Previewing The Chase For The Sprint Cup
Sep 5, 2014; Richmond, VA, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88) stands in the garage during practice at Richmond International Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports
Ten races remain until we crown a champion for the 2014 season. Sixteen drivers have earned the right to compete for the sport’s most prestigious trophy — the Sprint Cup.
This year the Chase has undergone a major transformation. For the first time since its inception in 2004, the Chase will feature an exciting new format that is sure to increase the level of competition over the duration of the final 10 races of 2014.
The new Chase format features a challenger, contender, and elimination round, culminating with a one race battle between the top four drivers heading into the season finale at Homestead Miami in November. So there will be greater emphasis on winning early and often. A win automatically carries you into the next round of competition.
The 2014 Chase field includes a multitude of former champions mixed in with some fresh faces and a host of fan favorites still on the hunt for their first titles.
As diverse as the field may be, all 16 drivers have the same goal in mind — to be the last man standing on the grand stage on November 16 as the sun sets on 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup season.
16th – Greg Biffle
Greg Biffle’s persistence landed him in the Chase despite going winless in the first 26 races of the season. Biffle’s late summer surge made it possible for him to have a shot at making the Chase in what else could be considered a lackluster campaign. It wouldn’t be at all a surprise to see Biffle win a race in the final 10, but Roush Fenway Racing’s equipment hasn’t been up to par with the competition for a majority of the 2014 season. That’s likely to be the difference maker to avert the Biff’s quest to become NASCAR’s only triple crown winner.
15th– Aric Almirola
Perhaps the most intriguing driver in this year’s chase is RPM’s Aric Almirola. After surviving a war of attrition at Daytona in July, Almirola would outlast the wreckage and weather the storm en route to his first career Sprint Cup victory. Relishing the underdog role certainly can take Almirola’s career to new heights beyond his first career Chase appearance; however don’t let that underdog fascade dupe you. He can easily fly under the radar for the first couple of Chase races before the reality of competing with the sport’s best for a title nixes this incredible story.
14th– Ryan Newman
Ryan Newman’s first season at Richard Childress hasn’t turned many heads, but collectively they’ve managed to get into the Chase based on semi consistent performances for a better part of the season. Still a berth in the Chase won’t solve this group’s chemistry issues. The rocket man and crew chief Lucas Lambert have to be on the same page going forward, or the good race – bad race trend will continue far beyond the next 10 races. Thanks for coming Mr. Newman.
13- Denny Hamlin
Fresh off the heels of a successful Daytona Speedweeks in February, it appeared as if Denny Hamlin was well on his way to regaining that championship form he once demonstrated. That feeling of bliss would only last for a short time, as Hamlin would struggle for a better part of the 2014 regular season. Prior to his victory at Talladega in May Hamlin had recorded only one top 10 finish since his runner up finish in the season opening Daytona 500. Thankfully for Hamlin he did record a victory earning him a spot in the 16 driver Chase for the Sprint Cup. Getting in is one thing, competing down the final stretch of 10 races is a whole other animal. Things just haven’t gone this team’s way this season; unless they can figure things out in a hurry don’t expect that trend to change anytime soon.
12- Kyle Busch
A late summer free fall that saw Kyle Busch fade into obscurity seemingly at the flick of switch caused the once championship hopeful an enormous amount of grief heading into the Chase. It’s simple — Kyle Busch can win races and has a tremendous amount of talent we know that. However Busch’s latest debacle begs the question: How does Joe Gibbs Racing fix Kyle Busch? Is it the cars? Is it the strained relationship between Rowdy and crew chief Dave Rogers? Whatever the conundrum is, Joe Gibbs Racing has to reevaluate the entire #18 team’s program in order for Busch to reach the pinnacle of his Sprint Cup career. Until this becomes a reality Kyle Busch is likely to be subjected to more catastrophic fortune.
11- AJ Allmendinger
Everybody loves a great Cinderella story with a happy ending. For AJ Allmendinger receiving an invite to the ball is good enough for him, but don’t write off the Dinger’s overall chances of turning some heads in the Chase. The JTG Daugherty driver knows that an outstanding performance in the Chase can increase not only his stock as a driver, but propel JTG Daugherty Racing from the little team that could into a proverbial winner. Regardless of how it all unfolds in the end both team and driver have made significant gains in a short period of time together.
