It's time to make winning count in all three series
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(Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
Imagine how crazy things might get if it was win and you're in for the Chase.
Kasey Kahne's victory in Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Infineon Raceway opens up an argument that needs to be debated.
Should it take a win to qualify for the Chase?
If the Chase field were set today, five of the top 12 drivers who would qualify are still winless. Kahne and David Reutimann, the next two drivers on the outside looking in, each have visited Victory Lane.
If NASCAR wants to turn up the heat and make wins more important, then require Chase drivers to finish first at least once.
Perhaps there could be a clause that says you must finish in the top 15 or be within 100 points of the top 12 as well. That would eliminate a driver with a fluke win and 25th in points from knocking out somebody that has been consistent all season.
But a win should be a prerequisite. And if there aren't enough drivers with wins to field the top 12, then go to points.
The way this Chase is shaping up, two drivers -- Mark Martin and Kyle Busch -- with three wins could be left out. Busch is ninth in points but only 48 away from being out of the top 12.
Martin is 11th and only 12 away from being replaced.
Don't think it couldn't happen. Jeff Gordon didn't make the Chase in 2005 with two wins.
Kahne barely made it in 2006 with five wins.
Imagine the pressure Carl Edwards, Ryan Newman, Denny Hamlin, Greg Biffle and Juan Pablo Montoya -- in the top 12 with no wins -- would feel now if a victory were required.
Imagine the drama it would create?
The object of sports is to win. So shouldn't a qualification for the Chase be to include drivers with wins?
That said, if you're looking for excitement in the Cup series, stop looking at the top of the point standings.
Take a look at ninth through 16th.
This is shaping up as the most intense battle for the final spots in the Chase since 2004, when five drivers entered the last event before the inaugural playoff within 56 points of qualifying.
Four drivers are within 65 points of 12th, and ninth through 16th are separated by 110 points.
Pretty good stuff, huh?
Kahne moved within three points of Montoya, who took over the final spot with a sixth-place finish Sunday.
Behind Kahne is Reutimann (-40), Jeff Burton (-46) and Clint Bowyer (-65). Brian Vickers isn't toast, either, trailing 12th by 123 despite a 16th-place finish.
It's shaping up as a much better battle than the one for the top spot. Tony Stewart leads, but because the standings are reshuffled and seeded according to bonus points given for wins, he would trail Busch and Martin with three wins each, and Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth with two wins each.
He could fall even further if he doesn't win again between now and Richmond if a couple of drivers with one win reach Victory Lane for a second time.
Kahne has been in this position for the past couple of years but came up short.
"You know, the Chase is what we work for each year," he said. "So many people are part of our whole race team, and we need to have a car in that Chase.
"We need to figure out how to make the Chase and just be consistent. We've run strong for the last six races. … top-10 material. Haven't finished there, but we've been there, and today we did."
If a win was required for the field, he'd be in.
It's something to think about.
Nationwide Series: A playoff would add drama
Maybe it's time for this series to go to a playoff of some sort as well. The top two spots are solid with Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards, full-time regulars in the Cup series.
Brad Keselowski also is in the mix, trailing Busch by 218 points.
But if there were a playoff, many of the non-Cup drivers would be in the hunt. If you required wins, then somebody like David Ragan in 16th would have a chance.
Again, something to think about.
Camping World Truck Series: Points racing
Let's catch up on the points race here. Ron Hornaday Jr. tops the series, 36 ahead of Matt Crafton after taking the checkered at Milwaukee.
Todd Bodine is 88 out of first and Mike Skinner 89.
This definitely is the most exciting race for first place, and without a playoff, first is all that matters now.
But if there were a playoff, six drivers would be within 110 points of 12th-place Stacy Compton. And Kyle Busch would have a shot at the title if wins were required. He is 15th with a pair of victories.
Once again, something to think about.
David Newton covers NASCAR for ESPN.com. He can be reached at dnewtonespn@aol.com.
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Sprint Cup Series
Kahne
- Kasey Kahne won the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway. He scored his 10th series victory in his 196th start. His last win came at Pocono in June 2008, 37 races ago. Kahne led twice for 37 laps, the most of all drivers. Thirty-six drivers finished on the lead lap, the most ever in a series road course race; the previous record was 34 at Infineon in June 2005 and Watkins Glen in August 2005. Kahne posted his first series victory at Infineon in his sixth start; his best previous finish at Infineon was 23rd in 2007. He scored his first series victory on a road course in 11 starts; it was his first top-10 finish on a road course. His previous best finish on a road course was 14th (twice -- both at Watkins Glen).
- Kahne became the 10th different race winner in 16 races in 2009
- Kahne's No. 9 was one of three numbers that had competed in all 20 previous races at Infineon without winning; the No. 21 and the No. 5 were the other two.
- Kahne became the 41st driver to score at least one win on a series road course.
- Kahne moved up two spots in the points from 15th to 13th; he is only three points out of the top 12.
- Richard Petty scored his first win as a car owner since John Andretti won at Martinsville in April 1999. It was 363 races between wins. Richard Petty Motorsports posted its first series victory; 18 different teams had won since a team owned by Richard Petty last won. All three RPM cars finished in the top 10.
