BRISTOL, Tenn. — New NASCAR rules this season created two wild cards into the 12-driver Chase field. The spots are designated for the two drivers with the most victories who aren’t already ranked inside the top 10 in points.
The format has created tremendous uncertainty as to who will make the Chase with two races remaining to set the field. Four drivers at the top of the standings — Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards — have clinched Chase berths, but of the “bubble” drivers, only Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin did anything to help themselves in Saturday night’s race.
Keselowski picked up his third win of the season, which should almost guarantee him one of the wild cards. It also moved him to 11th in the standings, and he’s only 21 points away from unseating Tony Stewart for the 10th position and locking in his berth.
“Who’s 10th? Is it Tony? Tony is pretty good,” Keselowski said. “Beating Tony Stewart by an average of 10 positions over two races, that’s going to be pretty tough, to be honest.”
Try telling that to Stewart, who hasn’t run well lately and struggled to a 28th-place finish Saturday.
The Associated Press
