Filed under: Chase for the Sprint Cup, Sprint Cup
Here's a quick look at how each contender in the NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup will start when the field takes the green flag Sunday afternoon at Dover International Raceway for the second race in the ten race run.
Jeff Gordon - Starting: 1st - Chase Spot: 11th - A pole for Gordon is best way to start off a weekend that is as close to a must-win situation as he'll get in the Chase if he wants to find himself in any sort of contention to be in position to win the championship.
Denny Hamlin - Starting: 3rd - Chase Spot: 6th - It's been a year and a half since Hamlin has had a good run at Dover. He'll need to find one after slipping back late in the race last week at New Hampshire.
Greg Biffle - Starting: 5th - Chase Spot: 3rd - Biffle's win a week ago should serve as a warning to the rest of the field, especially coming to Dover where he has a win and four top-5 finishes in his career.
Clint Bowyer - Starting: 6th - Chase Spot: 9th - FanHouse classified Bowyer as a "Chase loser" after last week's race at New Hampshire thanks to a lower-than-anticpated finish. He'll need to capitalize on his high starting spot Sunday to get out of that hole.
Matt Kenseth - Starting 8th - Chase Spot: 12th - If Bowyer was a Chase loser last week, then Kenseth was off the charts. Dover -- a track that he's won at before -- is also a virtual must-win after crashing out last week. That type of finish doesn't feel like its in the cards, though.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. - Starting 10th - Chase Spot: 4th - The number one thing on Earnhardt Jr.'s mind this weekend at Dover? He just wants to finish on the lead lap after getting wrecked there before lap 20 in June.
Kyle Busch - Starting: 11th - Chase Spot: 8th - It won't take long for Busch to find his way into the Top-5 on Sunday for two reasons: 1) He dominated this race in June and 2) he's got vindication on the mind after a miserable race at New Hampshire a week ago.
Jimmie Johnson - Starting: 20th - Chase Spot: 1st (tied) - Johnson's qualifying effort likely isn't indicative of the speed of his race car for Sunday's race, as he was second-fastest in practice on Friday. The No. 48 will be a contender.
Jeff Burton - Starting 21st - Chase Spot: 5th - In 2006, Burton took the Sprint Cup point lead after a win at Dover in the Chase. Can he repeat on Sunday? And if he does, will anyone notice?
Carl Edwards - Starting: 22nd - Chase Spot: 1st (tied) - I'll be awfully surprised is Edwards finishes the weekend in the mediocre spot he's starting in. After all, he's "Concrete Carl" for a reason.
Kevin Harvick - Starting: 24th - Chase Spot: 10th - Harvick has been so consistent for the past two months that it doesn't seem like a middle-of-the-road starting spot will sway him much.
Tony Stewart - Starting: 33rd - Chase Spot: 7th - Stewart's got two career wins at Dover but he certainly isn't starting the second race in the Chase off on the right foot.
