The gap from first to second, 14 points, is the second closest in the seven years of The Chase (Jeff Gordon led Jimmie Johnson by 9 at this stage in 2007), but the 38-point gap from first to third is the closest. Third place Denny Hamlin was 65 points out of Matt Kenseth’s pace in 2006. Kevin Harvick scored the most points in the 26-race regular season and he is threatening to take The Chase title as well. Harvick’s second at Dega gained him 39 valuable points on the lead, and brought him 47 points closer to Hamlin. In fact, Harvick has scored only 18 fewer points than Johnson during the Chase, and 6 more than Hamlin. The “Big One” didn’t materialize and thus “The Big Three” frontrunners for The Chase escaped Talladega intact, and put more distance between themselves and the rest of the field. Fourth-place Jeff Gordon is 207 points out, which is more than a one-race deficit.
2009 (After 7 Races)
1-JOHNSON 6248/+184
2-Martin 6064/-184
3-Jeff Gordon 6056/-192
2008 (After 7 Races)
1-JOHNSON 6248/+183
2-Edwards 6065/-183
3-Biffle 6063/-185
2007 (After 7 Races)
1-JGordon 6201/+9
2-JOHNSON 6192/-9
3-Bowyer 6090/-111
2006 (After 7 Races)
1-Kenseth 6008/+26
2-JOHNSON 5982/-26
3-Hamlin 5943/-65
2005 (After 7 Races)
1-STEWART 6100/+43
2-Johnson 6057/-43
3-Biffle 6025/-75
2004 (After 7 Races)
1-KU BUSCH 6052/+59
2-Johnson 5993/-59
3-J Gordon 5980/-72
(ALL CAPS was the eventual champ), see more on my Chase Stats after 7 races page.(11-4-2010)
