ROAD TO RICHMOND: CHASE FOR THE NASCAR NEXTEL CUP MAKES FINAL STOP

It All Leads Up to "One Last Race to Make The Chase"

Now that the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series has completed 25 of the 36 races on the schedule, it's time for the final race before the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup—the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway on Saturday, September 8 "under the lights."  After that race, only those in the top 12 driver points will be eligible for a shot at the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, rendering the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 “One Last Race to Make The Chase.”

Now that eight drivers are already guaranteed their spot in The Chase (Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin, Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Burton and Kyle Busch), there are only four spots remaining.  Ninth-place Clint Bowyer and 10th-place Martin Truex Jr. need only to start the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 to make The Chase.  Kurt Busch needs only to finish 36th or better and Kevin Harvick needs only to finish 32nd or better.  The lone driver looking to race his way in is Dale Eanhardt Jr., who is 128 points out of 12th.  In order to make The Chase, he has to finish fifth and lead the most laps, fourth if he leads any lap and third if he doesn't lead a lap.

This all means that every driver in the top 13 will be racing harder than ever to get a win. Earnhardt Jr. of course needs a win to better his chances of making The Chase.  But the other 12 drivers are looking to gain all-important bonus points.  Expect to see some of the most hardcore, flat-out racing at America's Premier Short Track on September 8 "under the lights."  Every win means extra bonus points for those drivers in The Chase.

Below are the current top 13 drivers in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Race to the Chase (prior to race at California Speedway) scheduled to compete in the 2007 Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway and their NEXTEL CUP and Busch Series performances in past events at Richmond International Raceway.

1^st    Jeff Gordon            3679 Leader

NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series at RIR

Ø                  Finished 4^th in the 2007 Crown Royal Presents The Jim Stewart 400

Ø                  Finished 31^st in the 2006 Chevy Rock & Roll 400

Ø                  29 starts and 11 Top 5s

Ø                  4^th in All-Time poles with 5 (May 2007; Sept. 2001; May 1999; June 1998; March 1995)

Ø                  2 wins (1996, 2000)

Ø                  3^rd in “Laps Led” with 868

2^nd     Tony Stewart     (317 points behind leader)

NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series at RIR

Ø                  Finished 8^th in the 2007 Crown Royal Presents The Jim Stewart 400

Ø                  Started 40^th and finished 18^th in the 2006 Chevy Rock & Roll 400

Ø                  Led one lap in the Pontiac Excitement 400 5/5/02 and won the race

Ø                  Won the 2001 Pontiac Excitement 400

Ø                  Won the 1999 Exide NASCAR Select Batteries 400 race

Ø                  Tied for second (Terry Labonte, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.)  with 3 wins since 1988

Ø                  Ranks 5^th in Laps Led (765)

Ø                  Has 16 starts and 5 Top 5s  

3^rd     Denny Hamlin     (344 points behind leader)

NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series at RIR

Ø                  Finished 3^rd in the 2007 Crown Royal Presents The Jim Stewart 400

Ø                  Finished 15^th in the 2006 Chevy Rock & Roll 400

Ø                  Sat on the pole in the 2006 Chevy Rock & Roll 400

Ø                  Finished 2^nd in the 2006 Crown Royal 400

NASCAR Busch Series at RIR

Ø                  Finished 41^st in the 2007 Circuit City 250 Presented by FUNAI

Ø                  Finished 6^th in the 2006 Emerson Radio 250

Ø                  Finished 10^th in the 2006 Circuit City 250 Presented by FUNAI

5^th     Matt Kenseth     (370 points behind leader)

NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series at RIR

Ø                  Finished 10^th in the 2007 Crown Royal Presents The Jim Stewart 400

Ø                  Won the 2002 Chevy Rock & Roll 400

Ø                  Has 14 starts and 3 Top 5s at RIR   

Ø                  Finished 38^th in the 2006 Crown Royal 400

Ø                  Started 10^th and finished 8^th in the 2006 Chevy Rock & Roll 400

NASCAR Busch Series at RIR

Ø                  Finished 2^nd in the 2007 Circuit City 250 Presented by FUANI

Ø                  Finished 3^rd in the 2006 Circuit City 250 Presented by FUNAI

Ø                  Finished 3^rd in the 2006 Emerson Radio 250

Ø                  Won the pole for the Hardee's 250 in 2001

Ø                  Finished second in the 2000 Hardee's 250. Lost to Jeff Green by .105 second - the closest margin of victory at Richmond International Raceway.

