leaves Vickers [13th] and Kyle Busch [14th] with the only realistic chance of making the show. Brian and Kyle sit 20 and 37 points (respectively) back of Kenseth currently.

Should Vickers win the race next Saturday (and lead the most laps), Kenseth would need to finish no lower than second (and lead one lap) in order to insure himself a spot in 'The Chase' - irrespective of where any other driver (inside or currently outside the Top 12) finishes.

Should Kyle Busch win the race next Saturday (and lead the most laps), Kenseth would need to finish no lower than 5th (and lead one lap) in order to insure himself a spot in 'The Chase' - irrespective of where any other driver (inside or currently outside the Top 12) finishes. Even if Kyle and Brian finish Richmond in 1st and 2nd (and Busch leads the most laps with Vickers leading only one lap), Kenseth still makes it in by finishing no lower than 5th (and leading one lap).

With respect to any of the drivers currently in the Top 12, but not yet 'locked in' to a Chase Position (Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne, Kurt Busch, Juan Montoya, Ryan Newman, Mark Martin, Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth), simply by finishing ahead of Brian Vickers or Kyle Busch, they lock themelsves into 'The Chase.' Also, (assuming for a moment that Kyle Busch or Brian Vickers do not win the race (nor lead a lap), but do finish ahead of any (or all) of the above named drivers), then each of the above named drivers would have to finish "close enough" to Kyle or Brian's finishing position to prevent Busch or Vickers from surpassing each individual drivers' points totals (and thereby still lock Kyle and Brian out of the Chase.

For example (again assuming Brian and Kyle fail to win and they also fail to lead a single lap next week), Edwards finishes any higher than 32nd and Kyle or Brian must win the race or find themselves unable to knock Edwards out of 'The Chase.' Kahne Can lock himself into 'The Chase' by finishing any higher than 31st, and the same goes for Kurt Busch. For Montoya, he needs to finish any higher than 27th. Ryan Newman needs to finish any higher than 24th and Mark Martin needs to finish any higher than 20th in order to require Vickers and / or Kyle Busch to win the race or be locked out. The same goes for Greg Biffle.

Should either Kyle or Brian lead a single lap, subtract two positions from the above. Should they lead the most laps, subtract another two positions from the above.

The Bottom Line ....

Anyone in positions 6 - 12 (Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne, Kurt Busch, Juan Montoya, Ryan Newman, Mark Martin, Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth) wins the race, they make it into the show. Brian Vickers or Kyle Busch wins the race, they might not make it in depending on the finishing order of the rest of the drivers (as outlined above).

Should be one hell'uva race next week.

HTH.

- Spydertrader
 
A more complete (and accurate [See #00 - Reutiman Below]) list below referring to 'clinching' a spot in the Top 12 (The Chase) courtesy of our friends on USENET ....


Chase Clinch Scenarios For Richmond: Eight spots remain in the 2009
Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup and 11 drivers are mathematically in
contention for securing one. Below are the clinch scenarios for
Richmond, the final race before the Chase field is set:

#99-Carl Edwards is currently 105 points ahead of 13th place.
Regardless of any other driver's finish, he will clinch if he finishes:
24th or better
25th and leads at least one lap or
27th and leads most laps.


#9-Kasey Kahne is currently 96 points ahead of 13th place.
Regardless of any other driver's finish, he will clinch if he finishes:
21st or better
23rd and leads at least one lap or
24th and leads most laps.


#2-Kurt Busch is currently 95 points ahead of 13th place.
Regardless of any other driver's finish, he will clinch if he finishes:
20th or better
22nd and leads at least one lap or
24th and leads most laps.


#42-Juan Pablo Montoya is currently 88 points ahead of 13th place.
Regardless of any other driver's finish, he will clinch if he finishes:
18th or better
20th and leads at least one lap or
21st and leads the most laps.


#39-Ryan Newman is currently 81 points ahead of 13th place.
Regardless of any other driver's finish, he will clinch if he finishes:
16th or better
17th and leads at least one lap or
19th and leads the most laps.


#5-Mark Martin is currently 69 points ahead of 13th place.
Regardless of any other driver's finish, he will clinch if he finishes:
12th or better
14th and leads at least one lap or
15th and leads the most laps.


#16-Greg Biffle is currently 68 points ahead of 13th place.
Regardless of any other driver's finish, he will clinch if he finishes:
11th or better
13th and leads at least one lap or
15th and leads the most laps.


#17-Matt Kenseth is currently 20 points ahead of 13th place.
Regardless of any other driver's finish, he will clinch if he finishes:
Second and leads at least one lap.
Third and leads the most laps.


#83-Brian Vickers currently sits 13th, 17 points ahead of #18-Kyle
Busch. He would need to gain 21 points on Kenseth and stay ahead of
Busch to clinch a Chase spot.


#18-Kyle Busch, 37 points behind 12th, needs to gain 17 points on
Vickers and 37 points on Kenseth to clinch.


#00-David Reutimann, 132 points behind Kenseth, has an outside shot at
clinching. He would have to gain 133 points on Kenseth. A maximum of 161
points can be made up in a given race.


============================
RICHMOND STATS - 8 Spots Remain
Car / Win / T5 / T10 / Avg Fin / Spring Race
99 0 0 3 19 26th
9 1 2 5 18.5 29th
2 1 2 5 18.7 12th
42 0 0 1 27.8 10th
39 1 5 9 11.7 4th
5 1 16 26 11.9 5th
16 0 2 5 15.8 17th
17 1 3 9 16.7 13th
83 0 0 1 27.8 15th
18 1 7 7 6.1 1st
00 0 0 1 20.2 28th


So, who gets in?
 
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