By Dick Mittman
allstate400atthebrickyard.com
Monday, August 30, 2004
Twenty-four races into the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season, the battle for 10th has become more important than the fight for the lead.
That's because no matter what happens in the next two races, points leader Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr., second and third, respectively, are assured of a spot in the top 10 when the final 10-race Chase for the NEXTEL Cup begins with the 27th race, the Sylvania 300 on Sept. 19 at New Hampshire International Speedway.
But it has become a cut-throat situation at the other end of the top 10.
From Kevin Harvick in eighth to Dale Jarrett and Jamie McMurray, tied for 14th, top finishes at California Speedway on Sept. 5 and Richmond International Raceway on Sept. 11 are imperative. It's that or forget about having a position in the top 10 and a shot at the NEXTEL Cup title and the $5-million bonus that goes with it.
Ryan Newman, who has struggled all year after an eight-win 2003 season, showed in the Sharpie 500 on Aug. 28 at Bristol Motor Speedway just what a top finish can do for a driver. He chased winner Earnhardt home in second and leapfrogged from 13th to 10th in the standings.
Jeremy Mayfield had assumed the 10th position two weeks ago, but despite consecutive finishes of 11th and ninth he now has dropped to 13th.
Earnhardt dominated the Bristol race in his Budweiser Chevrolet but still trails Gordon by 75 points. Johnson roared home third and is 24 points out of first. Four-time Brickyard 400 winner Gordon finished 14th after leading many of the early laps, but confusion over the "Lucky Dog" rule that would have allowed him to regain a lap during caution cost him a pit drive-through penalty and a top-10 finish.
The only advantage the leader after 26 races will have is five points over second and 10 over third heading into the shootout. The remaining seven drivers in the top 10 receive another five points less in descending order.
Harvick clings to eighth. After a 24th-place finish at Bristol, he leads ninth-place Bobby Labonte by only four points and Newman by five.
Newman is only 26 points in front of 11th-place Kasey Kahne and 35 ahead of veteran Mark Martin and Mayfield. Jarrett and McMurray are tied for 14th, 45 points out of 10th.
Newman, driver of the ALLTEL Dodge, has claimed 10th for the seventh time in a topsy-turvy season.
Others who have held 10th during the season are Jarrett, Joe Nemechek, Casey Mears, Bobby Labonte (twice), Elliott Sadler (three times), Sterling Marlin, Harvick (four times), Kahne (twice) and Mayfield.
Gordon is the only former series champion assured of a place in the Chase, while past champions Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth are close to a lock in fourth and fifth place, respectively. 2000 season champion Labonte is hanging on with a safety margin of 27. 1999 champion Jarrett is the only past champion with a chance to make the Chase.
Former Brickyard 400 winners still alive are Gordon (1994, 1998, 2001, 2004), Jarrett (1996, 1999), Labonte (2000) and Harvick (2003).
INs
1. Jeff Gordon 2,380 points
2. Jimmie Johnson -24
3. Dale Earnhardt -75
4. Tony Stewart -185
5. Matt Kenseth -224
6. Kurt Busch -329
7. Elliott Sadler -361
8. Kevin Harvick -457
9. Bobby Labonte -461
10. Ryan Newman -462
OUTs
11. Kasey Kahne -488
12. Mark Martin -497
13. Jeremy Mayfield -497
14. Dale Jarrett -507
15. Jamie McMurray -507
16. Casey Mears -752
17. Michael Waltrip -8-5
18. Greg Biffle -828
19. Sterling Marlin -834
20. Jeff Burton -851
21. Rusty Wallace -873
22. Robby Gordon -876
23. Terry Labonte -921
24. Brian Vickers -936
25. Joe Nemechek -1,024
26. Scott Wimmer -1,099
27. Ricky Rudd -1,080
28. Ward Burton -1,217
29. Scott Riggs -1,318
30. Brendan Gaughan -1,372
31. Jeff Green -1,395
32. Ken Schrader -1,416
33. Kyle Petty -1,417
34. Ricky Craven -1,479
35. Jimmy Spencer -1,951
36. Dave Blaney -2,085
37. Johnny Sauter -2,163
38. Derrike Cope -2,402
39. Morgan Shepherd -2,633
40. Todd Bodine -2,728
41. Kevin Lepage -2,764
42. Kirk Shelmerdine -2,891
43. John Andretti -2,920
44. Hermie Sadler -2,930
45. Bill Elliott -2,970
46. Bobby Hamilton Jr. -2,999
47. PJ Jones -3,064
48. Johnny Benson -3,109
49. Carl Long -3,113
50. Mike Wallace -3,131
51. Scott Pruett -3,173
52. Joe Ruttman -3,173
53. Andy Hillenburg -3.174
54. Kenny Wallace -3,179
55. Carl Edwards -3,182
56. Larry Foyt -3,186
57. Geoffrey Bodine -3,188
58. Stanton Barrett -3,196
59. Ron Fellows -3,210
60. Tony Raines -3,218
61. Boris Said -3,230
62. Larry Gunselman -3,233
63. Kerry Earnhardt -3,243
64. Klaus Graf -3,268
65. Tom Hubert -3,270
66. Kyle Busch -3,273
67. Jim Inglebright -3,274
68. Andy Belmont -3,282
69. Mike Skinner -3,283
70. Eric McClure -3,290
71. Mike Bliss -3,310
72. Tony Ave -3,310
73. Ted Christopher -3,325
74. Austin Cameron -3,331
75. Jason Jarrett -3,337
76. Brandon Ash -3,340
77. Greg Sacks -3,343 ***
2005 tickets: The 12th Brickyard 400 is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 7, 2005. Customers who are upgrading or purchasing Brickyard 400 tickets for the first time should act quickly to increase their chances of obtaining their desired seats.
To purchase tickets, camping or parking, contact the IMS ticket office at (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area, (317) 492-6700 locally or log on to www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com.
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