With the regular season dwindling down to a precious few races, the Chase ‘Wild Card’ race literally has become a game of musical chairs. Six winners into two seats obviously won ‘t go. And that doesn ‘t take into consideration four more drivers ranked 11th through 20th able to win their way into post-season racing. #5-Kasey Kahne and #39-Ryan Newman retained the provisional ‘Wild Cards’ in Michigan. #18-Kyle Busch, #24-Jeff Gordon, #9-Marcos Ambrose and #20-Joey Logano must wait for another day or in the case of Bristol, night to oust their rivals. Hope remains for non-winners #99-Carl Edwards, #27-Paul Menard, #1-Jamie McMurray and #31-Jeff Burton.
Kahne holds the best cards: Two victories to his challengers ‘ one or zero. He’s also only 33 points out of the top 10 and the possibility of entering the Chase with at least six bonus points. Bristol isn ‘t quite a get-it-done-or-else affair but it’s close especially for drivers who have feasted at the 0.533-mile concrete-surfaced oval in past years. That would be Busch and Gordon, five-time winners, and Edwards, who counts a pair of victories. Busch has won four of the last seven Bristol races, including a sweep of both events in 2009. He has the top Driver Rating (102.3) among the contenders and the most laps led (1,375). Busch is one of three short-track winners in 2012, in May at Richmond. The past few races have been on-again, off-again affairs with Busch: second at Indianapolis, 33rd at Pocono, seventh at Watkins Glen and 13th at Michigan. With track changes expected to make track position and pit selection crucial, Gordon’s ability to qualify is an asset. The four-time champion’s average start (8.3) is best in the field and his Driver Rating (99.8) trails only Busch and Matt Kenseth. Gordon’s last Bristol victory came in 2002.(NASCAR)(8-24-2012)
