The race at Talladega Speedway wasn’t exactly the wildcard that many expected. That doesn’t mean there won’t be one. There hasn’t been a race in the Chase where the top contenders have all found trouble.
To Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin that is a good thing but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen.
Look at Johnson last year, he survived Talladega but within the first few laps at Texas Motor Speedway he was in the garage. He had a 173 point lead and by lap four that lead was cut by 100.
"The pressure of winning the fourth didn't really hit me until I hit the fence at Texas. And then it was like, man, you can't relax. You can't hope or think that things are going to be smooth."
That was 2009; in 2010 his lead is not so comfortable with only 38 points separating him and third place Harvick. Hamlin is only 14 points out and Johnson can ill afford to have any issues.
Johnson is not the only one who cannot afford to have trouble this weekend. Hamlin and Harvick need to finish right with Johnson.
While these three are battling for the title 40 other drivers are looking to spoil the party this weekend. While top three will be somewhat conservative everyone else can go for broke.
Jeff Gordon who dominated the race in the spring feels like he is owed one from TMS.
Gordon said “But obviously with the way things ended we feel like we have some unfinished business to do here at Texas so I am really anxious to see how our set-up from not only the last time we were here but what we have learned since then to keep up the changing competition and improving competition and I think we are really looking forward to applying that this weekend to try to get that win.”
For 40 other drivers it is all about winning for their team and organization and for many it’s up to the top three to settle this title fight.
“They aren’t getting any help from me. The 16 is out there to win and I am going to show all of them respect just the same as I would expect them to show me in these final races. I am going to race them all fairly and let it be decided amongst themselves” said Greg Biffle.
There are no guarantees that one of the top teams will finish the race on Sunday or finish in the top 10.
A bad pit stop late, getting caught up in a wreck or mechanical issues will and can impact how the champion is decided.
There will be lots of strategy that could be played out on Sunday as drivers and teams are willing to take bigger chances.
With bigger chances means guys can makes mistakes. Whether those mistakes are on pit road or on the race track, one or all of the contenders can be involved.
Wins are huge at any point in the season but as the season winds down they are even bigger as teams look to build momentum for 2011.
On Sunday, while the top three are looking to keep pace with each other, everyone else will be looking to play spoiler.
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