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Just eleven races are left before the Nextel Cup Playoffs as called “The Chase”. So, this week, here is my look on the top 15 and notables. Note: The top ten spots go to highest in points and the final two are wildcards by way of wins and in the top 20 of points to make up the 12 team field.
15) Aric Almirola: Been hovering around Chase bubble all season or better, but has lost seven spots in last five races.
14) Joey Logano: Had just two top fives a season ago, but already has four this season.
13) Martin Truex Jr.: Has let two wins slip away this season by way of guessing wrong.
12) Kasey Kahne: Bad luck train continues, but dissect it and maybe the third strongest team this season.
11) Paul Menard: On the bubble by way of four top tens and only two finishes worse than 25th.
10) Tony Stewart: Winning at Dover was a miracle, but turning 2013 in the right direction.
9) Brad Keselowski: The reigning champ has yet to come to form and that could be attributed to a number of things.
8) Greg Biffle: Finally won this season and ads a little more comfort to Chase status.
7) Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Has yet to win, but just exited the top five in point for first time all year.
6) Kyle Busch: What do you expect? Has won twice, but not without controversy.
5) Matt Kenseth: Maybe the scariest contender of them all and has three wins.
4) Kevin Harvick: “The Closer” has two wins so far, but respectively not creating a stir.
3) Clint Bowyer: Been quiet since winless, but been lurking in this spot all year.
2) Carl Edwards: Trying to grab his first title and the first part of plan going well.
1) Jimmie Johnson: Being chased all season long and may not change in playoffs.
Notables: 16th Jeff Gordon. When will Gordon admit it? He doesn’t believe in luck, but nobody has been dealt worse luck this season than Gordon. The only exception is that he sits 19 points away from cracking tenth in the standings.
26th Denny Hamlin. Still hasn’t won a race yet and time is ticking away to make NASCAR history to sit out four races find a way to get into The Chase.
While on the subject of racing, the last month has been pretty terrible with Dick Trickle’s suicide and now Jason Leffler’s sprint car crash which took his life last week.
As unorthodox as it sounds, I sort of understand Trickle’s suicide because he was in a lot of pain and doctors couldn’t find a diagnoses for the problems he was having. However, I still remember a night at IRP, when Trickle was nearly involved in every caution flag that night. With barely any sheet metal left as the car became a modified with tape all over it, Trickle somehow managed to finish EIGHTH in a then Busch Series event that night. Now that’s talent! Trickle, 71, had competed in over 2,200 racing events in his career and won over 1,200 feature races.
Leffler on the other hand was 37 and to make it tougher to handle, leaves behind a five-year old son. Leffler had just one top ten Nextel Cup finish in his career, but two wins and 107 top tens in his Nationwide Series career. Although, you always run the risk in any form of racing. Sprint Car Racing is very dangerous and I do wish there was a better way for those cars and tracks to be safer.
Finally, after being picked up by the Houston Astros in the Major League Baseball draft, Former Chase standout, Tyler White was assigned to Orlando, Florida by the organization.
He will start his MLB journey in the Gulf Coast League in what is considered Rookie ball. No doubt, he has to be excited about that.
