Sprint Cup Chase: Dover's Down - the Monster's Reward

The field contending for the 2012 Sprint Cup championship took a beating after today’s action at Dover’s “Monster Mile” after completing the AAA 400. Brad Keselowski saved fuel and won as other drivers struggled to reach the checkered flag to give the young driver a five point lead over the five time champ, Jimmie Johnson.

Meanwhile, some drivers are either out of the chase or face an unprecedented uphill climb to be  factor in this year’s championship chase.

Matt Kenseth’s 35^th place finish just above the garbage heap ended his run for the championship, looking at a 72 point deficit, the #17 car will not be celebrating at Homestead in November.

Greg Biffle (-51), Jeff Gordon (-48), Kevin Harvick (-46), and Martin Truex Jr. (-42) have more than a full race to make up with seven races left. It’s absolutely over for them too.

Current Chase Standings:

RANK		+/-		DRIVER		PTS		BEHIND
1		1		Brad Keselowski		2142		Leader
2		-1		Jimmie Johnson		2137		-5
3		--		Denny Hamlin		2126		-16
4		2		Clint Bowyer		2117		-25
5		-1		Tony Stewart		2110		-32
6		-1		Kasey Kahne		2110		-32
7		--		Dale Earnhardt Jr.		2103		-39
8		2		Martin Truex Jr.		2100		-42
9		-1		Kevin Harvick		2096		-46
10		2		Jeff Gordon		2094		-48
11		-2		Greg Biffle		2091		-51
12		-1		Matt Kenseth		2070		-72

Now looking at where the Chase contenders finished today, the results underscore just what a tough challenge lies head.

FIN		ST		CAR		DRIVER		MAKE		PTS/BNS
1		10		2		Brad Keselowski		Dodge		47/1
2		7		24		Jeff Gordon		Chevrolet		43/1
4		11		48		Jimmie Johnson		Chevrolet		41/1
6		3		56		Martin Truex Jr.		Toyota		38/0
8		1		11		Denny Hamlin		Toyota		37/1
9		2		15		Clint Bowyer		Toyota		36/1
11		25		88		Dale Earnhardt Jr.		Chevrolet		33/0
13		13		29		Kevin Harvick		Chevrolet		31/0
15		9		5		Kasey Kahne		Chevrolet		29/0
16		6		16		Greg Biffle		Ford		28/0
20		24		14		Tony Stewart		Chevrolet		24/0
35		12		17		Matt Kenseth		Ford		9/0

.

Right now, it’s a three car shootout for championship honors with Brad Keselowski leading Jimmie Johnson then Denny Hamlin within clear striking distance to take the lead. Tony Stewart and Kasey Kahne almost must win their way into the picture having 32 points between them and the top.

It’s too soon to stick the fork in Dale Earnhardt Jr. but at 39 points out of the top spot, he’ll need to pick up more than 5 ½ points a race with no setbacks to gain his first crown. It’s not just how well each driver does but which drivers he must over come to get to the promised land. Aside from Tony Stewart who does have three wins for the season, the remainder of the teams not yet out of the chase will have to show levels of performance not shown consistently to be a factor.

Talladega beckons next week as the 2 2/3’s mile long restrictor plate track will add its own brand of torture to endure in quest of championship glory. Keselowski is a proven Talladega winner. All is well with Team Penske for now.