RELATED: Full race results | Kenseth wrecks Logano
Advancing: Four fresh tires and a fast race car gave Jeff Gordon the power he needed to stay ahead in the final restart at Martinsville and snag the victory. The victory marked Gordon’s first win of the season and punched his ticket to the Championship Round of the Chase.
Four in, four out: Here’s the bubble picture following Martinsville. The four drivers below the line would not advance to the next round (Championship) if the Eliminator Round ended today. (Note: The Eliminator Round ends Nov. 15 at Phoenix International Raceway)
1. Jeff Gordon (10 points ahead of fourth-place driver, has clinched spot in championship round)
2. Kyle Busch (+2)
3. Martin Truex Jr. (+2)
4. Kevin Harvick (–)
———–
5. Carl Edwards (7 points behind fourth-place driver)
6. Brad Keselowski (-24)
7. Kurt Busch (-26)
8. Joey Logano (-28)
Reason for hope: While he didn’t snag the win at Martinsville, Kyle Busch battled back from a spin to contend for the win at the end of Sunday’s race at Martinsville. He emerged with a cool fifth-place result that put him second in the Chase standings heading into Texas.
Reason for worry: Brad Keselowski‘s day at Martinsville went from a chance at the checkered to the garage, when he and Kenseth collided at Lap 436 while running in the top 10. The trip to the garage left Keselowski limping with a 32nd-place finish and a sixth-place slot in the Chase standings heading to Texas.
RELATED: Keselowski, Chasers involved in wreck
Up next: AAA Texas 500 , 2 p.m. ET, Nov. 8 at Texas Motor Speedway (NBC, PRN, SiriusXM)
Who it favors
Most wins: 3 — Carl Edwards
Best driver rating: 101.3 — Kyle Busch
Best average finish: 12.2 — Kevin Harvick
Who it hurts
Fewest top 10s: 5 — Brad Keselowski , Ryan Newman , Joey Logano
Worst driver rating: 75.0 — Ryan Newman
Worst average finish: 17.5 — Ryan Newman