How you start the season, important to make the Chase:
March 14, 2009 at 12:00 AM
How you start the season, important to make the Chase: People have caught on to how important a good start is in the Chase format, but right here is where you first read about that. We noticed it two years ago and the trends have not changed. Of the 54 drivers who’ve made the Chase in its first five years, 50 have been in the top 20 after four races. Forty-four have been in the top 15. And 72%, 39 of 54, were in Chase position after four races (the top 10 in 2004-06 or the top 12 the past two years). The four drivers in five years who have come from outside the top 20 after four races to make the Chase were Matt Kenseth and Jeremy Mayfield in 2005, Kevin Harvick in 2006 and Martin Truex Jr. in 2007. A lot was expected out of #5-Mark Martin. If he does turn things around and somehow comes from 34th in the driver standings to make the Chase, it would be historic. Kenseth had 339 points after four races in 2005 and still came back to make the top 10. No driver has made the Chase with a lower four-race points tally. Martin has just 286 points so far this year.(Charlotte Observer). A few drivers outside the top 20 expected to compete for the Chase: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. (24th), #39-Ryan Newman (32nd) and #5-Mark Martin (34th).(3-14-2009)
