The following is a projected seeding for the 2013 Chase for the Sprint Cup. Seeding is based upon a driver’s performance thus far in the season as well as the projected performance of a driver based on their history. This is similar to most power rankings but focuses on the seeding for the Chase while also recognizing race-to-race performance.
May 26, 2013; Concord, NC, USA; Cars sit on pit row during a red flag after a overhead TV camera support cable broke during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
1. Matt Kenseth – 3 wins, 3 top 5s, 7 top 10s
2. Jimmie Johnson – 2 wins, 6 top 5s, 8 top 10s
3. Kasey Kahne – 1 win, 5 top 5s, 6 top 10s
4. Kyle Busch – 2 wins, 5 top 5s, 6 top 10s
5. Carl Edwards – 1 win, 5 top 5s, 7 top 10s
6. Kevin Harvick – 2 wins, 3 top 5s, 4 top 10s
7. Clint Bowyer – 4 top 5s, 6 top 10s
8. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. – 3 top 5s, 7 top 10s
9. Brad Keselowski – 4 top 5s, 7 top 10s
10. Martin Truex, Jr. – 2 top 5s, 5 top 10s
11. Jeff Gordon (Wild Card) – 2 top 5s, 3 top 10s
12. Kurt Busch (Wild Card) – 3 top 5s, 4 top 10s
Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne have established themselves as the three main drivers to be reckoned with. Even though Kenseth and Johnson fell out of contention Sunday night in the Coca-Cola 600, both drivers were serious contenders to win.
Kevin Harvick has really stepped up his game in recent weeks, winning at Richmond and now Charlotte. Even if he falls out of the top 10 in standings, it is highly likely that his two victories will secure a position for him for the Chase.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Brad Keselowski had bad luck in the 600 and have not ran all that great lately. Earnhardt has seemed to be the more competitive of the two as he has run in the top 10. Keselowski on the other hand has looked out to lunch the past several weeks, a disturbing sign for the defending Sprint Cup champion.
Jeff Gordon was having a solid performance Sunday night until getting caught up in a wreck in the race’s latter stages. Kurt Busch and his Furniture Row team have really stepped up their game the past few weeks and if they can continue their upward trend, Busch could make his way into the top 10 in points.
Just missing the cut: Paul Menard, Aric Almirola, Greg Biffle, Jamie McMurray, Ryan Newman
Paul Menard and Aric Almirola face the same conundrum in that both drivers have relied on getting solid finishes inside the top 20 while only leading a combined five laps thus far into the season. This method will eventually fail, especially with the competition both drivers have nipping at their heels in the standings.
Greg Biffle and his team are in real trouble. The 16 car hasn’t had a top 10 run in six races and worse, Biffle has mostly ran mid-pack throughout those six events. Jamie McMurray finished 19th Saturday night and it seems apparent that he and his team’s early season run has come to a conclusion.
On the fence: Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Joey Logano, Tony Stewart, Jeff Burton, Denny Hamlin
Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. has knocked out solid finishes lately but needs to start finishing in the top 10 more often before he can start thinking about making the Chase. Joey Logano had a good night at Charlotte. Don’t be surprised to see the 22 running up front in the coming weeks.
Tony Stewart had his best run of 2013, leading six laps and finishing seventh. The question is how much the high attrition in the race helped Stewart get that finish or if his team has found something to improve the 14 car’s performance. Denny Hamlin did what he needed to do by finishing in the top five. However, he only led six laps after starting from the pole which might be a cause for concern considering Hamlin will almost certainly have to get multiple wins to make the Chase if/when he moved into the top 20 in points.