: Berths In NASCAR’s Playoffs Will Shake Out At Richmond Seven spots remain up for grabs in the Chase for NASCAR Sprint Cup. Two Chase berths will be clinched once the green flag flies at Richmond. Both #16-Greg Biffle and #29-Kevin Harvick need only to start the Richmond race to clinch a Chase berth. So, realistically, five spots remain. While listing every clinch scenario would fill up uncountable pages (and hours), the below scenarios are the simplest. The following are the clinch scenarios that would lock up Chase spots for #20-Tony Stewart, #17-Matt Kenseth, #24-Jeff Gordon and #11-Denny Hamlin regardless of how any other driver finished (assuming there are no ties for most laps led at Richmond): Tony Stewart * Finish 36th * Finish 37th and lead at least one lap * Finish 40th and lead the most laps Matt Kenseth * Finish 26th * Finish 28th and lead at least one lap * Finish 30th and lead the most laps Jeff Gordon * Finish 24th * Finish 25th and lead at least one lap * Finish 28th and lead the most laps Denny Hamlin * Finish 21st * Finish 22nd and lead at least one lap * Finish 25th and lead the most laps After that, the points get tighter and the scenarios that much more intriguing. #07-Clint Bowyer is 12th, 17 points ahead of David Ragan and 48 points ahead of #9-Kasey Kahne. There are a number of different scenarios that could play out that would give Bowyer a Chase spot, but simply put: Bowyer can clinch a spot by either winning or finishing second and leading the most laps or third and leading the most laps. Ragan is in a similar clinching position. Regardless of other drivers’ finishes, Ragan clinches if he wins and leads the most laps. Other clinching scenarios – involving certain finishes by both Bowyer and Kahne – also exist for Ragan. Kahne’s road is bumpier. At Richmond, he needs to finish 48 points ahead of Bowyer and 31 points ahead of Ragan to clinch a spot.(NASCAR) and see more on my Chase Stats Page.(9-3-2008)