6^th     Jimmie Johnson      (430 points behind leader)

NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series at RIR

Ø                  Won the 2007 Crown Royal Presents The Jim Stewart 400

Ø                  Finished 23^rd in the 2006 Chevy Rock & Roll

Ø                  Finished 12^th in the 2006 Crown Royal 400

Ø                  Won the pole for the 2002 Chevy Monte Carlo 400

7^th     Jeff Burton         (460 points behind leader)

NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series at RIR

Ø                  Finished 43^rd in the 2007 Crown Royal Presents The Jim Stewart 400 after engine toubles

Ø                  Finished 9^th in the 2006 Chevy Rock & Roll 400

Ø                  Finished 15^th in the 2006 Crown Royal 400

Ø                  Won the 1998 Exide NASCAR Select Batteries 400

Ø                  Won the pole for the 2000 Chevy Monte Carlo 400

Ø                  Ranks 2^nd at RIR with 899 laps led since 1988

Ø                  25 starts and 7 Top 5s

NASCAR Busch Series at RIR

Ø                  Finished 3^rd in the 2007 Circuit City 250 Presented by FUNAI

Ø                  Finished 2^nd in the 2006 Circuit City 250 Presented by FUNAI

Ø                  Sat on the pole for the 2006 Emerson Radio 250 (finished 40^th)

Ø                  Won the 2000 Autolite Fram 250

Ø                  Won the 1998 Hardee’s 250

Ø                  Sat on the pole for the 1999 Autolite Platinum 250

Ø                  Sat on the pole for the 1991 Pontiac Excitement 200

Ø                  Tied for 4^th on All-Time Winners list at RIR (2)

8^th     Kyle Busch         (480 points behind leader)

NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series at RIR

Ø                  Finished 2^nd in the 2007 Crown Royal Presents The Jim Stewart 400

Ø                  Started 12^th and finished 2^nd at the 2006 Chevy Rock & Roll 400

Ø                  Started 21^st and finished 5^th at the 2006 Crown Royal 400

Ø                  Has recorded 5 Top 5 finishes in 5 starts at RIR

NASCAR Busch Series at RIR

Ø                  Finished 5^th in the 2007 Circuit City 250 Presented by FUNAI

Ø                  Finished 12^th in the 2006 Emerson Radio 250

Ø                  Finished 9^th in the 2006 Circuit City 250 Presented by FUNAI

Ø                  Sat on the pole and won the 2004 FUNAI 250

Ø                  Holds the RIR Busch Series qualifying record - 129.348 mph (20.874 seconds) – 2004 FUNAI 250

9^th     Clint Bowyer       (632 points behind leader)

NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series at RIR

Ø                  Finished 9^th in the 2007 Crown Royal Presents The Jim Stewart 400

Ø                  As a rookie, finished 12^th in the 2006 Chevy Rock & Roll 400

Ø                  Started 20^th and finished 10^th in the 2006 Crown Royal 400

NASCAR Busch Series at RIR

Ø                  Won the 2007 Circuit City 250 Presented by FUNAI

Ø                  Started 2^nd and finished 7^th in the 2006 Circuit City 250 Presented by FUNAI

Ø                  Finished 37^th in the 2006 Emerson Radio 250

12^th   Kevin Harvick    (670 points behind leader)

NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series at RIR

Ø                  Finished 7^th in the 2007 Crown Royal Presents The Jim Stewart 400

Ø                  Won the 2006 Chevy Rock & Roll 400

Ø                  Finished 3^rd in the 2006 Crown Royal 400

Ø                  Won the Pole for the 2005 Chevy Rock & Roll 400

Ø                  Has 12 starts and 4 Top 5 finishes at RIR

Ø                  6^th in Laps Led (since 1988) with 646

NASCAR Busch Series at RIR

Ø                  Finished 4^th in the 2007 Circuit City 250 Presented by FUNAI

Ø                  Won the 2006 Emerson Radio 250

Ø                  Won the 2006 Circuit City 250 Presented by FUNAI

Ø                  Tied for second on the All-Time Win List with 4 wins at RIR

Ø                  Won the 2005 Emerson Radio 250

Ø                  Won the 2003 Hardee’s 250 

13^th   Dale Earnhardt Jr.  (128 points behind 12^th-place)

NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series at RIR

Ø                  Finished 13^th in the 2007 Crown Royal Presents The Jim Stewart 400

Ø                  Finished 17^th in the 2006 Chevy Rock & Roll 400

Ø                  Won the 2006 Crown Royal 400

Ø                  Won the 2004 Chevy American Revolution 400

Ø                  Won the 2000 Pontiac Excitement 400

Ø                  Has 15 starts and 7 Top 5 finishes

NASCAR Busch Series at RIR

Ø                  Tied for 3^rd in All-Time wins (3)

Ø                  Won the 2002 FUNAI 250 and sat on the pole

Ø                  Won the 1999 Autolite Platinum 250

Ø                  Won the 1998 Autolite Platinum 250 and led the most laps (236)