Note: the quotes in this article are fictional.
1. Tony Stewart — Stewart is back on top of the points after a week's absence, finishing second at Talladega for the second time this year. Stewart rebounded from his 18th-place finish at Dover to reclaim to points lead from Jimmie Johnson, who finished 31st at Talladega.
"At this point, the win is not that important," says Stewart, "unless you're somebody like Dale Jarrett, who's got nothing left to race for except a paycheck. Me, I'm racing for the Cup title, and the fame that comes with it, which I'll use to push my 'Smoke' BBQ sauce to the American public."
Stewart finished 14th at Kansas last year, and a comparable finish would keep him in the top two in points. The whereabouts of Ryan Newman will be on Stewart's mind in Kansas, as Newman is the only driver in range to overtake the points.
2. Ryan Newman — Newman continues to save his best for last, reaching the cusp of the points lead with a fourth-place at Talladega, earning his third top five in three Chase races. Advancing one spot in the rankings to two, Newman trails leader Stewart by only four points.
"And I would have been the leader had NASCAR not bumped me down from third to fourth," complains Newman. "I hate this instant replay deal when the field is frozen at a caution, unless I'm the one being awarded a higher spot. Then I'm okay with it."
Newman remains the biggest surprise of the Chase, nine positions higher than his original starting-place of tenth. If he is to remain near the top, Newman must improve on his 33rd-place finish at Kansas last year.
3. Rusty Wallace — Wallace's 25th-place finish cost him only one position in the points — he fell from second to third. However, he lost 69 points to the lead; before Talladega, Wallace trailed then-leader Jimmie Johnson by seven points. Now, he trails Stewart by 76 points.
"Again, I'd like to thank my old pal Ryan Newman for this," says Wallace. "He caused the wreck that damaged my car, and my title hopes. I don't know what Ryan's more determined to do — win the Cup, or make my final year as miserable as possible."
Wallace could very well gain ground at Kansas Speedway, where he scored top five finishes in 2001 and 2002.
4. Jimmie Johnson — Was Johnson to blame for the accident on lap that involved eight cars and led to Michael Waltrip's somersaulting car?
"That all depends on whom you ask," replies Johnson. "Ask me, and I'll tell you it wasn't my fault. Ask anyone else, including the other 42 drivers in the race, those in attendance, and the millions watching worldwide, and they will tell you, 'Yeah, it was Johnson's fault.' That's not unanimous, so I'm innocent."
Johnson eventually finished 31st, and he dropped from the top of the points to fourth, 82 points behind Stewart. Last year in Kansas, Johnson finished 32nd, then reeled off three straight wins to get himself back in Chase contention.
5. Greg Biffle — Like Wallace, Biffle was victimized by the same wreck that scrapped Wallace, and Biffle finished 27th. He lost only one points position and is now fourth, but lost 75 points to the lead.
"You know," says Biffle, "there's been enough badmouthing going around after Talladega. So, I won't name names. But whoever drives that No. 12 car is a no-driving lunatic. His initials are R.N. and he finished fourth. See, I didn't mention a single name."
The 1.5 mile tri-oval set-up in Kansas should play right into the strengths of the Roush Racing stable. Last year, Biffle finished third there, so he should gain some ground on the leaders.
6. Matt Kenseth — Kenseth finished third at Talladega, leading 23 laps on the way to his best finish ever at the track. He moves up two-places to number seven in the points, 111 behind Stewart.
"I hate to bring up the name Ryan Newman again," says Kenseth. "But he almost stole third-place from me until NASCAR straightened things out after the race. If he's not causing wrecks, he's trying to steal-places."
Kenseth hopes to lead a Roush resurgence at Kansas. Kenseth finished 17th there last year; he needs a vast improvement on that to make headway in the points.
7. Mark Martin — Martin took the biggest hit in the points; he dropped five places to ninth as a result of his 41st-place finish. The No. 6 Ford was collected in the lap 18 pileup triggered by contact between Jimmie Johnson, Elliott Sadler, and Dale Earnhardt.
"The No. 48, the No. 38, and the No. 8 car involved in a crash," says Martin. "And I was behind it all. I guess you would call that 'being behind the eight ball.' And I paid for it."
It was Martin's first finish out of the top ten in three Chase races. He looks to rebound in Kansas, where he has finished 20th in consecutive years.
8. Kurt Busch — Despite his first finish better than 23rd since the Chase started, Busch still lost ground to the points. Busch trailed Jimmie Johnson by 170 pre-Talladega — now, he stands 180 behind Stewart.
"Man, that is discouraging," says Busch. "I finished eighth, and lead a few laps, and I lose ground. Even my good luck is bad. I think I'd rather just finish 43rd if this is what a top ten will get me."
Busch can find hope in the upcoming race at Kansas Speedway. Last year, he finished sixth on his way to the Cup championship.
9. Carl Edwards — Believe it or not, Edwards is ranked higher in the points than three of his four Roush teammates. With his fifth-place at Talladega, Edwards advanced two spots to sixth in the points, ahead of Matt Kenseth, Mark Martin, and Kurt Busch.
"Who says I'm the weak link on this Roush team?" asks Edwards. "Maybe I'm not the fastest Roush driver, but I'm certainly the most talented at avoiding accidents that wreck your Chase standing."
Edwards has two straight top-10 finishes in his Chase quest. In his only Cup start in Kansas, Edwards finished 22nd in the Banquet 400 last year. Expect him to approach the top-15 this time out.
10. Jeremy Mayfield — Mayfield finished 14th at Talladega, following teammate Kasey Kahne in 13th to give Evernham Motorsports two in the top 15. Mayfield is in eighth in the points, 112 out of first, and only 30 away from fourth-place.
"I know it seems like I'm just languishing in the seventh through ninth position," says Mayfield, "but I'm just biding my time. I'm just a country boy from Kentucky, and I talk much slower than I race. I guess you could say I'm laid back."
Well, Jeremy, maybe you should show a little more aggression. Your results so far in the Chase have been solid, with nothing worse than 16th. Solid won't win the Cup — spectacular will.
Mayfield's been more than solid the last two years at Kansas, with a third in 2003 and a fifth in 2004.
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