#33-Clint Bowyer’s trip behind the wall at Watkins Glen put him a couple of laps down and ended up knocking him out of the Top 12 with four races to go. #5-Mark Martin could have taken better advantage of the break, but his 19th did move him 10 points ahead of Bowyer. #39-Ryan Newman got a 12th and it was good enough to gain him 55 big points on 12th, pulling him within 83 of the cutoff for the Chase. #1-Jamie McMurray continued his late charge with a sixth and now lurks 94 points out. #9-Kasey Kahne recorded a 17th and moved up 35 points, now 133 out and still with a puncher’s chance. #99-Carl Edwards’ fifth and #17-Matt Kenseth’s 13th were good enough to gain them 54 and 23 points respectively, and now both have a one-race cushion on staying in the Top 12.
So a few drivers still have a shot at the Chase who are out: Bowyer is 13th only 10 pts out; Newman is 14th, 83 pts out; #1-McMurray is 15th, 94 pts out; Earnhardt Jr. is 16th, 121 pts out; and Kahne is 17th, 133 pts out; .
For season-to-season comparison after 22 races, current standings and more, see my Chase Stats after Pocono page. And for Chase history, how the ‘old system’ would had played out and more, see my 2010 Chase Rules and News page.(8-10-2010)
