The NASCAR regular season comes to a close Saturday, and several prominent drivers will enter the race with work to do if they are going to claim one of the remaining spots in the NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup. Six of the 10 spots have been clinched, leaving 10 drivers competing for the final four spots.
NASCAR Richmond 2013: Lineup, starting grid for Federated Auto Parts 400
There are a few desperate drivers at the front of Saturday’s starting grid, including Jeff Gordon and Kurt Busch.
Streeter Lecka
Jeff Gordon is among those attempting to drive his way into the Chase and he will begin the race in front as he captured the pole during qualifying. He’s attempting to run down Kurt Busch, who begins the race in the 10th spot, but he won’t have much of a head start. Busch qualified second and will start on the front row next to Gordon.
Brad Keselowski is also in the mix for one of the final spots and he starts just behind Gordon and Busch from the No. 3 position. Of the drivers in the first 10 starting spots, nine have either clinched a spot in the Chase are could clinch a spot in the Chase on Saturday.
Although he won’t start near the front row, Dale Earnhardt Jr has a very good chance to clinch a spot in the Chase. He enters the race seventh in points and will need to finish 32nd or better to make the Chase. He could also make it with a 33rd place finish if he leads a lap or a 34th place finish with the most laps led. He’ll start from the 14th position.
Here is a look at the complete starting grid.
1. Jeff Gordon
2. Kurt Busch
3. Brad Keselowski
4. Clint Bowyer
5. Matt Kenseth
6. Denny Hamlin
7. Jamie McMurray
8. Joey Logano
9. Greg Biffle
10. Regan Smith
11. Martin Truex Jr.
12. Juan Pablo Montoya
13. Kyle Busch
14. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
15. Aric Almirola
16. Mark Martin
17. Kevin Harvick
18. Kasey Kahne
19. Jeff Burton
20. Brian Vickers
21. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
22. Paul Menard
23. David Ragan
24. Ryan Newman
25. Casey Mears
26. Carl Edwards
27. Josh Wise
28. Landon Cassill
29. David Stremme
30. Michael McDowell
31. Joe Nemechek
32. Marcos Ambrose
33. Travis Kvapil
34. A J Allmendinger
35. David Reutimann
36. Danica Patrick
37. David Gilliland
38. Ryan Truex
39. Reed Sorenson
40. Dave Blaney
41. Tony Raines
42. Ken Schrader
43. J.J. Yeley
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