We’ve got 26 drivers currently eligible for the “Chase” (versus 24 last year at this time), and a spread from 1st to 10th this year of 198. Last year (which was supposedly a disaster) we had a spread of 288 from 1-10, but the lead 1st to 2nd was a whopping 155. BTW, the present leader (Kurt Busch) has 58 points less than our leader at this time last year (Matt Kenseth) had…..and this is a season where you get an extra 5 points for winning. And, of couse, all that makes the racing a whole lot better, doesn’t it?
We move next to Martinsville Speedway, so let’s take a look at short-track [S/T] points….and the man at the top may suprise you. These numbers are the points earned at the six short-track races from last year along with Bristol from this season. Kevin Harvick is eating ’em up at the shorties, and when you consider he’s never won one of those, to say he’s due would be an understatement! Since Chevy won both events here last year (Jeff Gordon), and the top three (as well as the four of the top five) are Monte Carlo drivers, you may want to consider those as players this week. Here’s the Top-10 in S/T points for the last 7 races [2003 and Bristol in 2004]:
Car#-Driver Name, S/T Points
#29-Harvick Kevin, 1037 (0 S/T Wins)
#8-Earnhardt Dale Jr., 1015 (0)
#24-Gordon Jeff, 1004 (2)
#17-Kenseth Matt, 1003 (0)
#48-Johnson Jimmie, 961 (0)
#97-Busch Kurt, 918 (3)
#18-Labonte Bobby, 861 (0)
#2-Wallace Rusty, 852 (0)
#40-Marlin Sterling, 843 (0)
#12-Newman Ryan, 838 (1)
(in part from the StockCarFans.Com Nextel Cup Newsletter)(4-12-2004)