bigbadbrother
10-30-2016, 10:00 PM
Tom Jensen
Sprint Cup Round of 8 Chase grid after Martinsville
The first race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Round of 8 is now in the books, with Jimmie Johnson overcoming early obstacles to score a dramatic victory and lock himself into a chance to win the championship in three weeks at Homestead. Here are the point totals for all eight Chase drivers following the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway.
1
Jimmie Johnson, 4044 points
Just before the Lap 200 mark, Johnson had contact with both AJ Allmendinger and Denny Hamlin that damaged the nose of his car. At that point, it looked like he’d be lucky to get a top 10. Instead, he drove to victory and punched his ticket to Homestead-Miami Speedway and a shot at a seventh NASCAR Premier Series title.
2
Denny Hamlin, 4039
For the 10th time this year, Hamlin was caught speeding on pit road. Still, he recovered and drove back to the front, only to be run down late and passed by Johnson first and then Brad Keselowski. Still, a solid start to this round of the Chase for Hamlin.
3
Matt Kenseth, 4039
After leading 176 of 500 laps, Kenseth ran well from start to finish, but over the final 100 laps of the race, neither he nor his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota teammates Kyle Busch or Denny Hamlin had anything for race-winner Jimmie Johnson.
4
Kyle Busch, 4037
All four Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas were fast in the race, including Busch. Fifth place wasn’t bad for Busch, but he won here in the spring, so this finish was a disappointment. And Joe Gibbs Racing still hasn’t won a race in this year’s Chase.
5
Joey Logano, 4033
After qualifying second and leading 21 laps early, Logano wasn’t a real factor in the outcome of the race, which was actually somewhat surprising given the speed he showed earlier in the weekend.
6
Kevin Harvick, 4021
It was not a good day at all for Harvick or any of the four Stewart-Haas Racing cars. Of course, the last race of this round of the Chase will be at Phoenix, where Harvick has won five of the last six races.
7
Kurt Busch, 4019
Frankly, Busch wasn’t competitive all day, but neither were any of his Stewart-Haas Racing teammates. He might have to win next week at Texas to advance to the championship round.
8
Carl Edwards, 4005
Edwards was busted for speeding on his first pit stop. That was bad, but his day got worse when he blew a right-front tire shortly before the three-quarter mark of the race. He is now in a deep points hole.
Sprint Cup Round of 8 Chase grid after Martinsville
The first race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Round of 8 is now in the books, with Jimmie Johnson overcoming early obstacles to score a dramatic victory and lock himself into a chance to win the championship in three weeks at Homestead. Here are the point totals for all eight Chase drivers following the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway.
1
Jimmie Johnson, 4044 points
Just before the Lap 200 mark, Johnson had contact with both AJ Allmendinger and Denny Hamlin that damaged the nose of his car. At that point, it looked like he’d be lucky to get a top 10. Instead, he drove to victory and punched his ticket to Homestead-Miami Speedway and a shot at a seventh NASCAR Premier Series title.
2
Denny Hamlin, 4039
For the 10th time this year, Hamlin was caught speeding on pit road. Still, he recovered and drove back to the front, only to be run down late and passed by Johnson first and then Brad Keselowski. Still, a solid start to this round of the Chase for Hamlin.
3
Matt Kenseth, 4039
After leading 176 of 500 laps, Kenseth ran well from start to finish, but over the final 100 laps of the race, neither he nor his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota teammates Kyle Busch or Denny Hamlin had anything for race-winner Jimmie Johnson.
4
Kyle Busch, 4037
All four Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas were fast in the race, including Busch. Fifth place wasn’t bad for Busch, but he won here in the spring, so this finish was a disappointment. And Joe Gibbs Racing still hasn’t won a race in this year’s Chase.
5
Joey Logano, 4033
After qualifying second and leading 21 laps early, Logano wasn’t a real factor in the outcome of the race, which was actually somewhat surprising given the speed he showed earlier in the weekend.
6
Kevin Harvick, 4021
It was not a good day at all for Harvick or any of the four Stewart-Haas Racing cars. Of course, the last race of this round of the Chase will be at Phoenix, where Harvick has won five of the last six races.
7
Kurt Busch, 4019
Frankly, Busch wasn’t competitive all day, but neither were any of his Stewart-Haas Racing teammates. He might have to win next week at Texas to advance to the championship round.
8
Carl Edwards, 4005
Edwards was busted for speeding on his first pit stop. That was bad, but his day got worse when he blew a right-front tire shortly before the three-quarter mark of the race. He is now in a deep points hole.