Kyle Busch: Wins could force NASCAR's hand on Chase requirements

The 16-strong Chase field is formed by the drivers with most victories after the opening 26 rounds, plus the leading win-less points scorers if less than 16 drivers have won.

Participants must have entered all rounds up to that point and be in the top 30 in the championship.

NASCAR has granted Busch a waiver after his leg-breaking Daytona crash in the Xfinity Series in February sidelined him from the first 11 Cup rounds, but the top-30 stipulation still applies.

He was 179 points away from that position when he rejoined the field for the Charlotte race in May, and over the seven races since he has cut that gap to 87 - with eight more events before the Chase cut-off at Richmond in September.

Two wins from the last three Cup races have been pivotal to Busch's progress after a difficult start and some low-scoring rounds.

Asked if he felt his form might convince NASCAR to give him a further waiver even if he falls short of the top 30, Busch replied: "Well certainly I think the more wins that we do achieve, that it's going to put them in a tougher spot.

"But also I think now that if there were 16 different winners obviously that will put us in. The two wins will put us up over a guy that has one win.

"I'm not thinking about it exactly. Obviously it's on our mind, but I'm not thinking about the points gained when we win. When we win, I know we did all we can do.

"What matters most is for us to go out there and perform at our best at the level that we know how to do.

"If we do everything right and do it how we know we can, there's no reason we shouldn't be able to average a 14th place finish or whatever it's going to take that I can be in the Chase by being in the top 30.

"I never would have imagined we would have got two wins this fast."

The Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota driver believes the remaining tracks in the run-up to the Chase will help his cause, with the unpredictable restrictor plate races out of the way and more venues where the driver can make a difference.

"Thankfully we're going to a lot of races here now that are more driver induced than are circumstances induced." said Busch.

"So it's going to be on my hands and [crew chief] Adam Stevens and this whole race team's hands."

BUSCH'S ROAD TO 30TH

CHASE FIELD SO FAR

Jimmie Johnson (four wins)
Kevin Harvick (two wins)
Dale Earnhardt Jr (two wins)
Kurt Busch (two wins)
Joey Logano (one win)
Martin Truex Jr (one win)
Brad Keselowski (one win)
Matt Kenseth (one win)
Denny Hamlin (one win)
Carl Edwards (one win)
Jamie McMurray (seventh in points)
Jeff Gordon (10th in points)
Kasey Kahne (12th in points)
Paul Menard (13th in points)
Ryan Newman (14th in points)
Clint Bowyer (15th in points)

REMAINING RACES BEFORE CHASE CUT-OFF

July 19: New Hampshire
July 26: Indianapolis
August 2: Pocono
August 9: Watkins Glen
August 16: Michigan
August 22: Bristol
September 6: Darlington
September 12: Richmond