Filed under: Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Chase for the Sprint Cup, NASCAR
The good news for NASCAR is that the mere 38 points separating the top three Sprint Cup Series championship contenders with three races remaining makes it the tightest title fight since the inception of the Chase playoff format in 2004.The more intriguing twist is that four-time defending series champ -- and current points leader -- Jimmie Johnson has two drivers trying to chase him down instead of one. And unlike previous years, they are on his bumper. Denny Hamlin trails the champ by 14 points and regular-season points leader Kevin Harvick is only 38 back.
A statistical analysis of the performance of Johnson and his challengers at the remaining three race tracks indicates he still holds most favorable status, but things should stay interesting.
Even when Johnson has had more comfortable points margins and the option to play it safe at the 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway, the 1-mile Phoenix oval and 1.5-mile Homestead-Miami Speedway, he has put up impressive numbers to close out the season. His combined average finish at the three tracks is 9.2, compared to 10.6 for Hamlin and 12.1 for Harvick.
However, each has proven himself capable of beating the other two at a given track and that's why this championship is still up for grabs.
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Alan Dennis Kulwicki Travis Wade Kvapil Robert Allen Labonte Terrence Lee Labonte
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