NASCAR What If: The 2004 Chase Under 2014 Rules
USA Today Sports
Round One Elimination
In the opening round of the chase Kurt Busch, Ryan Newman and Dale Earnhardt Jr. each won races and clinched a spot in the second round. After the first three races of the chase 12 drivers moved on and four missed the cut as seen below, the drivers are ranked according to the points they had after the first three races even though points reset before the next round.
- Kurt Busch
- Ryan Newman
- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
- Jeff Gordon
- Mark Martin
- Jamie McMurray
- Kevin Harvick
- Matt Kenseth
- Elliott Sadler
- Tony Stewart
- Jimmie Johnson
- Rusty Wallace
——————————————————–
- 13th – Greg Biffle (-15)
- 14th – Bobby Labonte (-18)
- 15th – Kasey Kahne (-23)
- 16th – Jeremy Mayfield (-29)
The only real surprise from the opening round of the chase would have been Mayfield. Mayfield had won twice in 2004 and would have been expected to make it out of the opening round of the chase.