But the last couple weeks
at Bristol
and California Kahne has shown signs that he has his groove back. That means he will be running up front this Saturday night
at Richmond, where, ironically, Kahne scored his first career Cup win at in May
2005. He has 30 points to gain to make the Chase, but everything under the sun to lose.
Jeff Burton, who I cited
as "Comeback Driver of the Year for 2006" a couple weeks ago, even after his engine misfortune at Michigan, is on the bubble,
sitting 10th in the standings, a mere 30 points ahead of Kahne. Burton's another driver who was thought to have had a strong
hold of the Chase, especially a month ago when Burton sat 3rd in points, and it seemed that a win (for the first time since
11/01) was very near.
However, after an engine
failure at Michigan that gave Burton
his first DNF of '06, he dropped from 4th to 9th in points. A 9th place finish at Bristol
a couple weeks ago vaulted the South Boston, VA native
up to 7th, but even a somewhat decent 16th place finish at California still
dropped Burton down to the bubble spot, showing just how competitive the series
is.
Sitting ninth in points,
in what may or may not be his final year, is Mark Martin. A couple weeks ago, Martin's car owner of almost 20 years, Jack
Roush, said that it would be a huge personal letdown if Mark doesn't make the Chase. I think many fans will also be disappointed.
But that is a definite possibility, considering that Martin has only two points on Jeff Burton, putting him 32 points ahead
of 11th-place Kahne. That, and Martin's two finishes 20th or worse have put Martin in the danger zone.
The Batesville, AK native
was a quiet contender through most of the first 25 races, just as he has done every year he's been in competition, but as
the Chase has grown nearer, so has the pressure put on the 49-year old.
Just when you thought
that a couple of the sport's best may be on the outside looking in, consider this. Should Kahne make the Chase, who would
he bump out? Would it be the veterans and sentimental favorites in Burton and
Martin? Will it be the defending series champion (8th in points) Tony Stewart? Will it be the young guns Kyle Busch (5th)
or Denny Hamlin (7th)? Will it be a driver who has had some of the biggest shoes to fill in Kevin Harvick (3rd)? Or will it
be the crowd favorites Jeff Gordon (4th) or Dale Earnhardt Jr. (6th)? Only time will tell. That time is Saturday night, under
the lights, at the Richmond Int'l Raceway.
Questions,
Comments;
Email Jack
The views and opinions in this article are
that of the writer and not necessarily that of SCR
2006 StockCar Review.
