Sizing up the Chase: Turn Four
We’re entering the home stretch of Ranting and Raving’s five part “Sizing up the Chase” miniseries. Today we will look at my predicted third place finisher as well as the promised MattHaggard swerve that was promised on Friday.
Onwards after the jump.
3. Tony Stewart, 3 Wins, 18 Top 10s, Average Finish: 9.1
No one expected Tony Stewart to win in 2009, yet he has. No one expected Tony Stewart to contend for a title this year and yet he has. And no one feels that Tony Stewart can win the championship…Get my point? Tony Stewart is John Locke; don’t tell him what he can’t do. Stewart, once NASCAR’s most turbulent spirit has now found inner-peace as the sport’s most successful owner-driver. Tony can win anywhere over the final ten and should win two. He will also suffer one untimely sub-40 finish that will erase his Chase chances. Tony Stewart wins the 2010 title but finishes third in 2009.
This is where you expect to read who dominates the Chase in 2009, right? Look no further. One man will dominate over the final ten races but will not win the championship in 2009…
13. Kyle Busch, 4 Wins, 9 Top 10s, Average Finish: 16.3
NASCAR’s most dominant driver over the course of the past two seasons got shut out of the playoffs in 2009. This occurred in a season in which he matched current points leader, Mark Martin, tic-for-tac over the first 26. Each man won four times and went on lengthy streaks that laid an early claim to the Cup in 2009. Fate was kind to Martin but equally unkind to Busch. Martin enters the Chase as the favorite while Kyle is on the outside looking in. No matter. Busch will go on yet another streak over the final ten, winning the most races and placing himself as the man to beat in 2010. Kyle finishes 13th.
Tomorrow: And the 2009 Sprint Cup Champion is…
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