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The 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup-Week No. 9

November 13, 2005 at 12:00 AM

• Tony Stewart finished fourth at Phoenix International Raceway and remained the leader in the 2005 Chase for NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. Stewart is 52 points ahead of second-place Jimmie Johnson, 87 ahead of Carl Edwards and 102 ahead of Greg Biffle. One year ago the difference from first to second was 18 points entering the final race at Homestead (Busch over Johnson). The 10 drivers will race one final race at the Homestead-Miami Speedway to determine the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup champion who is expected to win in excess of $5 million.
• Four of the 10 Chase drivers can still mathematically overtake Stewart at Homestead. The maximum points that can be gained or lost in a race assuming all drivers start is 156 points. Johnson, Edwards, and Biffle are all within the 156-point window and could mathematically overtake Stewart at Homestead. The top-four drivers are separated by 102 points.
• If Tony Stewart finishes ninth or better, at Homestead-Miami Speedway, he will become the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Champion regardless of the performance of any other driver.
• Four drivers in the Chase changed point’s positions at Phoenix International Raceway.
• Six of the nine Chase races thus far in 2005 have been won by Chase drivers. Jimmie Johnson (Dover and Charlotte) and Carl Edwards (Atlanta and Texas) are the only drivers with two victories in the Chase.
• Only one of the 10 Chase drivers led at Phoenix, earning lap leader bonus points: Greg Biffle.
• Tony Stewart has earned 50 lap leader bonus points in the Chase, five more than Greg Biffle.
• Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson and Carl Edwards have each have scored seven top-10 finishes in the first nine races in the 2005 Chase for NASCAR NEXTEL Cup.
• Jeff Gordon (third) climbed from 12th to 11th in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. He holds the 11th position by 10 points over 12th-place Jamie McMurray.
• Nine of the 10 drivers competing in the 2005 Chase for NASCAR NEXTEL Cup have scored at least one victory in the 2005 season. Five of the 10 drivers have scored multiple victories led by Tony Stewart and Greg Biffle each with five. Rusty Wallace is the only Chase driver that is winless in 2005.(NASCAR Statistical Services)(11-13-2005)