From the Crossville Chronicle – Crossville, TN. Wednesday Sept. 10, 2008
By Joe Dunn / joe@onpitroad.com
Jimmie Johnson wins again at Richmond and appears to be on a roll as the Chase begins this week at New Hampshire. Clint Bowyer edged out David Ragan and Kasey Kahne for the final spot in the Chase.
With the threat of Tropical Storm Hanna approaching the coast, officials at Richmond International Raceway scurried to save the race weekend. They postponed all activities from qualifying to the Nationwide and Sprint Cup races scheduled on Friday and Saturday. Instead the starting line ups were set by points with the Sprint Cup race on Sunday afternoon, followed by the Nationwide Series race.
In a 10 lap shootout at the end of the race it was Johnson inching by Tony Stewart for the win as he set the tone for his quest to claim a third Sprint Cup Championship. As expected, Dale Earnhardt Jr and Kyle Busch again raced each other hard, but this time it was Busch who spun out and took the damage, limping to a 15 place finish ahead of only one other chase contender, Matt Kenseth, who never recovered after tangling with teammate David Reagan early in the race. The debut of Joe Gibbs Racing phenom, Joey Logano slated for Richmond had to be delayed when qualifying was cancelled. One of the biggest surprises of the day was David Reutimann in the UPS car as he lead the most laps and finished 9th.
So as we head into the final ten races of 2008 here is how the field is set for The Chase:
1) #18-Kyle Busch 5080 [8 wins x 10 bonus pts]
2) #99-Carl Edwards 5050 [6 wins, 5 wins x 10 pts = 50pts*]
3) #48-Jimmie Johnson 5040 [4 wins]
4) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. 5010 [1 win, 2nd, 3rd, 3-4ths]
5) #07-Clint Bowyer 5010 [1 win, 2nd, 3rd, 4th]
6) #11-Denny Hamlin 5010 [1 win, 7-3rds]
7) #31-Jeff Burton 5010 [1 win, 1-3rd]
8) #20-Tony Stewart 5000 [3-2nds]
9) #16-Greg Biffle 5000 [2-2nds]
10) #24-Jeff Gordon 5000 [1-2nd, 3-3rds]
11) #29-Kevin Harvick 5000 [1-2nd, 1-3rd]
12) #17-Matt Kenseth 5000 [2-3rds]
* lost the bonus for win at Las Vegas due to penalty
To start the Chase, all 12 drivers have their point totals reset to 5,000.
After the reset, Chase drivers get 10 bonus points for each victory thus far this season.
Those new totals produce the Chase seeding.
For drivers starting the Chase with identical point totals, their seeding are determined by the traditional tiebreaker of best finishes beyond race victories.
