Nextel Cup Chase

By Jim
United States
January 22, 2007 11:57am CST
This year they are going to apparently expand the Chase from 10 drivers or those within 400 points to a solid 12 drivers. Make your predictions on who those 12 drivers will be. You can either list them in order or just list the names of who you think will get in. Also, list who you think will win the championship. 12. Ryan Newman 11. Denny Hamlin 10. Kevin Harvick 9. Dale Earnhart, Jr. 8. Greg Biffle 7. Kasey Kahne 6. Juan Montoya 5. Matt Kenseth 4. Jimmy Johnson 3. Tony Stewart 2. Jeff Gordon and the 2007 Nextel Cup Champion... Carl Edwards.
1 response
22 Jan 07
Are you sure? All I have heard is how they don't want to add any more drivers into the chase. I agree with your list but Jr would have to be #12... I might even put Busch in there instead, Jr has not done well at all the last couple years. I haven't seen Juan race yet, but Gordon says he's pretty impressed with him, so I'll go with you on that one too... Jimmy is really going to be fighting to hold onto the championship again this year so everyone is going to have a run for their money with him. I think Kasey Kahne will be a little higher up than where you have him, he did a hell of a job last year! I think he's going to be the one to beat (unfortunately, as I'm a Gordon lover... but I like Kahne too). Gordon's baby is due in July I really hope he stays focused on the race when he gets in the car. In his interviews he says that he will have a one track mind when he puts the helmet on, he's been a racer so long that I think he will. I think Carl is an awesome driver (and he's cute, lol) he reminds me a lot of Gordon, the nice pretty boy. But he's learning that he needs to be aggressive at a much earlier point in his career than Gordon did. After the fight with Gordon and Kenseth, Carl became more aggressive too. I think he's going to be a hard one to beat. The thing that is going to throw everyone off is the car of tomorrow... some love it, some hate it. They will be driving it in March for 16 races... This is going to be a year that we will all be on the edge of our seats instead of like years before where we pretty much knew who the top contenders were.
1 person likes this
22 Jan 07
I'm watching the press conference right now and they are doing 12 drivers, I can't believe that... last year they kept asking Tony Stewart about it since he didn't make it into the chase. Tony kept saying no along with all the other drivers... they are only doing it because they want all the good ones to be in there since 2006 Tony wasn't in it and 2005 Gordon and Jr weren't in it... they've also changed the points system and it's going to make it easier for the good ones to get into the chase. This year is going to be crazy!!
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Jan 07
They are also changing to a "seeding" format for the chase. Under this change, last year Kahne would have started the chase in 1st. Not sure I agree with that, but if they are wanting it to be a "playoff" it makes sense.