Note: the quotes in this article are fictional.
1. Tony Stewart — Stewart posted his eleventh straight top-10 with a fifth in California, leading 56 laps in doing so. For this season, the points leader is tied for the series lead in wins (5), and is the sole leader in top fives (12), and top-10s (17).
"You'd think I'd be leading in winnings," says Stewart. "But nooo! Somehow, Jeff Gordon has won more money than me. If I were an NFL football player, I would hold out."
Stewart finished second at Richmond in May. Don't be surprised if he wins this time, just to show everyone that he's still boss.
2. Greg Biffle — Biffle's runner-up at Fontana was his third straight top-six, and he reclaimed the number two spot in the points, passing Jimmie Johnson. Like his other Roush counterparts, Biffle is peaking at the right time, and he's regained early season form that saw him win five of the first 15 races.
"I've been stuck on that number five for a long time," adds Biffle. "It seems to be an unlucky number. Stewart wins his fifth, and he's been stuck there ever since."
Unlucky for some, but not for Kyle Busch, who took his No. 5 Chevy to victory just ahead of you in California.
Biffle will shoot for another top-10 Sunday in Richmond — he finished sixth there at the Chevy American Revolution 400 in May. He will enter the Chase as the Roush driver most likely to challenge Stewart for the crown.
3. Jimmie Johnson — Johnson was poised for a top-five finish, despite a brush with the wall on lap 55 (unlucky 5s again?), until the handling in the No. 48 Lowe's Chevy seemingly vanished in the closing laps. JJ finished 16th, which was somewhat disappointing, especially after a second earlier in the year at California.
"It sucks scraping the wall like that," explains Johnson, "especially when you don't have anyone to blame it on except yourself. But how about those young Hendrick drivers, Kyle Busch and Brian Vickers? First and third. I taught them everything I know. Apparently, they learned some more from someone else."
Johnson may well hold the collective hopes of Hendrick Motorsports in his hands, if Jeff Gordon doesn't qualify for the Chase. Right now, the No. 48 doesn't have what it takes to challenge Tony Stewart and the Roush juggernaut for Cup dominance. A win in Richmond could change that.
4. Rusty Wallace — Wallace officially clinched his spot in the Chase, simply by starting in the field of 43, and eventually finished 15th after starting 34th and falling a lap down earlier when he pitted right before a wreck brought out the caution.
"That was no fun," says Wallace. "But I'll tell you what was fun. Commentating during the Busch race on Saturday. I may get too old to race, but I'll never be too old to just talk."
Wallace has 11 more races to pick up a win in his final year on the circuit. Already in the Chase, he can let it all hang out in Richmond and go for the win.
5. Mark Martin — After qualifying on the front row, Martin raced to an 11th-place finish, which was enough to secure his place in the Chase. All five Roush drivers led laps, with Martin leading the fewest, four.
"Brilliant strategy there by the Mad Hatter, Jack Roush," says Martin. "It was his plan to have all of us lead a lap to pick up that valuable five bonus points. Those points may come in handy for Carl Edwards and Matt Kenseth. Those suckers haven't cinched a spot yet. You may see some team orders come Saturday."
Martin will be one of a possible five Roush drivers in the Chase. Like Rusty Wallace, Martin is looking for a win to highlight his year.
6. Kurt Busch — Busch's 12th-place finish didn't quite qualify him for the Chase, but he's in ideal position to get there — all he has to do is start the race in Richmond, and he's in. So, unless Tonya Harding has some vendetta to settle against Busch, and therefore hires some goon to wack him in the knee, then he's a good bet to be in.
"Then take it to the bank," says Busch. "I'll be in. As soon as I take the green flag, I plan to come to a stop right in the middle of the track and celebrate my inclusion in the Chase."
Busch is the defending Cup champion, but right now, he's not even the favorite among Roush drivers to win the Cup. So, he can choose to make a statement and win in Richmond, or take it easy and coast in.
7. Jeremy Mayfield — With a 26th-place finish in California, Mayfield lost a spot in the points standings, falling to seventh, and failing to clinch a spot in the Chase. Mayfield would have surely scored a higher finish and clinched had a broken right front spring not compromised his car's handling late in the race.
"This time, just like last year, the pressure is on me to qualify in the Chase in the final race," explains Mayfield. "The pressure is a little lower this year, however, as I only have to finish 39th or better to get in. Last year, I had to win to get in. That's pressure!"
Mayfield is in, unless disaster strikes.
8. Carl Edwards — Edwards led a Roush sweep of the top four spots in qualifying, and backed up the pole with a fourth-place finish and led 21 laps. Edwards also controlled a 360-degree spin, recovering and keeping his No. 99 Ford off the wall.
"That was no spin," explains Edwards. "I was having trouble with tire grip, so I locked 'em up to heat up the tires. It worked. I finished fourth."
While his result in California did not officially lock up his spot in the Chase, it practically did. Probably remaining on the lead lap will be enough to clinch Edwards' spot. But a third win on the season would surely clinch with a flourish.
9. Matt Kenseth — Kenseth continued his furious run to the brink of the Chase, finishing seventh to vault into the top 10, up to ninth from 11th. It was Kenseth's third straight top-10, and as it stands now, Kenseth would be the last of five Roush drivers in the Chase.
"I was top dog at Roush once," explains Kenseth. "There was a time earlier in the season when I was the forgotten man, so I had to make up my mind to turn things around and get back on track, so to speak. I'm a former Cup champ — it was time to act like it."
Only 11 points separates Kenseth from the driver in 11th-place, Ryan Newman. Kenseth has six career top ten finishes at Richmond. That, coupled with the performance of Rousch cars lately, should ensure his spot in the Chase.
10. (tie) Jamie McMurray/Ryan Newman/Jeff Gordon/Elliott Sadler — Of these four, Sadler will have the most difficult time making the Chase — he will probably need a top-five, and hope for the other three to finish out of the top 20. The question remains: who wants it bad enough? None have shown that they do.
McMurray has hovered around the top 10 for much of the year, but has never remained there for any length of time. Newnam looked like a cinch for the Chase five races ago — since then, he's finished 30th or worse three times, with no top-10s. Even when Gordon was winning three races early in the year, inconsistency was an issue. Now, he's not winning, and he's consistently inconsistent. Of all four drivers, Gordon is the only one who could challenge for the title, provided he makes the Chase.
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