...and six more to go until NASCAR has its version of the playoffs, which they call the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Now is as good a time as any to reassess where the drivers stand.
Take a look at the Sprint Cup standings for a moment. You'll notice that two drivers currently in the top 10 are still looking for their first win of the season: Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Both have shown flashes this season, and if things stay the same over the next month and a half, they will make the playoffs without a single checkered flag. Of course, NASCAR would be OK with that, given their fan bases.
Now look at the next 10 spots in the standings. That's where NASCAR will get its two wild card participants in the Chase. The two drivers in this range with the most wins will get in. (Remember that concern we had about not having enough drivers with wins for those spots? Never mind.) Right now, those spots would go to Denny Hamlin, who slipped out of the top 10 despite our prediction that he wouldn't, and Paul Menard, who defied everyone's predictions and won last week at Indianapolis. Each one has a single win, so the wild card spots remain firmly up for grabs. Even Brad Keselowski (if he can stay in one piece) can get it with a second win.
But right now, Keselowski, David Ragan and Regan Smith (not to mention the Daytona 500 winner) are on the outside looking in, despite their win. Stewart and Earnhardt are on the inside looking out, for now, despite having no wins.
The "emphasis on winning" thing clearly remains a work in progress.
So is our team. We have to get back into first place, and we need your help. Vote in the lineup polls on the right side of this page. You have until Friday evening. Thanks.
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