With the Atlanta race now in the books, we now know what the NASCAR Chase scenarios are for the final race of the regular season.
2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Point Standings, Chase Outlook After Atlanta
Here are the basics: There are two spots in the top 10 and one spot in the wild card race that are not clinched (nine of the 12 overall playoff spots are taken).
The focus of Richmond will be primarily based on if a driver can win the race and pass Denny Hamlin for the final wild card spot. It’s unlikely Brad Keselowski would make the top 10 and open a second wild card unless Dale Earnhardt Jr. or Tony Stewart has a problem.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings and Chase outlook after Atlanta:
- Jimmie Johnson (Clinched)
- Kyle Busch (Clinched)
- Carl Edwards (Clinched)
- Matt Kenseth (Clinched)
- Jeff Gordon (Clinched)
- Kevin Harvick (Clinched)
- Kurt Busch (Clinched)
- Ryan Newman (Clinched)
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. +25 points inside Chase...can clinch with 20th or better at Richmond
- Tony Stewart +23 points inside Chase...can clinch with 18th or better at Richmond
- Brad Keselowski (clinched No. 1 Wild Card spot)
- Denny Hamlin (holds No. 2 Wild Card spot...can only be caught if AJ Allmendinger, Clint Bowyer, Greg Biffle, Martin Truex Jr. or Kasey Kahne WIN Richmond AND pass Hamlin in points)
- AJ Allmendinger – Needs to win Richmond and gain 12 points on Hamlin
- Clint Bowyer – Needs to win Richmond and gain 13 points on Hamlin
- Greg Biffle – Needs to win Richmond and gain 29 points on Hamlin
- Martin Truex Jr. – Needs to win Richmond and gain 34 points on Hamlin or hope Keselowski gets into top 10
- Kasey Kahne – Must win Richmond and hope Keselowski gets into top 10
- Joey Logano – Must win Richmond and hope Keselowski gets into top 10
- Mark Martin – Must win Richmond and hope Keselowski gets into top 10
- Paul Menard – Must win Richmond OR stay in top 20 and hope Keselowski gets into top 10
- Marcos Ambrose – Must get into top 20 AND either win Richmond OR hope Keselowski gets into top 10
- Juan Pablo Montoya – Must win Richmond, get into top 20 and hope Keselowski gets into top 10
- David Ragan – Must get into top 20 AND either win Richmond OR hope Keselowski gets into top 10
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