Three drivers have separated themselves to battle it out for the 2010
Sprint Cup—Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick. Only 15
points separate points leader Hamlin and second-place Jimmie Johnson,
and Harvick sits just 46 points out of first and 31 out of second.
Meanwhile, there’s another three-way battle going on—the fight to be
the best of the rest (non-Chase drivers). Heading into Sunday’s
season-finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Mark Martin holds the honor,
but Jamie McMurray finds himself just 24 points behind Martin and out of
13th. Ryan Newman is back in 15th, but he’s only 93 points behind
Martin and the first spot outside the Chase field. That’s a large number
of points to have to make up in one event, but it is doable if both
Martin and McMurray have problems.
Sandwiched inside these two fights for the positions of “best” and
“best of the rest” are even closer battles for other positions inside
the Chase. Sure, none of these positions come with trophies. Contingency
program awards not included, each position does pay better than the
spot below it, but then again, true racers don’t do it for the money.
One thing that is on the line here, though, is pride, and the later said
driver walks across the stage to accept his check and make his speech,
the better.
That being said, when competitors roll into Homestead-Miami this
weekend to close out the season, there’s more on the line than the
coveted championship and the 13th spot. To nine drivers in point spots
fourth through 12th, the chance to brag “I finished better than
so-and-so” is on the line.
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