If the Chase was tight coming into Dover, it is certainly tight coming out. Heading into the weekend, the Chase drivers were spread out in qualifying, with five qualifying near the back.
At the end of the day, many of them found their way into the top-10 and the top-five.
Every driver that was expected to have a strong run at the "Monster Mile" made their way to the front. Guys like Jimmie Johnson needed to have a strong run to erase what happened the week before, and did just that. His run ended with a second-place finish, but brought him up in the standings. The guy known as "Five Time" is now back on track to win a sixth.
Another driver expected to have a good race was Carl Edwards, and for the most part that was the case. For the first half of the event, he was strong, led laps, and looked to be on his way to another Dover victory.
Unfortunately, his own mistake cost him a chance at a win. Edwards sped on pit road during a round of green-flag stops, but recovered nicely onto a third-place finish. The run now puts him in a tie for first in the standings, as Kevin Harvick gets the top spot via his four wins.
At the end of the day, it was a redemption race for one driver that needed it.
After everything went wrong one week ago, from swearing on camera, to failing inspection, and running horrible at New Hampshire, Kurt Busch found himself in the best position of all...in victory lane.
Busch powered his way to the front on a late restart, getting around Johnson and running away from the No. 48 car. It's been noted before that the elder Busch would rather lose to any driver except that car, so it had to feel good knowing that the car finishing behind him was the one he wants to beat the most.
Busch's win didn't give a win to our writers, but Johnson's runner-up finish was huge for many. In fact, not one writer finished outside the top-10, so a solid performance this week by everyone.
Here's how they stack up after the AAA 400 at Dover:
Christopher Leone (2140) Jimmie Johnson finished second (4)
Ryan O'Hara (2133) Jimmie Johnson finished second (2)
Sal Sigala Jr. (2127) Jimmie Johnson finished second (5)
Michael Hirshbein (2120) Kyle Busch finished sixth (6)
Misan Ayuka (2118) Carl Edwards finished third (4)
Billy Fellin (2117) Jimmie Johnson finished second (3)
Rob Tiongson (2117) Jimmie Johnson finished second (3)
Dustin Parks (2113) Carl Edwards finished third (1)
James Broomhead (2105) Jimmie Johnson finished second (2)
Kara Martin (2103) Jimmie Johnson finished second (1)
Kelly Crandall (2091) Kyle Busch finished sixth (3)
Next Race: It's onto the Great Plains as the next stop on the circuit is hosting it's second race of the season. It's the Kansas Speedway, a track that made it's debut in 2001.
The race held this past spring came down to fuel mileage, but could something more determine the winner this time around?
Writers, don't get swept away by a tornado, as the Kansas area is part of Tornado Alley, but be careful with the picks. It's the fourth race in the Chase, and another week of new picks. Your picks for the Hollywood Casino 400 are due by 10 p.m. ET on Thursday, October 6.
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