Summer vacation is over and the Sprint Cup Series is ready for a grueling 17-race stretch to end the season, beginning with Sunday's Allstate 400 at the Brickyard.
But the clock is ticking for a group of drivers who now have only seven races left to earn a spot in this year's Chase or be forced to play out the string in the final three months of the season.
|
|
| Tony Stewart enters the final 17 races of his JGR career 10th in the points. (Getty Images) |
That means the pressure is on not only for those who come into Indianapolis on the outside looking in but for many inside the coveted top 12 who can't afford to stumble before reaching the final regular-season race in Richmond on Sept. 6.
It's make or break time for the likes of:
Jeff Gordon: The four-time champion has been remarkably quiet in the season's first half, arguably one of the most frustrating times of Gordon's Cup career. The No. 24 car has been so off on so many occasions, he has wondered aloud what has gone wrong. Despite not having a win, Gordon has been able to notch seven top 10 finishes in the year's first 19 races and a middle-of the-pack standing on the Chase leaderboard. A return to Indianapolis and a possible fifth Brickyard win could be the spark this team has needed all season.
Greg Biffle: Inconsistency has hurt Biffle all season and his record reflects that up-and-down ride. Biffle has been robbed of potential victories by bad luck or mechanical problems several times and his frustration boiled over on at least two occasions. But Roush Fenway has been solid on the midsized tracks and with so many coming up in the season's final 17 races, Biffle could be poised for a trip or two to victory lane.
Matt Kenseth: Kenseth has always been a second-half force. He has made an impressive rally to go from way outside the Chase cut line to comfortably in the championship season picture and should be a consistent factor the next two months.
Kevin Harvick: Harvick has not done much this season but somehow finds himself in the Chase-eligible group. His third-place run at Chicagoland in the last series race could be a springboard for better success in the second half. The No. 29 team can't afford to have any problems or risk sitting on the Chase sidelines.
Tony Stewart: With his future plans now out in the open, Stewart should be much more relaxed for the second half and determined to end his Joe Gibbs Racing career with a bang. Look for the No. 20 car to go on its usual summer run in the next seven weeks and for Stewart to be a major player in this year's Chase.
Kasey Kahne: The spring-early summer rebound has faded and Kahne and company are back to their inconsistent ways. Unless they can rediscover the magic of May and June, the No. 9 team will be watching rather than running the Chase.
Denny Hamlin: Bad luck has joined inconsistency to plague Hamlin's season. Bristol and Richmond are his chances to shine heading into the Chase or the No. 11 entry will be the only JGR car not competing for this year's title.
Clint Bowyer: (-27 from 12th spot) Bowyer and the rest of the Richard Childress Racing stable have struggled greatly on intermediate tracks, which doesn't bode well for the No. 07 team's Chase chances with so many midsized tracks dotting the remainder of the schedule. Bowyer has to hope some of his Nationwide Series success rubs off on his Sprint Cup effort -– fast.
Brian Vickers: (-95) One of the first half's major success stories, Vickers has been impressive for the second-year Team Red Bull operation. If he can continue to surprise, Vickers could sneak his way into the Chase field.
David Ragan: (-98) Another nice story, Ragan has fallen on hard times of late. The No. 6 team has tumbled out of the top 12 and sophomore driver Ragan will have to turn in a solid effort to continue his Cinderella story.
Ryan Newman: (-189) The Daytona 500 winner has been MIA in the 18 races since. The announcement of his departure from Penske Racing and subsequent move to the new Stewart-Haas Racing team won't do much for his Chase chances this year.
Martin Truex Jr.: (-233) A long shot at best to make the Chase, Truex Jr.'s biggest news will come in about three weeks when his departure from DEI for 2009 becomes official.
