Wise words from the past echo in this year's Chase

After a weekend finish in Kansas that left me only slightly less confused than the explanation that followed -- and I have access to a rulebook -- I decided to turn outside of the world of NASCAR for inspiration. I'm dedicating eight bouquets of wisdom to eight NASCAR drivers with an opportunity for fans to fill in the four blanks at the end.

"Great works are performed, not by strength, but by perseverance."
--Samuel Johnson

Beau Estes co-hosts the Jack Daniel's Post-Race Show with Nikki Alexander. It can be seen following every Nextel Cup race live on NASCAR.COM.

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Samuel Johnson's famous quote is dedicated to another Johnson, the defending champ Jimmie. The driver of the 48 car waited out the stress filled hours of the rain delay that could have pushed him way back in the points race, but his steadfast efforts have him as part of the HMS freight train at the head of the standings.

"For all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these, 'It might have been'."
--John Greenleaf Whittier

This goes out to Tony Stewart. For a large portion of a Kansas on Sunday, it looked liked Tony would have a vice like grip on the points lead. His ignition trigger finger saved enough gas to keep him poised atop the lead going into what seemed like a possible rainout. If the rain had washed away the rest of the Kansas day, Stewart would have led Clint Bowyer by 46 and been more than 100 points clear of both Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon.

In the end though, the 20 crashed out on the track and in the standings leaving him 117 points back and his team wondering "what might have been?"

"What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals."
--Zig Ziglar

Clint Bowyer is rapidly becoming a man in full. He's in the group of three Chasers along with Jimmie and Jeff who have separated themselves at the top of the standings. Still, to me, his greatest accomplishment isn't the increased earnings potential surely generated by this run of racing success. His lasting achievement will be that fans and more importantly drivers now expect to see him at the top of the standings. He has become in the eyes of everyone, a great driver.

"If you are going through hell, keep going."
--Sir Winston Churchill

The former British Prime Minister's directional advice is dedicated to Clint Bowyer's teammate Kevin Harvick who, despite finishing outside of the top 15 in the first two Chase races, righted the ship in Kansas with a sixth that has him up four positions this week to fifth in the standings.

"I've had a wonderful time, but this wasn't it."
--Groucho Marx

The first two years of Denny Hamlin's Nextel Cup driving career have been a fantastic voyage. He, no doubt, has had a wonderful time, but the 2007 Chase has been a nightmare. Forget for a moment the incident with Kyle Petty, after just three races Denny Hamlin is a whopping 248 points out. Finishes of 15, 38 and 29 will no doubt have the 11 team feeling blue.

"Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away."
--Antoine de Saint Exupery

Jeff Gordon is inching ever so close to the status of a near perfect driver so just for kicks, NASCAR invents the Chase because he still has a few championships he'd like to add to his resume and no doubt, this season's reset at the Chase has taken tons away from him in the way of points. More on this later...