#48-Jimmie Johnson is the only Sprint Cup driver who has made all seven Chase for the Sprint Cup fields. #11-Denny Hamlin, who did not start fulltime in the series until 2006, has made all five he’s attempted. #5-Mark Martin made the first three Chases, then went part time in 2007 and 2008, then got back in the Chase as he resumed a fulltime schedule in 2009. He missed this year’s Chase by 155 points. Only in Chase I in 2004 did a driver who finished worse than fourth in the regular season point standings go on to win the Chase. Kurt Busch scored the seventh most points that season, went on a tear early in the Chase, then withstood the challenge of Jimmie Johnson to prevail by a scant 8 points at Homestead. Richard Childress Racing is easily the comeback story of 2010. After being shut out of the 2009 Chase, RCR stormed back this season to place all three drivers in the field, including #29-Kevin Harvick’s amazing turnaround from 22nd to 1st over the first 26 races.
For season-to-season comparison after 25 races, current standings and more, see my Chase Stats after Atlanta page. And for Chase history, how the ‘old system’ would had played out and more, see my 2010 Chase Rules and News page.(9-17-2010)
