With ten races to go before the Chase invites get handed out, there are some who just need to keep on doing what they are doing. It is no mistake that Carl Edwards and Kevin Harvick currently lead the parade. Then there are the boys who seem to be heating up at just the right time, with Clint Bowyer and Denny Hamlin are among them. Joey Logano and Marcos Ambrose might still be outside the Top 20, but those two boys also are making noise as of late, providing an argument that maybe we should not count them out just yet.
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[/media-credit]While we expect it to be hot at Daytona this weekend, some of our favorites are starting to chill, and not in a good way. Kyle Busch seems to have put the disappointments of Talladega and Charlotte behind him, but Dale Earnhardt Jr could have done without getting caught up in someone else’s mess last Sunday to finish 41st. Coming after a 21st place conclusion to Michigan, Junior needs some good fortune to come his way. Daytona is one place he might expect that.
Forget Earnhardt’s troubles, as it is Ryan Newman who is a top ten guy heading down the rabbit hole. He might have three Top Tens in his past ten, but five times he has been outside the Top 20. Mark Martin is 14th in the official standings, but lately he has averaging 17th. You need consistency or wins to make the Chase, and the 52 year old has not been accused of either this campaign.
Hey, it could be worse…unless your name is Juan Pablo Montoya. In more than half of the last ten events, the Columbian has finished in the back half of the pack. You can say he was consistent by finishing 22nd in California, but I’m sure that is not exactly the kind of result they were looking for.
The boys begin the ten race countdown to the Chase this Saturday night in Daytona.
Over the past 10 events…
Pos – (Official Pos) – Driver – Pts-(W-T5-T10)
1. (1) Carl Edwards – 359 pts – (0-6-8)
We might have an idea as to why he leads the standings.
2. (2) Kevin Harvick – 344 pts – (1-3-5)
Forget a dress like Prince William’s wife wears. I’m getting my wife a firesuit!
3. (8) Clint Bowyer – 338 pts – (0-3-6)
Heating up at about the right time.
4. (4) Kurt Busch – 334 pts – (1-3-5)
Started turning right and left the rest behind at Sonoma.
5. (3) Jimmie Johnson – 333 pts – (1-2-7)
Six straight; why not?
6. (6) Matt Kenseth – 326 pts – (2-3-5)
If you can forget about Daytona, Talladega, Richmond, and Darlington, he’s been great
7. (11) Denny Hamlin – 318 pts – (1-3-5)
I’m starting to see that whining equates into winning
8. (5) Kyle Busch – 317 pts – (1-4-4)
See above.
9. (9) Jeff Gordon – 310 pts – (1-4-4)
Half dozen Top Fives keeps him in the hunt.
10. (7) Dale Earnhardt Jr – 309 pts – (0-2-5)
Sometimes Lady Luck is with you, sometimes she aint no lady at all.
11. (13) Greg Biffle – 304 pts – (0-1-4)
Still in the running with just a single Top Five to his credit this season.
12. (12) Tony Stewart – 280 pts – (0-0-4)
It all started when Vickers got even.
13. (23) Joey Logano – 274 pts – (0-1-3)
Needs his next ten to be even better than his last ten.
14. (21) Marcos Ambrose – 272 pts – (0-2-4)
See above.
15. (10) Ryan Newman – 272 pts – (0-1-3)
Officially 10th, unofficially sinking like a stone.
16. (22) Brad Keselowski – 266 pts – (1-2-3)
3rd at Darlington, 1st at Kansas, 10th at Sonoma…and not much else.
17. (15) A.J. Allmendinger – 265 pts – (0-1-2)
Not quite ready for prime-time just yet, but it is coming.
18. (20) David Ragan – 263 pts – (0-2-3)
They might love logistics, but can’t be fond of where they sit here.
19. (14) Mark Martin – 262 pts – (0-1-3)
With time running out, this would be the time to go, daddy!
20. (18) Martin Truex Jr – 261 pts – (0-0-4)
He can be beaten, and on Sunday was beaten upon often.
21. (17) Paul Menard – 259 pts – (0-2-2)
Having his best season ever, but that’s not saying much.
22. (19) Kasey Kahne – 248 pts – (0-0-2)
11 wins with the AllState girls, none without. I’m just sayin’…
26. (16) Juan Pablo Montoya – 231 pts – (0-0-1)
Thornton can shove this ranking system between his nalgas.
