#41-Kurt Busch set a Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup era record the moment he hit the finish line to close last Sunday’s race at Martinsville Speedway – six different winners in the first six races. And incredibly, #20-Matt Kenseth and #48-Jimmie Johnson – the top two winners from the 2013 season – aren’t among that group. The last time there were seven different winners in the first seven races was 2003. The record for different winners to start the season is 10, in 2000. In neither of those seasons were there more than 16 winners after 26 races. There were 13 different winners after 26 races in 2000, and 16 different winners after 26 races in 2003 (and the points leader at the time, Matt Kenseth, was indeed one of them). So, historically speaking, it’s a very safe assumption that the six different winners thus far will be safely in the Chase after Richmond.(NASCAR)(4-3-2014)
