Two Races Highlight Final Ten   September 13, 2007 Jack Lewis - SCR   It's mid-September, and since 2004 in the NASCAR world that means that the Chase for the Nextel Cup begins. This year there will be 12 drivers going after the Cup. But that won't be the only race for fans to keep their eye on.   There's the race for the "second tier" of drivers, also known as 13th in points. Then there is the race for several teams to get in the top 35 in points, which guarantees a spot for next year's running of the Daytona 500, the 50th anniversary race.     For the second time in three years, the sport's most popular driver is left out of its "playoff" system. Dale Earnhardt Jr. raced his heart out at Bristol, California, and last Saturday night at Richmond, even though his Chase chances were all but gone.   There was some promise, as the two guys he was racing to get in, Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch, had their troubles during the 400-lap event, but both would recover and both made the Chase.

Then making matters worse at Richmond, Junior, while running third and battling with the likes of Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon, suffered his 6th DNF of the 2007 season, with yet another engine problem. In those 6 DNF's, five of them were for blown engines. Three of them (Indianapolis, Watkins Glen, and Saturday night at Richmond) have been in the last seven races, a Chase killer.   So with the most popular driver one out of the Chase, what's there to watch? The twelve that got in, of course! As well as the battle to see if Junior can maintain 13th spot in points, the $1 million spot. Ryan Newman and Greg Biffle can still spoil that show, and with the way Dale Earnhardt Inc. (DEI)'s engines have been lately, who knows how close the race will be.   Then there is the battle to see who will be guaranteed a spot for the first five races of the '08 season.   This race may turn out to be the most competitive; depending on if anyone not in the Chase can string together a bunch of good finishes. Johnny Sauter (#70), Kyle Petty (#45), Dave Blaney (#22), and Ken Schrader (#21) all are in the battle to finish in the top 35 in owner points. As of now, going into New Hampshire, Blaney's Caterpillar Toyota team is only 4 points from being guaranteed a spot in the following week's race. He and the #21 (Ken Schrader) team, driven mostly by 1988 Winston Cup Champion Bill Elliott, have swapped spots 35th and 36th in owner points on almost a weekly basis. This week, Ken Schrader returns to the Wood Brothers ride for the first time since Darlington in May.   Plus, Scott Riggs has been in the rumor mill for being ousted at Gillett Evernham Motorsports (GEM), so he'll need to step it up in these final 10 races. He's 37th in owner points, 201 behind 35th. In order to keep his current ride, or impress other owners, maybe getting the No.10 team in the top 35 will be a nice audition for a ride.   Sauter's 5th place finish at Richmond Saturday night was a career best for him, and helped his cause to maintain a spot in the top 35 in owner points. The No. 70 team's Car of Tomorrow (COT) program has been pretty good since the first race in March, and with 5 of the last 10 races in the COT, there's plenty for Sauter and crew chief Bootie Barker to smile about.

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Kyle Petty has been banged up lately. After taking his frustration out on a wall in his hauler, which resulted in a broken hand and his absence in two races, Petty was able to lead at least one lap at California and Richmond, and finish 28th and 25th respectively.   Dave Blaney has had a roller coaster year. He's the highest point-ranking Toyota team, and has typically been the highest-running Toyota -- when he makes the race. After missing two races early in the season at Talladega and Dover, Blaney went on to claim Toyota's first Cup Pole at New Hampshire -- the site of this weekend's race. He's had two top 10 finishes at Indianapolis and Michigan's Tuesday matinee. Since then, though, finishes of 31st, 38th, and 34th respectively. Those finishes have Blaney on the outside looking in on these last 10 races.   But as these final 10 get underway, just think of how much better he and all of Toyota should be next year, with Joe Gibbs Racing on the way. Blaney has seemed to carry the Toyota banner most of this year, and probably will until Daytona in February.   Questions, Comments; Email Jack