by John Wiedemann
8/21/2008 Three to go. Probably the biggest game changer is the Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend. With 43 cars packed into a half-mile track, incidents happen quickly and often. Getting out of Bristol with a top ten is key for half of the current Chase 12.
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RacingNation.com Power Rankings – Race For The Chase 1. Kyle Busch (+720 points over 13th) All he should care about is winning races and keeping those bonus points from falling into others hands. 2. Carl Edwards (+498 points over 13th) Edwards seems to be the hottest driver out there right now. A Championship to Busch was thought to be a done deal earlier in the year not anymore. 3. Jimmie Johnson (+418 points over 13th) Quietly, Johnson has moved up in the points and could be one to challenge the top two to repeat as Champion in 2008. 4. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (+375 points over 13th) Fans are all over Dale and crew chief Tony Eury Jr. for not being able to close the deal and win races. Well, Bristol would be a good place to calm the masses. 5. Jeff Burton (+371 points over 13th) Burton won the Bristol race in the spring and is very comfortable in the points. Another win and the corresponding bonus points would set him up pretty nice in the Chase. 6. Tony Stewart (+162 points over 13th) Since Stewart made his 2009 plans known, he has been running really strong. He could be getting ready to peak at just the right time, the Chase. 7. Greg Biffle (+145 points over 13th) Biffle, Biffle, Biffle. Still hasn’t shown that front running ability for more than three races at a time. It has to be there, just waiting for him to show it. Maybe he is holding back for the Chase. 8. Kevin Harvick (+103 points over 13th) Harvick looked like he would be the one to fall out of the Chase just a couple races ago. Showing how quickly fortunes can change, he now is moving back up. Some of that movement is due to others failings, but he could be on the edge of a hot streak. 9. Jeff Gordon (+82 points over 13th) Gordon seems to be dropping like a rock. Suprisingly, a few weeks ago, he was in a pretty safe position. But, the last two races have really hurt his standings. Still, one would have to think that Gordon should be able to spin his fortunes around. Bristol would be a great place to start. 10. Matt Kenseth (+74 points over 13th) Kenseth has been slowly climbing again and comments made during testing could point to even better finishes for him and his Roush-Fenway teamates. 11. Kasey Kahne (+47 points over 13th) Kasey should be looking for a godd result this week to cushion himself from the bottom of the Chase 12. Bristol has been a good track for him and his current position in the points requires a great finish. 12. Denny Hamlin (+26 points over 13th) Denny has really dropped and his negative comments towards his team in the press can’t be helping the situation at all. While he may be speaking the truth, some things are better left unsaid or kept in the shop. That said, a win this week would go a long way to mending fences. 12. Clint Bowyer (-26 points behind 12th) Bristol should be a good track for Bowyer and would be a great time to him to pounce while others are failing. 14. David Ragan (+26 points behind 12th) Ragan has a great chance of making it in, but this race was horrible for him last year with multiple spins on the high banks of Bristol. David has improved this year and now is the time to show it. Not Likely To Make The Chase 15. Brian Vickers -166 points behind 12th. 16. Martin Truex Jr. -201 points behind 12th. (guess that penalty really hurt) 17. Ryan Newman -211 points behind 12th. If the Chase Started Now: 1. KYLE BUSCH 5080 2. CARL EDWARDS 5040 3. JIMMIE JOHNSON 5020 KASEY KAHNE 5020 5. DALE EARNHARDT, JR 5010 JEFF BURTON 5010 DENNY HAMLIN 5010 CLINT BOWYER 5010 9. JEFF GORDON 5000 GREG BIFFLE 5000 TONY STEWART 5000 MATT KENSETH 5000