BACK TO GALLERIES
Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers
By RJ Kraft | Published: September 6, 2016 16
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1. Joey Logano
Team Penske, No. 22 Ford
Outlook: Logano's overall consistency has gotten him this far, but he will need to ramp up the top-five efforts (four top fives in the past 10 races).
Chase history: Three previous appearances, best finish of fourth in 2014.
Best Chase track: Phoenix, eight top 10s in 15 starts.
Worst Chase track: Homestead, average finish of 17.7 in seven starts.
Team Penske, No. 22 Ford
Outlook: Logano's overall consistency has gotten him this far, but he will need to ramp up the top-five efforts (four top fives in the past 10 races).
Chase history: Three previous appearances, best finish of fourth in 2014.
Best Chase track: Phoenix, eight top 10s in 15 starts.
Worst Chase track: Homestead, average finish of 17.7 in seven starts.
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2. Jimmie Johnson
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 48 Chevrolet
Outlook: For the first time in this format, 'Six-Time' is in the Round of 8. With 18 wins at tracks in this round, it would be shocking if he isn't racing for the title.
Chase history: 12 previous appearances, won in 2006, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10 and ’13.
Best Chase track: Martinsville, with eight wins and an average finish of 7.5 in 29 starts.
Worst Chase track: Homestead, average finish of 14.1 in 15 starts.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 48 Chevrolet
Outlook: For the first time in this format, 'Six-Time' is in the Round of 8. With 18 wins at tracks in this round, it would be shocking if he isn't racing for the title.
Chase history: 12 previous appearances, won in 2006, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10 and ’13.
Best Chase track: Martinsville, with eight wins and an average finish of 7.5 in 29 starts.
Worst Chase track: Homestead, average finish of 14.1 in 15 starts.
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3. Kevin Harvick
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Chevrolet
Outlook: Harvick has yet to be eliminated in this format and with Phoenix in this round, it would be close to stunning if Harvick doesn't reach Homestead.
Chase history: Nine previous appearances, won in 2014.
Best Chase track: Phoenix, with eight wins in 27 starts.
Worst Chase track: Martinsville, average finish of 15.9 in 30 starts, despite one win.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Chevrolet
Outlook: Harvick has yet to be eliminated in this format and with Phoenix in this round, it would be close to stunning if Harvick doesn't reach Homestead.
Chase history: Nine previous appearances, won in 2014.
Best Chase track: Phoenix, with eight wins in 27 starts.
Worst Chase track: Martinsville, average finish of 15.9 in 30 starts, despite one win.
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4. Matt Kenseth
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 20 Toyota
Outlook: Statistically, this round doesn’t shape up great for the 2003 champion with two of his less-than-stellar tracks (Martinsville, Phoenix) in the mix.
Chase history: 11 previous appearances, runner-up in 2006 and '13. His 2003 title was pre-Chase.
Best Chase track: Texas, with two wins and an average finish of 9.5 in 27 starts.
Worst Chase track: Phoenix, average finish of 16.3 in 27 starts, despite one win.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 20 Toyota
Outlook: Statistically, this round doesn’t shape up great for the 2003 champion with two of his less-than-stellar tracks (Martinsville, Phoenix) in the mix.
Chase history: 11 previous appearances, runner-up in 2006 and '13. His 2003 title was pre-Chase.
Best Chase track: Texas, with two wins and an average finish of 9.5 in 27 starts.
Worst Chase track: Phoenix, average finish of 16.3 in 27 starts, despite one win.
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5. Carl Edwards
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19 Toyota
Outlook: After a strong spring with two wins, Edwards has cooled off. He has made the Round of 8 the past two years, but is primed for more.
Chase history: Eight previous appearances, runner-up in 2008 and 2011.
Best Chase track: Homestead, with two wins and an average finish of 9.2 in 12 starts.
Worst Chase track: Martinsville, average finish of 15.5 in 24 starts.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19 Toyota
Outlook: After a strong spring with two wins, Edwards has cooled off. He has made the Round of 8 the past two years, but is primed for more.
Chase history: Eight previous appearances, runner-up in 2008 and 2011.
