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NASCAR: The 20 Biggest Questions Heading Into The 2017 Season

By Christopher Olmstead

Nov 13, 2016; Avondale, AZ, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick (4) and driver Jimmie Johnson (48) and driver Matt Kenseth (20) compete during the Can-Am 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2016; Avondale, AZ, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick (4) and driver Jimmie Johnson (48) and driver Matt Kenseth (20) compete during the Can-Am 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 1, 2016; Long Pond, PA, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Ryan Blaney (21) races during the Pennsylvania 400 at Pocono Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 1, 2016; Long Pond, PA, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Ryan Blaney (21) races during the Pennsylvania 400 at Pocono Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports /

New Faces In The Chase?

Will the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series Chase bring with it a bunch of new faces? The absence of Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart automatically means that at least two non-Chasers from 2016 will make the Chase field in 2017.

Will there be more than two?

When it comes to looking at drivers who missed the Chase in 2016 but might make it in 2017, the list isn’t all that long. On the top of that list is Dale Earnhardt Jr. who will hopefully be running the full season with HMS this season. The next level of the list has Ryan Newman who with consistency should be back in 2017.

After that you have questions marks in Kasey Kahne, Clint Bowyer, Danica Patrick, Ryan Newman, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Trevor Bayne. Could any of the drivers listed on this slide make the Chase? Sure they could but in all likelihood, we might only see a couple of them do it.

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