- Dodge scored its second win at Infineon and second victory of 2009; the last win came at Atlanta with Kurt Busch
- Tony Stewart finished second, posting his fifth top-2 finish in 2009; it was his eighth top-5 finish of the season, which ties Jeff Gordon for the most in 2009. Stewart has finished in the top 10 in the past six road course races, the longest current streak.
- Marcos Ambrose (third) matched his career-best finish set at Watkins Glen last August.
- Juan Pablo Montoya (sixth) has finished in the top 10 in four of the past five races and has seven top-10s in 2009. Montoya moved up to 12th in the series points standings; it's only the third time in his 89-race career he has been in the top 12; he has picked up three spots in the points over the last two races. Montoya has scored more top-10 finishes in 2009 than he has in any other season.
- Max Papis (12th) scored his career-best finish; he had the highest finish among Rookie of the Year contenders.
- The race featured a green-white-checkered finish for the third time in 2009.
- The top 10 consisted of three Dodges, five Chevrolets, and two Toyotas. Carl Edwards (13th) was the best finishing Ford.
Edwards
- Carl Edwards won the NorthernTool.com 300 at The Milwaukee Mile. He won from an "official" 11th-place starting position, but actually started 43rd after dropping to the rear under penalty for a driver change. (His car was qualified by Colin Braun since Edwards was absent for qualifying.) Edwards led twice for 46 laps, including the final 45. This marked the third time Edwards has won when he dropped to the rear and second straight at Milwaukee. He also won from the rear at Memphis in October 2008.
- Edwards scored his first series win in 15 starts this season. His win at Milwaukee one year ago was also his first win of that season.
- Edwards is the 10th different series winner in 2009. He scored his 21st career series victory in his 156th race.
- Edwards posted his second victory at Milwaukee in his fifth race and became the second repeat race winner in 19 races. He scored his third straight top-10 finish at Milwaukee.
- Edward's last win came at Homestead last November.
- It was Roush Fenway Racing's 103rd series victory and fifth in 2009.
- Edwards posted his 100th career top-10 finish in 156 starts in the series.
- This was Roush's fourth win at Milwaukee, the most by any car owner.
- Kyle Busch, the points leader entering by 137 over Edwards, finished second. Busch now leads the points by 127 over Edwards.
- Busch has led the most laps in the last eight series races, extending a streak that began at Talladega in April. He led once for 80 laps at Milwaukee.
- Busch has led 1,486 laps this season, the most by any driver. He has led at least one lap in the last 12 races, extending a streak that began at Bristol. The record is 19 set by Sam Ard in 1984.
- Brad Keselowski (third) extended a streak of 12 consecutive top-15 finishes that began at Bristol. Keselowski finished 22nd, 27th and 27th in the first three races of the season before posting his first top-15 finish of the season at Bristol (12th). It marked his seventh top-3 finish in his last 11 races. Keselowski has scored top-10 finishes in the last five races, a streak that began at Lowe's. He has been running at the finish in the last 47 series races, the longest current streak.
- Erik Darnell (fourth) tied his career-best finish. He was the highest finishing Rookie of the Year contender.
- Ricky Stenhouse (fifth) posted his career-best finish.
- Jason Leffler (10th) has finished in the top 10 in the last 10 series races, extending a streak that began at Nashville in April. This is the longest current streak. He has scored 14 straight top-15 finishes, extending a streak that began at race No. 2 in California in February. Leffler has scored four straight top-10 finishes at Milwaukee.
- Mike Bliss (seventh) climbed from ninth to sixth in the points standings, the biggest gain in the race among the top 20 drivers.
- Ford posted its fifth win in 15 races in 2009. Toyota has six wins and Chevrolet has four while Dodge has none.
- The top 10 consisted of five Chevrolets, three Fords and two Toyotas.
Hornaday
- Ron Hornaday Jr. won the rain-delayed Camping World Truck Series Copart 200 at the Milwaukee Mile. He scored his 41st series victory in his 235th start. Hornaday won on his 51st birthday and scored his second series win at Milwaukee in his 10th start. He scored his second series victory on his birthday; his first came at Bristol on June 20, 1998.
- Two drivers have won on their birthday in the series: Hornaday (twice) and Dave Rezendes at Infineon on Oct. 6, 1996.
- Qualifying for the Copart 200 was canceled and the field was set by owner points; Hornaday has won seven races after qualifying was canceled, the most of all drivers. Hornaday posted his second win of 2009; his last win came at Lowe's (the last time qualifying was canceled in the series).
- Hornaday led 180 of the 200 laps, the most of all drivers. His 180 laps led is the most ever led in a series race at Milwaukee. He has now led at least one lap in nine of the 10 races in 2009, including the last eight.
- Dennis Setzer, who finished second, scored his fifth top-10 finish of 2009; he has finished in the top 10 in four of the last five races.
- Brian Scott (third) scored his fifth top-10 of 2009 and third top-5.
- James Buescher (fifth) posted his first series top-5 finish. He had the best finish of the five Rookie of the Year contenders in the race.
- Matt Crafton, the points leader entering, finished 16th, his worst finish of the season. Crafton is now second in points (36 behind Hornaday).
- The top 10 consisted of two Chevrolets, six Toyotas and two Fords. Jason White (23rd) had the best finish for Dodge.