It's Chase Time!

RICHMOND, VA - SEPTEMBER 07: (Left to Right - Back to Front) The Top 12 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, Denny Hamlin, Carl Edwards, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer, Kyle Busch, pose on stage after making the chase for the Sprint Cup following the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 7, 2008 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images)

Ok so we know how the points stand so let's talk about the drivers…

Coming in at lucky number 12 is Matt Kenseth:

- The thing you have to remember with Matt is that he isn't going to give up. He may be the underdog now but that doesn't mean that he won't go out there and get it done every week. He is only one of two drivers to make the chase all 5 seasons it has been around; he knows how to get it done when he needs to. Don't look for him to make any big moves this week as New Hampshire isn't one of his best tracks but I think you'll see him do some moving around after we hit some of the mile and half tracks like Atlanta.

CHANCES OF WINNING THE CHASE: Probably not going to happen. (Sorry Matt)

11. Kevin Harvick:

-Harvick is another fighter, he finds himself in the 11th spot because of a perfectly mediocre year. He didn't shake things up with a win yet and really didn't have any outstanding moments in the year to speak of. What he did have was top 10's and 15's consistently and that what got him in the chase. (Please take note GEM and Kasey Kahne-consistency gets you into the chase)

CHANCES OF WINNING THE CUP: Middle of the road year=no cup title this year; there are bigger players in this game you have to be able to keep up and Harvick just doesn't have the stuff this year. Should fair pretty well this weekend though, he is a past winner at New Hampshire.

10. Jeff Gordon:

-Here is a dark horse if I ever saw one. I'll be the first to admit that I have a few problems with Hendrick Motorsports and their very own boy wonders Jimmie and Jeff, but I can also step back and say that Jeff has a good chance at becoming a contender for this chase. He isn't one now but he has won at all but two of the next 10 tracks and that is what it's all about, winning. It will be an uphill battle for him and with no wins yet this season the momentum his team needs might not be there. But don't count him out yet…after all Mr. Hendrick always has a few tricks up his sleeve to make things interesting.

CHANCE OF WINNING THE CUP: Slim but still possible…I'm telling you their shifty like that.

9. Greg Biffle:

-Good old Biffle…No wins yet this season (yeah that's becoming a pattern) but that doesn't mean that he won't steal one away here in the last 10. Last year Biffle was not a contender for the chase and won Kansas so he has some tracks coming up that he has a good history with. Also keep in mind that Biffle doesn't have the best luck. He has many chances to win this season and something completely out of nowhere would take it away from him. As crazy as it sounds this sport is based on a lot of luck and the Biff just doesn't have it on his side.

CHANCES OF WINNING THE CUP: In my opinion not going to happen…not even close I think you're looking at number 12 here when Homestead comes around.

8. Tony Stewart:

-Tony is a champion in every sense of the word. You may hate him because of his attitude but the man knows how to drive a race car and end up in victory lane. He is another driver that has no wins yet this season but similar to Jeff Gordon Tony has won at every track coming up except for Talladega. Last week he came in second to Jimmie Johnson and has been close to a win all year. I think you'll see Tony in victory lane sometime soon. If not this would be his first winless season ever. A lot rides on this year for him, it is his last season with JGR and I think that he would love to get them one last Championship for old time sake.

CHANCES OF WINNING THE CUP: I can see it happening, stranger things have happened and Tony has done it before.

7. Jeff Burton:

-Jeff Burton, this man deserves this Cup title more than anyone. He started his 500th career start last week at Richmond and has more chase experience than most drivers will ever see. But the one thing he doesn't have is a Cup Championship. Burton has had promising attempts at one but always seems to fall off towards the end of the season thus letting go of the Cup.

CHANCES OF WINNING THE CUP: Do I think he can do it…sure I do. And I think he can explain it better than I can here is a quote from him about being an underdog and winning the chase: "It's the same thing people said about the New England Patriots last year," he explained. "You know the New England Patriots were undefeated and nobody could beat them. The Giants couldn't play and Eli Manning sucked and the coach was terrible, let's face it that's what they said right?"

6. Denny Hamlin

-After a disappointing start to the season Hamlin has really picked it up. He knows how to run good and has been in contention for a cup before. Things really turned around for Hamlin when he made comments about not deserving to be in the chase after the Michigan race. Since that time the whole team has stepped up and gotten him great finishes. Also good news Hamlin fans, he happens to be pretty great at short tracks which is what makes up most of the chase.

CHANCES FOR WINNING THE CUP: I'm not counting him out yet…if this momentum continues than I think he has a shot, a long shot but a shot.

5. Clint Bowyer

-Clint has had a bumpy season to say the least. He barely made it into the chase by beating out Kasey Kahne and David Regan last week in Richmond. The reason he is seated in 5th for the chase is because he won earlier this year in Richmond and new to the chase this year is points awarded for wins after the top 12 is set. So he is the lucky dog for now…

CHANCES FOR WINNING THE CUP: another Slim to none: Clint and his team have struggled since that win and Richmond and I don't think that making the chase is going to change anything. Look for him to fall back fast.

4. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

-Dale Jr. has had great year considering where he was a year ago. He has won a race and put himself within striking distance of a Cup Championship… but does that mean he has the best shot at winning the whole thing. I don't think so. Now I know that the diehard Junior fans out there are positive that Junior will be the one hoisting the cup in Homestead but I can't help but think that although he has been consistent over the year will he have enough here at the end to get another win at least and get this done? I just don't know. I'm not saying it's impossible but I am saying that if you look at his numbers and at his past race history it doesn't look so good.

CHANCES FOR WINNING THE CUP: It could happen; he has Hendrick power under the hood and two other team mates in the chase so yeah it's a possibility but he better buck up if he thinks he is going to beat out the likes of the top three.

3. Jimmie Johnson

-It should be no surprise to anyone to see Jimmie sitting at number three after all he is our two time defending Cup Champion. Jimmie once again rallied at the end of the season to get his team in the number 3 spot. Whatever you think of him and his team you have to give it to them for knowing how to get the job done. He is going after this 3rd cup championship in a row that hasn't been done since Cale Yarborough did it in 1976-78, so you have to give it to him he knows what he is doing.

CHANCES OF WINNING THE CUP: oh yeah he can do it…and probably will just to make me mad…

2. Carl Edwards

-Home state boy Carl Edwards finds himself in a place that I'm sure he only dreamed about with in reaching distance of his first Cup Championship. Carl has won an amazing 6 times this season and has been in the top 10 19 times. This man means business so if you thinking of counting him out I would reconsider. He is only 30 points behind leader Kyle Busch and let's face it he is dominate when it comes to short tracks. The only thing that could stop Carl from doing well and being in contention for the next 10 races is Carl himself.

CHANCES OF WINNING THE CUP: Very good chance of winning the cup, all it takes is for someone to have a bad day and he is leading the points. Although that goes both ways…

1. Kyle Busch

-Sitting at the top of the list is the one and only Kyle Busch. Kyle is a driver after my own heart. He goes out there and lays it on the line each and every race that's why he has won the most races this season with an amazing 8 races. He takes chances and doesn't think about the consequences. He may not be liked by everyone in fact he has been pegged as NASCAR's newest bad boy, but he gets things done.

CHANCES OF WINNING THE CUP: I have been saying this from the beginning of the season Kyle Busch will be your next Cup Champion. If he continues to dominate and keep his head in the race he will do just fine and get this all wrapped up nicely.

Well there you have it, the drivers, the points, and my opinions now all that's left is to race! So bring on New Hampshire!