10 Are In: Remaining Two Chase Berths Determined At Richmond

With this Saturdays Air Guard 400 the final race before the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, 10 drivers have locked themselves in to compete for the 2010 series title. The remaining two drivers will race their way into the Chase by the end of Saturday nights race at Richmond ¦ The top 10 drivers in the standings heading into Richmond already are assured Chase berths ¦ more on them later. Lets take a closer look at the candidates are for the final two spots: ¢Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford) Currently in 11th, Biffle has 161-point lead over 13th- place Ryan Newman (No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet). Regardless of any other drivers finish, Biffle will clinch if he finishes 42nd or better or if he leads at least one lap. His previous best season finish is second in 2005, the second year of the Chase. ¢Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet) Currently holding down the 12th-place position, Bowyer has a 117-point advantage over Newman. Bowyer needs to do one of the following to secure his third Chase berth: finish 28th or better, finish 29th, and lead at least one lap, or finish 31st and lead the most laps. Bowyer finished a career-high third in the 2007 final standings. ¢Ryan Newman Currently 13th and 117 points out of 12th, Newman must depend on the misfortune of others to qualify for his fourth Chase. His best career season finish is sixth in 2002-03 and 2005. ¢Jamie McMurray (No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) Currently 14th and 128 points behind Bowyer. This would be McMurrays first Chase berth and the icing to an already successful season, highlighted by his Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 victories. ¢Mark Martin (No. 5 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet) Currently 15th and 147 points out of 12th, Martin was the Cinderella story of 2009, as he led the standings during the regular season and equaled his career-best finish of second. Martin has made the Chase four times. Since the Chases inception, 2004, the largest point deficit made up in the cutoff race at Richmond is 55. Jeremy Mayfield made up 55 points after winning the 2004 race at Richmond to qualify for the Chase. So its no secret that Newman, McMurray and Martin have a tall order ahead of them.