Busch, Martin Lock In Chase Spots
Reigning NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion Kurt Busch and veteran racer Mark Martin became the latest two drivers to secure a place in this year's Chase for the Championship following the Sony HD 500 at California Speedway
Martin went into the race only needing to finish in the top five to secure his place in the Chase, but his 11th place finish was still enough because of his rival's results. Busch, having led early on, finished one place further back after a mid-race spin onto the infield.
Both drivers' results are enough to secure a Chase spot with only one race remaining before the top ten driver's points are reset, however Busch must start next weekend's race at Richmond to ensure the spot.
The pair join Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, Greg Biffle and Rusty Wallace as having guaranteed their positions in the ten-driver, ten-race play-off for the crown.
The final four spots will be settled at next week's Race for the Chase decider at Richmond International Raceway.
Jeremy Mayfield is likely to secure his spot with a commanding advantage in seventh, and only needs to finish 39th or higher in the race he won last year to take his spot in the Chase.
Carl Edwards also looks likely to make the Chase after a strong run to fourth in California, requiring a 19th or better place finish at Richmond, but the battle for the final two spots will be a close battle between five drivers. Only 62 points covers ninth-placed Matt Kenseth to 13th placed Elliott Sadler, with 190 points available next weekend.
Kenseth and Jamie McMurray moved into the provisional top ten after poor performances at California from Ryan Newman and four-time Cup champion Jeff Gordon.
Dale Jarrett, Kevin Harvick and Joe Nemechek all retain mathmatical possibilites of making the Chase, however the odds are stacked heavily against them.
The Chase for the Cup Pos Driver Change Points 1. Tony Stewart - 3570 2. Greg Biffle +1 3361 3. Jimmie Johnson -1 3312 4. Rusty Wallace - 3257 5. Mark Martin - 3149 6. Kurt Busch +1 3114 clinched positions 7. Jeremy Mayfield -1 3073 8. Carl Edwards - 3014 9. Matt Kenseth +2 2939 10. Jamie McMurray +2 2929 Current contenders 11. Ryan Newman -2 2928 12. Jeff Gordon -2 2899 13. Elliott Sadler - 2877 14. Dale Jarrett - 2812 15. Kevin Harvick +1 2798 16. Joe Nemechek +1 2794 Still with possibility
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