NASCAR Chase for the Cup clinch scenarios for Richmond

From NASCAR (Sept. 6, 2009)

Eight spots remain in the 2009 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup – and 11 drivers are mathematically in contention for securing one. Below are the clinch scenarios for Richmond, the final race before the Chase field is set:

Carl Edwards

Edwards is currently 105 points ahead of 13th place. Regardless of any other driver’s finish, he will clinch if he finishes:

· 24th or better

· 25th and leads at least one lap

· 27th and leads most laps

Kasey Kahne

Kahne is currently 96 points ahead of 13th place. Regardless of any other driver’s finish, he will clinch if he finishes:

· 21st or better

· 23rd and leads at least one lap

· 24th and leads most laps

Kurt Busch

Busch is currently 95 points ahead of 13th place. Regardless of any other driver’s finish, he will clinch if he finishes:

· 20th or better

· 22nd and leads at least one lap

· 24th and leads most laps

Juan Pablo Montoya

Montoya is currently 88 points ahead of 13th place. Regardless of any other driver’s finish, he will clinch if he finishes:

· 18th or better

· 20th and leads at least one lap

· 21st and leads the most laps

Ryan Newman

Newman is currently 81 points ahead of 13th place. Regardless of any other driver’s finish, he will clinch if he finishes:

· 16th or better

· 17th and leads at least one lap

· 19th and leads the most laps

Mark Martin

Martin is currently 69 points ahead of 13th place. Regardless of any other driver’s finish, he will clinch if he finishes:

· 12th or better

· 14th and leads at least one lap

· 15th and leads the most laps

Greg Biffle

Biffle is currently 68 points ahead of 13th place. Regardless of any other driver’s finish, he will clinch if he finishes:

· 11th or better

· 13th and leads at least one lap

· 15th and leads the most laps

Matt Kenseth

Kenseth is currently 20 points ahead of 13th place. Regardless of any other driver’s finish, he will clinch if he finishes:

· Second and leads at least one lap

Brian Vickers currently sits 13th, 17 points ahead of Kyle Busch. He would need to gain 21 points on Kenseth and stay ahead of Busch to clinch a Chase spot.

Busch, 37 points behind 12th, needs to gain 17 points on Vickers and 37 points on Kenseth to clinch.

David Reutimann, 132 points behind Kenseth, has an outside shot at clinching. He would have to gain 133 points on Kenseth. A maximum of 161 points can be made up in a given race.