Combined, #1-Truex Jr. and #12-Newman have made up 18 positions in the last five races and have emerged as bona fide Chase contenders. Newman has amassed a third-best 721 points over the last five and has zoomed 11 positions in the process, now sitting just 18 out of Mark Martin’s 12th position. Truex followed up the Dover win with a third at Pocono, and has climbed 7 spots over the last five and now occupies 11th, 23 points inside The Chase. #25-Casey Mears has shaken off a horrendous start to 2007, ascending 12 spots in the standings over the last five. Although Mears’ remains 277 points out of The Chase in 23rd place, he should take heart in #17-Matt Kenseth’s comparison in 2005. After race #14, Kenseth stood tied for 23rd, 320 points out of 10th! He made The Chase with relative ease. After a good start, #26-Jamie McMurray has slipped 8 spots over the last five, and now sit 99 points out of the Top 12 in 15th place. For more see my Pocono Chase Stats page.(6-16-2007)