10- Carl Edwards
Every year there’s a driver who performs considerably well in the regular season only to come undone once the Chase begins. This year that driver will be Carl Edwards. Edwards made his way into the Chase by virtue of his two victories, both earned in the first half of the season. Since then Edwards has had limited success in his final campaign with Roush Fenway Racing. Yes it’s fair to coin this a lame duck season, there’s no sugar coating this one.
9- Kurt Busch
The inaugural winner of the Chase Kurt Busch has all the tools to make waves 10 years removed from his first dramatic title run. But in order to duplicate some of that past chase magic it’s essential for Kurt Busch to take care of his equipment in an attempt to avoid unnecessary on track incidents that could cripple Busch’s title hopes for 2014.
8- Kasey Kahne
Kasey Kahne made a dramatic entrance into this year’s Chase by winning the second to last race of the regular season. Kahne worked unbelievably hard towards the end of the summer to turn his dream of making the Chase into a reality. So don’t expect him to continue that trend of living in the shadow of his other three Hendrick Motorsports teammates. Heading into the Chase Kahne has a legitimate chance to make up for what can be considered a disappointing season by reestablishing himself as one of NASCAR’s best drivers.
7- Matt Kenseth
One year ago Matt Kenseth was a runner up in the Chase for the Sprint Cup title; this year he’s lucky just to have an opportunity to compete in the final 10 race showdown for the sport’s most prestigious trophy. Disappointing of a season as 2014 was, Kenseth remained Joe Gibbs Racing’s top driver in spite of going winless in the regular season. Should Kenseth break that winless streak in the Chase he could easily master one of the sport’s greatest comeback stories of all time, but it’s really hard to ignore the fact he went from winning seven races a year ago to running on empty for most of the 2014 season. Something really makes no sense about all of this; don’t you think?
6- Jimmie Johnson
There’s no denying that Jimmie Johnson thrives once we get to this point of the season. You get the feeling Johnson works overtime to prepare himself for the final 10 races of the season mentally and physically. Johnson’s never say die attitude is the reason why he’s been able to capture six NASCAR Sprint Cup championships in such a short period of time. Captain clutch will have his work cut out for him this year. Johnson enters this year’s edition of the Chase reeling. Although he’s picked up the pace in recent weeks Jimmie Johnson spent most of the summer trying to figure out the competition, something that’s usually reserved for his rivals. In other words, Johnson is on pace to have an off year in the Chase, but can you ever really count him out until the checkered flag flies at Homestead Miami?
5- Kevin Harvick
If you’re looking for a genuine dark horse in this year’s Chase look no further than Kevin Harvick. Harvick’s perhaps the greatest driver never to win a Sprint Cup title. He’s demonstrated a great deal of consistency over the course of his 14 year NASCAR Sprint Cup career. This year has been no exception. Harvick has done a magnificent job of making things work for a staggering Stewart Haas organization that, despite all of its troubles in 2014, still has a chance to win a championship. That’s a testament to Harvick’s strong leadership skills. If bad luck escapes him there’s no reason why Harvick can’t manage to tun some of that speed he’s demonstrated all season long into a string of critical victories
4- Joey Logano
2014 turned out to be a career year for Joey Logano. Stellar performances on a consistent basis have placed the kid once known as sliced bread in the thick of the 2014 championship battle. Although it would make for a nice feel good story, Logano will have to wait another year or two to become king of the castle.
3- Brad Keselowski
Going into the Chase as the first seed puts a red hot Brad Keselowski in prime position to claim his second Sprint Cup title in three years, astoundingly impressive numbers for a driver who hasn’t been around the game all that long in comparison to some of his fellow Chase mates. Expect Brad to duke it out right down to the wire with the dynamic Hendrick Motorsports duo of Earnhardt Jr. & Gordon. Surely this will be a battle for the ages.
2- Dale Earnhardt Jr
Enjoying his best season in nearly a decade, Dale Earnhardt Jr is competing at an extremely high level. He has a golden opportunity over the next 10 races to finally claim his first NASCAR Sprint Cup title 15 years removed from his rookie season. The next 10 races could very well be the most important of Dale Jr.’s career.
1 – Jeff Gordon
Rewriting the record book is nothing new for Jeff Gordon; in fact he’s made a career of it. He’s about to rewrite the history book once gain by claiming his fifth NASCAR Sprint Cup title, his first since 2001 and first under the new Chase format.
Photo courtesy of Amber Searls – USA Today Sports
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