The Chase for the Cup: Four Locked In, Others Licking Their Chops!

Going into Atlanta, four drivers are locked into NASCAR's Chase for the Cup...

1. Greg Biffle,
2. Jimmie Johnson,
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr.,
4. Matt Kenseth.

Unless something goes horribly wrong, spots five through ten will or could include Martin Truex Jr., Clint Bowyer, Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart.

Those outside the top-10, looking at the two wildcard spots (11th and 12th) include those in the 11th to 20th spots, with wins:

(W1) Kasey Kahne (2)
(W2) Kyle Busch    (1)
Jeff Gordon    (1)
Marcos Ambrose    (1)
Joey Logano    (1)

As you can see, Kahne and Kyle Busch right now are the two wildcards set to be in the Chase, if nothing changes as far as the number of wins or points gained.  Kasey Kahne seems locked in.

Now Kahne is a few points outside of 10th.  (16)  If Stewart falters and Kahne does well over the next two weeks, then he'll be in the top-10 and the landscape for the Chase can change a bit, but Tony has 3 wins, so he may very well have a wildcard locked up, regardless.

What's amazing is that Carl Edwards is not in this list.  He's 12th in points, but with no win.  Look out drivers if Carl has a chance to win and improve his lot in life, you know he'll do what it takes!

The other aspect to look at are those Michael Waltrip Racing teams, both in the top-10, getting ready to lock themselves into the Chase.

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RANK		DRIVER	PTS BEHIND	WINS
1	-	Greg Biffle	Leader	2
2	-	Jimmie Johnson	-11	3
3	-	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	-15	1
4	-	Matt Kenseth	-26	1
5	-	Martin Truex Jr.	-52	0
6	-	Clint Bowyer	-55	1
7	-	Brad Keselowski	-59	3
8	-	Denny Hamlin	-75	3
9	-	Kevin Harvick	-82	0
10	-	Tony Stewart	-103	3
W1   11	-	Kasey Kahne	-119	2
12	-	Carl Edwards	-137	0
W2   13	-	Kyle Busch	-142	1
14	-	Jeff Gordon	-158	1
15	-	Ryan Newman	-161	1
16	-	Marcos Ambrose	-170	1
17	-	Paul Menard	-175	0
18	-	Joey Logano	-211	1
19	-	Jamie McMurray	-251	0
20	-	Jeff Burton	-272	0

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