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Statistically, this is the most competitive Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in its six-year history.
Through four races, the top three drivers – Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin and Juan Pablo Montoya – are averaging a finish better than fourth. That has never happened by one driver through four races in any of the previous five Chases, let alone three in one year.
Coming into this season, the best average finish after four Chase races was Johnson’s 4.3 last season and Kurt Busch’s (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge) 4.3 in 2004. Both drivers won the title that year. After four Chase races this season, Johnson has a 3.8 average finish, Martin has a 3.5 and Montoya has a 3.5.
Same goes for Driver Ratings over 100.0.
Currently, a record six drivers have a rating over 100.0 through the first four Chase races. The previous high since the inception of Loop Data in 2005 was four drivers, last season.
Also, after four 2009 Chase races, five drivers have an Average Running Position in the top 10. That is the highest number in the Chase’s history. The previous high was two in 2005, when both Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth did it.
So, the margin of error in this year’s Chase is miniscule. This weekend’s race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway presents a unique challenge for all the Chasers, but especially the top three. Auto Racing Daily
CAR DRIVER MAKE SPONSOR 0 David Reutimann Toyota Aaron's Dream Machine 1 Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet Guitar Hero DJ Hero 2 Kurt Busch Dodge Miller Lite 5 Mark Martin Chevrolet Pop-Tarts / Carquest 6 David Ragan Ford UPS 7 Robby Gordon Toyota Freightliner Trucks 7 Casey Mears Chevrolet Jack Daniel's 8 Terry Labonte Toyota Carter / Simo Racing 9 Kasey Kahne Dodge Budweiser 9 Sterling Marlin Dodge Miccosukee Resort & Gaming 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota FedEx Office 12 David Stremme Dodge Penske Racing 14 Tony Stewart Chevrolet Old Spice / Office Depot 16 Greg Biffle Ford 3M / IDG 17 Matt Kenseth Ford Carhartt 18 Kyle Busch Toyota M&M's / Susan G Komen for the Cure 19 Elliott Sadler Dodge Stanley / Susan G Komen for the Cure 20 Joey Logano* Toyota The Home Depot 21 Bill Elliott Ford Warriors in Pink Powered by Ford 24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet DuPont / "Transformers Revenge of the Fallen" 25 Brad Keselowski Chevrolet GoDaddy.com 26 Jamie McMurray Ford Jeremiah Weed Southern Style Sweet Tea Vodka 29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet Shell / Pennzoil 31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet Caterpillar 33 Clint Bowyer Chevrolet Scary Fast Count Chocula 34 John Andretti Chevrolet Taco Bell 36 Michael McDowell Toyota Wave Energy Drink 37 Travis Kvapil Dodge Long John Silver's 39 Ryan Newman Chevrolet U.S. Army 42 Juan Montoya Chevrolet Lysol 43 Reed Sorenson Dodge Super 8 44 A.J. Allmendinger Dodge Dassault Systemes 47 Marcos Ambrose Toyota Clorox / Kingsford / Bush's Beans 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Lowe's 55 Michael Waltrip Toyota NAPA / Susan G Komen for the Cure 64 Mike Wallace Toyota Gunselman Motorsports 66 Dave Blaney Toyota Prism Motorsports 77 Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge Mobil 1 82 Scott Speed* Toyota Red Bull 83 Brian Vickers Toyota Red Bull 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet Amp Energy / National Guard 96 Bobby Labonte Ford Ask.com / Search for the Cure 98 Paul Menard Ford Johns Manville / Menards 99 Carl Edwards Ford Aflac 113 Max Papis* Toyota GEICO 171 Mike Bliss Chevrolet TaxSlayer.com 187 Joe Nemechek Toyota NEMCO Motorsports 202 David Gilliland Toyota Farm Bureau Insurance
