Note: the quotes in this article are fictional.
1. Matt Kenseth — Kenseth assumed the points lead with a seventh-place finish at California, his 15th top-10 of the year. He edged past Jimmie Johnson in the points, and now leads him by nine points.
"I guess you would have to say I'm the favorite to win the Cup now," says Kenseth. "And I seem to be the only member of the Roush Racing family that can handle the pressure to make the Chase. Those other guys need to adjust the 'choke' setting in their engines."
2. Jimmie Johnson — Johnson, who had led the points since Daytona, relinquished the lead to Matt Kenseth, and now trails by nine heading into the final race before the Chase begins.
"You've heard of football teams resting their starters when they've clinched a playoff spot?" asks Johnson. "We've do that as well. In fact, I wasn't even driving the car. Hendrick let their fourth-stringer take the wheel — that would have been Brian Vickers."
3. Jeff Gordon — Gordon's tenth top-five of the year, a fifth in Fontana, all but sealed him a spot in the Chase. He trails points leader Matt Kenseth by 387, and is 102 ahead of Kasey Kahne in eleventh.
"It would have been nice to win a race in my state of birth," says Gordon. "And with esteemed California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in attendance. That dude really pumps me up.”
4. Kevin Harvick — Harvick finished 15th in Fontana, and remained third in the points, where he trails Matt Kenseth by 342 points. Harvick clinches a spot in the Chase with a 40th or better finish in Richmond.
"I could do that blindfolded," says Harvick, "and in reverse. And, I could probably finish 40th in all of the remaining eleven Busch races and still clinch the title."
5. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. — Earnhardt's runner-up finish in Fontana solidified his Chase hopes, improving his standing in the points from ninth to sixth. In Richmond, Earnhardt simply needs a finish of sixteenth or better to clinch his place in the Chase.
“I've got to hand it to my crew chief, Tony Eury,” says Earnhardt. “A couple of weeks ago, he told me I needed to get into the 'zone.' Well, I took his advice and went to Auto Zone. But Tony cleared it up and told me he didn't mean Auto Zone. He meant the 'zone.' I'm in it, now.”
6. Kyle Busch — Busch needs a finish of 22nd or better in Richmond to punch his ticket to the Chase. After an eighth in Fontana, Busch stands 394 out of first and 95 ahead of Kasey Kahne in 11th.
"I've got to keep my eyes on Kahne on Sunday," says Busch. "He can be a very intimidating driver, like he was in last Saturday's Busch race when his car sported the Snuggle Fabric Softener paint scheme. Almost as intimidating as my car with Tony the Tiger on the hood.”
7. Denny Hamlin — Hamlin's 13th top-10 result of the year put his Chase aspirations in good standing. With a finish of 16th or better in Richmond, Hamlin clinches a spot in the Chase.
"Who would have thought that the rookie teammate of the defending Nextel Cup champion would be in such a good position?" says Hamlin. "Certainly not Tony Stewart. But Tony has really given me some great advice this year — fortunately, I haven't taken any of it.”
8. Tony Stewart — Stewart finished ninth in the California 500, and maintained his position of eighth in the points standings. He is only 45 points ahead of Kasey Kahne in 11th.
"It's like my good friend Alfred E. Neumann from Mad Magazine always says,” Stewart comments. “'What, me worry?' I'll be in the Chase to defend my title. NASCAR wants a bag guy — I'm that bad guy.”
9, 10, 11 (tie). Mark Martin/Jeff Burton/Kasey Kahne — The final two spots in the Chase will go to one of these three drivers. Martin rebounded from his 28th in Bristol to post a 12th in California. Burton finished 16th at Fontana and trails Martin by two points. Kahne did what he absolutely had to do in Fontana: win while leading the most laps.
"I guess we better get used to hearing David Bowie's 'Under Pressure,' says Kahne. "And Queen's 'Another One Bites the Dust.' And Beck's 'Loser.' They all will apply to someone on Saturday.”
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