[media-credit name=”Dan Sanger” align=”alignright” width=”245″]
[/media-credit]Three races to go before the Chase deadline. Some like it hot, but over the course of the season find themselves needing wins, not just points, to make the cut. Some have been good over the season, but could last about 5 minutes as legitimate contenders for the title based on how they have performed lately.
Jeff Gordon needs a win or he is toast, yet has had the fourth best numbers in recent events. Kasey Kahne is in the loop due to his two wins to hold down a wildcard spot, but he has been running sixth best these past ten events. Kevin Harvick? Denny Hamlin? I have no doubt both will make it, though a disaster or two over the next three races could still cut down Hamlin. Both have been ice cold lately, so much so that even if they make the Chase it is doubtful they would remain on the radar for any amount of time.
The best of the moment would happen to be Brad Keselowski, but that should come as no surprise. The 28 year old has had a steady climb up the ranks since 2008, finishing third, third, and finally winning the Nationwide title in 2010, then putting up what at present would be back to back fifth place results in the Cup standings. It would be a might too early to engrave the trophy just yet, but it would be wise to at least learn how to spell his name.
Here is a look at our hottest 20 drivers over the past 10 events, including where they place in the official standings, and their wins, Top Fives, and Top Tens over the time period.
1 (5) Brad Keselowski – 376 pts (1-5-7)
“Hendrick betrays us. Wicked, tricksey, false. Gollem. Gollem.”
2 (7) Clint Bowyer – 352 pts (1-3-7)
Best of his best year ever might yet be to come.
3 (4) Jimmie Johnson – 342 pts (1-5-7)
Imagine how he would do if their engine shop could get it right.
4 (16) Jeff Gordon – 339 pts (1-3-6)
Junior is a jerk, the engine shop sucks, but he is a win away from all being well.
5 (1) Greg Biffle – 337 pts (1-3-6)
We should nickname the man after his car. Bad Ass Biffle? I like it!
6 (11) Kasey Kahne – 329 pts (1-4-5)
Two wins in hand, a hot hand as we near the Chase. The odds look good.
7 (3) Dale Earnhardt Jr – 325 pts (1-5-6)
Dear Jeff: Thanks for not wrecking my ass. Love, Junior.
8 (6) Martin Truex Jr – 322 pts (0-1-5)
The winner of the Tony Stewart look-a-like contest is…
9 (9) Tony Stewart – 321 pts (1-5-6)
Has decided not to grow chin whiskers or sideburns for some reason.
10 (17) Marcos Ambrose – 318 pts (1-2-5)
Wildcard format keeps him a contender, and recent results makes him more than a pretender.
11 (2) Matt Kenseth – 318 pts (0-2-5)
That you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone isn’t always true.
12 (13) Ryan Newman – 314 pts (0-1-4)
Of the 12 currently in a Chase spot, has been voted the least likely to succeed.
13 (15) Paul Menard – 301 pts (0-0-2)
The Rodney Dangerfield of NASCAR.
14 (12) Carl Edwards – 299 pts (0-0-3)
New crew chief, 4 races, 2 runner-up finishes, not enough.
15 (8) Kevin Harvick – 298 pts (0-0-2)
If he were global warming, the deep south would be a deep freeze.
16 (10) Denny Hamlin – 263 pts (0-3-4)
Baby on the way, so for a name might I suggest…Chase?
17 (14) Kyle Busch – 263 pts (0-1-3)
A few points behind Newman, light years from being a real contender…at the moment.
18 (19) Jamie McMurray – 260 pts (0-0-1)
The best thing going for Earnhardt Ganassi, but that it not saying much.
19 (18) Joey Logano – 250 pts (1-2-3)
At 22, having a better season than as a 19-year old phenom, and that might not be good enough.
20 (20) Jeff Burton – 244 pts (0-1-1)
Not exactly in the outhouse, but a chamber pot analogy might be in order
