A number of preseason favorites are in serious danger of falling out of Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup contention. But with the new Chase format, these drivers can still rely on the two “Wild Card” spots. After race No. 26, the top 10 drivers in points will earn a Chase berth. Spots 11 and 12 will go to the drivers with the most wins, provided they are in the top 20 in points. Some big names might have to use that as a last resort…
Denny Hamlin, 20th: This is Hamlin’s lowest points position through seven races in his six-year career. The good news: His Talladega Driver Rating of 93.0 tops the charts. Hamlin has led at least one lap in all 10 of his Talladega starts.
Jamie McMurray, 24th: McMurray has been outside the top 20 after seven races in three of the last four seasons (last year, he was 20th). At Talladega, he has a win in 2009, and a runner-up finish in last year’s Aaron’s 499.
Jeff Burton, 25th: This is the first time that Burton has been outside the top 12 after seven races (he led the points in 2008). With a Talladega Driver Rating of 87.8, Burton ranks fifth.
Joey Logano, 28th: At this point last year, Logano was 11th in the points standings. He ranks fourth in Driver Rating at Talladega (89.1), and has finished in the top 10 in three of his four Talladega races.
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