NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup refresher course

Sep 6, 2014; Richmond, VA, USA; The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint cup qualifying drivers pose for a photo after the Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway. Mandatory Credit: John Harrelson- Richmond International Raceway/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports

The 10-race, 16-driver NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup is quickly approaching, kicking off Sunday with the running of the MyAFibStory.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. The Chase has a different format this year, with eliminations coming after every third race, winding up with a one-race, four-driver battle for the title in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November.

To refresh your memory, here’s how this year’s Chase works:

Sixteen drivers made this year’s Chase by winning races or being high enough in the points standings at the end of the “regular season,” i.e. the checkered flag last weekend at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway. Thirteen drivers won races, while Matt Kenseth, Ryan Newman and Greg Biffle got in by virtue of being the top-three drivers in the standings among those without a win.

Drivers were then seeded, with bonus points going to drivers who won races entering the Chase. Chase drivers have a base of 2000 points, plus three points for each win said driver posted in the first 26 races. For example, Brad Keselowski is the top seed, and with four “regular season” wins, he starts the Chase with 2012 points.

The Chase consists of three three-race rounds and a single-race to determine the champion from among the final four. Points are reset for advancing drivers for each round.

The first three races is referred to as the Challenger round. After those three races, four drivers will be eliminated, while the other 12 move on to the Contender round. Challenger round race-winning drivers will automatically move on, and the the remaining of the 12 advancement spots will be field based on the points standings among the other Chase drivers.

After the three-race contender round, race winners from that round will advance to the eight-driver, three-race Eliminator round. The remainder of the eight spots for the Eliminator round will, again, got to the highest-ranking drivers in the points standings from those still in the Chase. Four more drivers will be eliminated.

The process is repeated in the Eliminator round, races seven through nine of the Chase. The drivers who win Eliminator round races, plus at least one more by virtue of points (four drivers total) will be championship eligible heading into the season-finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The highest finisher from among the four remaining championship-eligible drivers at Homestead will be crowned the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion.

Below, is a Chase grid with the car numbers of the Chase drivers filled in for the Challenger round:

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CONTEST OPPORTUNITY: Want to go to the Chase race at Dover on Sept. 28? If so, go to the NASCAR Examiner Facebook page, find the contest post and comment with your prediction of the highest-finishing Chase driver in Sunday’s race at Chicagoland Speedway. Or tweet your prediction to @NASCARexaminer with the hashtag #DoverTix. You could win two tickets the AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway on Sept. 28.