The field for the 13th Chase for the Sprint Cup will finally be decided this weekend after 25 races of buildup and 13 different winners.
There are three spaces left to be filled on the Chase grid, four if Chris Buescher finds a way to drop out of the top 30 in the points standings. Among the drivers hovering around the bubble area include Buescher, Chase Elliott, Jamie McMurray and Ryan Newman.
Newman’s hill toward Chase eligibility became tougher to climb Wednesday after he was docked 15 driver points for failing post-race inspection at Darlington. Newman is now 22 points behind McMurray for the final Chase spot.
Here’s a look at the Chase records of the 12 drivers who have clinched a Chase spot and their postseason history, followed by a look back at the five times drivers raced their way into the Chase.
Driver Chase history
Brad Keselowski – Fifth Chase appearance; five wins in Chase; won 2012 championship.
Kyle Busch – Ninth Chase appearance; three wins in Chase races (one as Chase member); won championship in 2015
Kevin Harvick – 10th Chase appearance; nine wins in Chase races; won championship in 2014
Carl Edwards – 10th Chase appearance; eight wins in Chase races; best Chase finish of second in 2008 and 2011
Denny Hamlin – 10th Chase appearance; seven wins in Chase races; best Chase finish of second in 2010
Martin Truex Jr – fourth Chase Appearance; no Chase wins; best finish fourth in 2015
Matt Kenseth – 12th Chase appearance; seven wins in Chase races; best finish of second in 2006 and 2013
Jimmie Johnson – Only driver to make the Chase in all 13 seasons; 26 wins in Chase races; won championship six times (2006, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10 and ’13)
Joey Logano – Fourth Chase appearance; Five wins in Chase races; best Chase finish of fourth in 2014
Kurt Busch – 10th Chase appearance; three wins in Chase races (two since winning 2004 championship, first year of Chase)
Kyle Larson – First Chase appearance
Tony Stewart – Ninth Chase appearance; 11 wins in Chase races; won championship in 2005 and 2011 (one non-Chase championship)
Drivers who have raced their way into Chase at Richmond
2004: Jeremy Mayfield – Entered race 14th in points, won race and left 10th in points; replaced Kasey
Kahne who came in ninth.
2005: Ryan Newman – Entered race in 11th in points and left sixth, replacing McMurray who came in 10th.
2006: Kasey Kahne – Entered race 11th in points and left in eighth, replaced Tony Stewart who entered in eighth and left in 11th.
2009: Brian Vickers – Entered race 13th in points and left 12th, replacing Matt Kenseth who came in 12th
2012: Jeff Gordon – Entered race 13th in points, finished second and replaced Kyle Busch as the wild
card who finished 16th and missed the last wild card slot by three points.
