Chase Drivers Make Chase Predictions...Read Theirs, Then Tell Us Yours

By now, you’ve read enough of the media speculation about which driver will win the Chase. Here’s what the drivers themselves have to say about how they think the Chase will unfold. After reading their predictions, tell us what you think will happen in the comments section below.

Greg Biffle:

I think that I am capable of winning it. I think Jeff Burton is capable of winning it. I think that Tony Stewart is capable of winning it. I could go down the list, you know what I mean? I think that every one of us really are capable of winning the championship.

Although some of us haven’t had the stellar performance. You look at Jeff Gordon, he hasn’t performed that great, but he is totally capable of winning this championship. So is Kevin, Jimmie, Denny Hamlin. I look at the 12 guys being the closest competitive-wise and the way they are running, if you look at their last six or eight races and look at what they have done. Man, it is a really close Chase, probably one of the closest.

Clint Bowyer:

Consistency always wins championships. I think it is going to be even more crucial this time around. You don’t have dominant race cars like you did the last couple of years with Jimmie Johnson and the Hendrick Motorsports camp. You are actually seeing Superman struggle a little bit and everybody has caught up to them. Everybody has learned from them and the pace they set. I think everybody has caught up a little bit.

I really do believe going into Homestead, you are going to have three-to-six cars in a legit shot for the championship. I just think that is how close the racing is these days and the one that can stay the most consistent is going to be the one that comes out on top.

Jeff Burton:

It’s hard to say a four-time champion is not the favorite. I think it’s fair to say that he is the favorite based on their reputation and what they’ve been able to do. Don’t forget they’ve won a lot of races this year too.

But they are vulnerable as everybody is vulnerable. There is no team in any situation that is not vulnerable. Tiger Woods is vulnerable; the Lakers are vulnerable; the Yankees are vulnerable; everybody is. Duke’s not, but everybody else is.

Kurt Busch:

Just being able to stay out of trouble is going to be key. With double-file restarts and a lot of different teams gain (spots) at the end of the races, you don’t want to fall into other team’s traps. If they’re just trying to do two tires to gain all that track position and search for a 10th-place finish, that’s what they’re going to do. You just have to run your own race.

I always believed that the Chase is about consistency, not make any mistakes and most importantly, be competitive. That’s where we’re in the mix. We’re competitive and there are just so many good times out there that it’s going to be hard to know who has the advantage going in.

Kyle Busch:

Carl Edwards:

I feel like Jimmie has had an unbelievable ability to perform in the Chase and win championships, but I think all of these guys, everyone would agree that it’s anyone’s race more than ever this year. It looks like advantages are smaller and they last a shorter period of time.

So over these ten races...I think it’s anybody’s. To me it feels like that’s truer than ever. But I wouldn’t be surprised if Jimmie comes out here and goes off and wins the first three or something and proves us wrong, but I don’t believe he’ll do that.

Jeff Gordon:

Yeah, maybe there’s no clear-cut favorite right now, the way the past 26 races have gone. But I’ve seen how the team that really is going to go win this championship seems to be pretty clear in the past, anyway, four or five races into the Chase, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that happens again this year.

But certainly right now, the thing that is exciting is that it’s really hard to predict who that is going to be. You know, I think it’s exciting for the sport right now of how competitive and close the competition is.

Denny Hamlin

I don’t see anybody running away with this Chase. I think it’s going to be tight all the way down to the end and you’re probably going to see three or four guys with a legitimate shot to win the championship in the last race. That’s something that you really couldn’t say in years past.

Someone could prove me wrong and really go on a tear, but I feel like there’s really been inconsistency with all race teams other than the 29 all year long. No one’s really stepped up and been consistent over a 10-week period. It’s tough for me to say who’s going to do that.

Jimmie Johnson:

Looking at the last month, the 99, the 18, the 11, hopefully us, 29; I think you’ve got five or six cars that can really race for the championship. And then when you get outside of that, I think there are some guys that are finding speed. We saw the 16 at Pocono. I think Clint and his team, they seem to be collecting a lot of points and running well. I know the 2 has it in him. He’s got some good tracks coming up.

I think this year, it’s really tough, because you have some streaky guys and the 29 that’s been pretty consistent and the 24 that’s been really consistent. I don’t know how to handicap it or who to fear the most because everyone has it in them.

Matt Kenseth:

They are all tough. Every race is tough. Just watching from the outside, if I go home watching races, it is hard to pick a favorite right now. There have been different parts of the season where guys look really strong and then they struggle a little bit. I think until somebody beats the 48 it is still theirs.