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A NASCAR BLOG BY Rea White
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The race for the top 12 in points is heating up
Jul
25
This weekend's race could be an interesting outing for the drivers holding down the top 14 positions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings.
With the Chase For The NASCAR Sprint Cup a mere seven races away, the group battling for the 12 spots will be forced to make some crucial decisions in the coming races. Do they play it safe, hoping to protect their position and ease into the Chase? Or do they begin to gamble on fuel strategy and pit calls, trying to pick up crucial positions - and points - in each of the races.
Seventh and 13th position are separated by 62 points entering this stretch. Richard Childress Racing's Clint Bowyer is currently the man outside the top 12, but that 13th position has changed hands repeatedly in the past few weeks. Bowyer and his team have consistently remained in the top 12 for the majority of the season, and it's difficult to believe they won't be in that championship-contending group seven weeks from now.
And the race isn't just between those top 13. Red Bull Racing's Brian Vickers is 14th, 95 points outside of the top 12, and Roush Fenway Racing's David Ragan is 15th, an additional three points away from a Chase berth. Count on this pair to be using daring strategy down the stretch to try to make a last leap into that elite group.
They face a diverse group of tracks, several of which have proven to be difficult on drivers when it comes to passing. Track position will be key in this closing stretch. Will that lead to a Chase field that is determined by pit calls?
That's certainly possible at this point.
With the Chase For The NASCAR Sprint Cup a mere seven races away, the group battling for the 12 spots will be forced to make some crucial decisions in the coming races. Do they play it safe, hoping to protect their position and ease into the Chase? Or do they begin to gamble on fuel strategy and pit calls, trying to pick up crucial positions - and points - in each of the races.
Seventh and 13th position are separated by 62 points entering this stretch. Richard Childress Racing's Clint Bowyer is currently the man outside the top 12, but that 13th position has changed hands repeatedly in the past few weeks. Bowyer and his team have consistently remained in the top 12 for the majority of the season, and it's difficult to believe they won't be in that championship-contending group seven weeks from now.
And the race isn't just between those top 13. Red Bull Racing's Brian Vickers is 14th, 95 points outside of the top 12, and Roush Fenway Racing's David Ragan is 15th, an additional three points away from a Chase berth. Count on this pair to be using daring strategy down the stretch to try to make a last leap into that elite group.
They face a diverse group of tracks, several of which have proven to be difficult on drivers when it comes to passing. Track position will be key in this closing stretch. Will that lead to a Chase field that is determined by pit calls?
That's certainly possible at this point.
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Comments
1 response to "The race for the top 12 in points is heating up"
Chazzo Ozzahc said:
Jul 25, 2008 at 7:49 AM...THANKS FOR STATING THE OBVIOUS.....
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