| As the season is almost at the half-way point and | | | | 10) Martin Truex Jr. - Well at least one "Jr." and one |
| the cream is starting to rise to the top it's time for | | | | DEI driver will make it. Big win at Dover has instilled |
| me to boldly pick the 12 drivers who will make The | | | | confidence in him that will vault him into the upper |
| Chase this fall. Some are easy to place and some | | | | echelon of drivers. |
| these were pretty tough. | | | | 11) Clint Bowyer - He has been consistent with seven |
| 1) Jeff Gordon - Easy pick. He's been the best all | | | | top 10's in the first 14 races. Will get some key top 5 |
| year so far. He is fast, he is consistent and he is | | | | finishes that will keep him in the top 12. |
| lucky. He has four wins and five poles; he is hoping | | | | 12) Casey Mears - A good driver that has found |
| he hasn't peaked at this early stage of the season. | | | | something. He still has some ground to make up as |
| 2) Matt Kenseth - Very consistent in 2007. Ten top | | | | he is only in 23rd right now. Another win or a couple |
| 10's, nobody has more except for Gordon. He has | | | | top 3 finishes will keep him moving up in the |
| one win (California) and will need to produce a couple | | | | standings. |
| if he is going to pass Gordon. | | | | WILDCARD - Mark Martin - If he were running a full |
| 3) Jimmie Johnson - He too is consistent with his top | | | | schedule he would be a shoo-in. He may fall just |
| 10's and has wins, but he has to avoid those very | | | | short as he says he is not running additional races to |
| low finishes once Chase races start. | | | | make the Chase. Has four top 5's in the 11 races he |
| 4) Denny Hamlin - Has six top 5's and appears to be | | | | has started. He is close to getting a win. |
| on the verge of getting some wins if he gets a little | | | | Remembering France |
| bit of luck. He should be a regular Chase participant | | | | The NASCAR world remembers Bill France Jr. while |
| for many years to come. | | | | laying him to rest last Thursday. Bill Jr. took control of |
| 5) Jeff Burton - He is currently sitting in 5th place. | | | | NASCAR in 1972, and his legacy was cemented when |
| Last week he was in 5th place, he will more than | | | | he brought large corporations in as NASCAR |
| likely end up the year in 5th place. A real pro, does | | | | sponsors and the sport has never looked back. |
| his job and most of the time nobody notices. Had a | | | | France also brought live television coverage of |
| well deserved win at Texas and will get at least one | | | | NASCAR races to the American public starting with |
| more. | | | | the 1979 Daytona 500. |
| 6) Carl Edwards - I think some of his Busch Success | | | | This Weeks Race |
| will translate over to Nextel Cup. Had two top 5's, | | | | This time is was some dark clouds and moisture that |
| but no wins yet. | | | | provided the luck Jeff Gordon needed to go along |
| 7) Tony Stewart - He is simmering for a win. Has | | | | with his strategy and the result was a win in |
| made as much noise off the track as on so far this | | | | Sunday's rain shortened Pocono 500. The race was |
| season. He is too good of a driver to finish lower | | | | stopped on lap 106 with Gordon leading Ryan |
| than 7th this year. | | | | Newman and Martin Truex Jr. |
| 8) Kyle Busch - Wouldn't be a Chase if one Busch | | | | The Week Ahead |
| Brother didn't make it. Has a big win at Bristol, and I | | | | It's Father's Day and that means the Michigan 400. A |
| expect him to get at least one more. | | | | struggling Kasey Kahne is the defending champ, but |
| 9) Kevin Harvick - The Daytona 500 winner is a little | | | | this race should fall into Hendrick Motorsports hands |
| inconsistent, but has good equipment and talent, so | | | | as they have taken 10 of the last 12 races. |
| he will make The Chase. | | | | |