Best Chase track: Homestead, with two wins and an average finish of 9.2 in 12 starts.
Worst Chase track: Martinsville, average finish of 15.5 in 24 starts.
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6. Denny Hamlin
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
Outlook: Looking for an under-the-radar choice for the Championship 4? Say hello to Hamlin, who has eight wins at the Round of 8 tracks.
Chase history: Nine previous appearances, runner-up in 2010.
Best Chase track: Martinsville, with five wins and an average finish of 9.5 in 21 starts.
Worst Chase track: Texas, average finish of 12.1 and two wins in 21 starts.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
Outlook: Looking for an under-the-radar choice for the Championship 4? Say hello to Hamlin, who has eight wins at the Round of 8 tracks.
Chase history: Nine previous appearances, runner-up in 2010.
Best Chase track: Martinsville, with five wins and an average finish of 9.5 in 21 starts.
Worst Chase track: Texas, average finish of 12.1 and two wins in 21 starts.
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7. Kurt Busch
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 41 Chevrolet
Outlook: The 2004 champion has an average finish of 9.7 in the 2016 Chase. With just seven laps led in the last two months, much more will be needed to advance.
Chase history: Nine previous appearances, won in 2004.
Best Chase track: Phoenix, with one win and an average finish of 13.4 in 27 starts.
Worst Chase track: Martinsville, average finish of 21.2 in 32 starts, despite two wins.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 41 Chevrolet
Outlook: The 2004 champion has an average finish of 9.7 in the 2016 Chase. With just seven laps led in the last two months, much more will be needed to advance.
Chase history: Nine previous appearances, won in 2004.
Best Chase track: Phoenix, with one win and an average finish of 13.4 in 27 starts.
Worst Chase track: Martinsville, average finish of 21.2 in 32 starts, despite two wins.
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8. Kyle Busch
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Outlook: The 2015 champion quietly has five top 10s in the six Chase races. Of note for this round, Busch won earlier this year at both Martinsville and Texas.
Chase history: Eight previous appearances, won in 2015.
Best Chase track: Texas, with two wins and 10 top fives in 21 starts.
Worst Chase track: Homestead, average finish of 21.1 in 11 starts, despite one win.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Outlook: The 2015 champion quietly has five top 10s in the six Chase races. Of note for this round, Busch won earlier this year at both Martinsville and Texas.
Chase history: Eight previous appearances, won in 2015.
Best Chase track: Texas, with two wins and 10 top fives in 21 starts.
Worst Chase track: Homestead, average finish of 21.1 in 11 starts, despite one win.
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11. Austin Dillon
Richard Childress Racing, No. 3 Chevrolet
Eliminated from Chase at completion of Round of 12.
Richard Childress Racing, No. 3 Chevrolet
Eliminated from Chase at completion of Round of 12.
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9. Martin Truex Jr.
Furniture Row Racing, No. 78 Toyota
Eliminated from Chase at completion of Round of 12.
Furniture Row Racing, No. 78 Toyota
Eliminated from Chase at completion of Round of 12.
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12. Chase Elliott
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 24 Chevrolet
Eliminated from Chase at completion of Round of 12.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 24 Chevrolet
Eliminated from Chase at completion of Round of 12.
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10. Brad Keselowski
Team Penske, No. 2 Ford
Eliminated from Chase at completion of Round of 12.
Team Penske, No. 2 Ford
Eliminated from Chase at completion of Round of 12.
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14. Tony Stewart
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 14 Chevrolet
Eliminated from Chase at completion of Round of 16.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 14 Chevrolet
Eliminated from Chase at completion of Round of 16.
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13. Kyle Larson
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 42 Chevrolet
Eliminated from Chase at completion of Round of 16.
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 42 Chevrolet
Eliminated from Chase at completion of Round of 16.
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15. Jamie McMurray
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 1 Chevrolet
Eliminated from Chase at completion of Round of 16.
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 1 Chevrolet
Eliminated from Chase at completion of Round of 16.
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16. Chris Buescher
Front Row Motorsports, No. 34 Ford
Eliminated from Chase at completion of Round of 16.
Front Row Motorsports, No. 34 Ford
Eliminated from Chase at completion of Round of 16.