Is it set, or will Ragan make the Chase?
Written by Rich Hemstreet · August 17, 2008
With four Roush Fenway drivers finishing in the top five I’m sure David Ragan thought his third place finish at Michigan would finally put him in the Chase. Coupled with Hamlin and Kahne finishing 39th and 40th, respectively, the points should start adding up. Ragan even stayed out during a late caution to earn 5 bonus points. At the end of the day David Ragan ended up tied with Clint Bowyer for 13th overall. They are each 26 points out of the Chase.Hamlin and Kahne each dropped three places in the Chase, leaving Hamlin on the bubble. Engine failures doomed both contenders.
Carl Edwards had Kyle Busch covered as the race came to a close, and scored his fifth Sprint Cup win of the season. The Chase is shaping up into an Edwards versus Busch shootout. There don’t seem to be any other drivers on the track when these two are going at it. While I think Gibbs may have a horsepower advantage on the Nationwide Tour I think Kyle and Carl are running equipment as equal as you’ll find with different nameplates.
Right now there are five Chevrolets, three Toyotas, three Fords and one Dodge in the twelve car Chase. That certainly speaks well of NASCAR’s level playing field. There is a possibility Dodge will be shutout of the Chase, but when you look at their current teams they really don’t have anybody that strong. With Penske and Evernham at the top of the Dodge roster there isn’t much of a supporting cast.
Perhaps the renewed Petty Enterprises will actually regain a competitive attitude. I’d still like to see Robby Gordon join the Petty camp as a third full-time car. Put a young driver in the 45 car and let Kyle run a short schedule simply with Petty Enterprises, Victory Junction and Petty Driving Experience as Kyle’s sponsors
Bristol is next up. Anything can happen on a bull ring with 43 cars on the track. Good qualifying and track position should pay huge dividends. That’s probably a bad sign for the Roush drivers. They seldom qualify well. In fact Biffle has the only two poles for Roush this season. Look for the Chevy and Toyota drivers to do well here. If Kahne doesn’t have a great finish here he may well be the odd man out of the Chase.
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