– With two races remaining, Martin Truex Jr. has a 161 point lead over second place Kyle Busch, the only other driver that could win the 2004 NASCAR Busch Series Championship.
– The most points that a driver can score in a race is 190 if he wins and leads the most laps. With a 161 point lead, Martin Truex Jr. can afford to lose 80 points each of the two remaining races to Kyle Busch. So even if Busch scores 190 points at Darlington and Homestead-Miami, Truex Jr. will win the championship by scoring any combination that averages 110 points or more for the two races. That would be an average of 17th place. If he leads just one lap in the last two races he gets five bonus points and can average 18th place and still win.
– Truex Jr. can clinch the 2004 championship at Darlington if he outscores Kyle Busch by 30 points or more no matter what happens at the final race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
– If Truex Jr. leaves Darlington with a 157 or more point lead, he will clinch the title by starting the race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
– If Truex Jr. wins the race at Darlington, he wins the title as long as Busch finishes fifth or worse (does not lead) or six or worse (leads a lap).
– If Truex Jr. scores a total of 220 points (17th place points each race) in the last two races, he will win the 2004 championship no matter what Kyle Busch does in the last two races.
– On the other hand, it is possible for Martin Truex Jr. to lose 156 of his 161 point lead to Kyle Busch in either of the last two races, the difference between the maximum points for winning and last place points.
– In any case, Truex Jr. or Busch will become the 18th driver to win the NASCAR Busch Series championship.(ThatsRacin.com)(11-13-2004)
