NASCAR What If: The 2009 Chase Under 2014 Rules
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Round One Elimination
In the opening round of the chase Martin, Stewart and Johnson each won a race which moved them into the next 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.
- Mark Martin
- Jimmie Johnson
- Tony Stewart
- Juan Pablo Montoya
- Kurt Busch
- Jeff Gordon
- Denny Hamlin
- Greg Biffle
- Carl Edwards
- Ryan Newman
- David Reutimann
- Kyle Busch
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- 13th – Kasey Kahne (-8)
- 14th – Matt Kenseth (-19)
- 15th – Brian Vickers (-25)
- 16th – Joey Logano (-50)
There were not many surprises in the opening round of the 2009 chase. I guess you could say that Reutimann moving on was a surprise but you have to remember that he did win a race in 2009.