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NASCAR Chase quotes, race tightens
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Kurt Busch
Just when it seemed the inevitable was about to happen, the unexpected happened, Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 crashed early with three races to go to the Sprint Cup. The wreck didn’t reverse his point advantage but it reduced the margin 111 points to 73 over second place Mark Martin.
With two races remaining more shuffling is possible for the top five drivers, but it’s over for the bottom five drivers as their point deficit is right at or more than total points available.
When the checkers fall for the last lap in Homestead the championship quest is likely to have been a two race competition between Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon.
1. Jimmie Johnson
“Luckily we have a big points lead. All along we've been trying to tell everybody this thing is far from over, what our mindset has been. Luckily we've raced for every point throughout this Chase. We still have a decent points lead right now. We need to dust ourselves off, head to Phoenix, get a good one in the bank there.”
2. Mark Martin
“It's not over yet. The top six, I'm still kind of baffled why everybody is so preoccupied with first and second. The top-six spots are being raced for like a dog fight. I've got to past champions that knocked me out of championships breathing down my neck so the race is still on for all of us.”
3. Jeff Gordon
“We still have a great battle going for second in points,” Gordon said. “If for some crazy reason, those guys had trouble, we have to make sure we capitalize on it. I think our focus right now is winning races and trying to get to second in points.”
4. Kurt Busch
“I mean, we race the races. That's why we do it. We don't do it off paper. We go challenge ourselves to be the best at Phoenix and challenge ourselves to be the best at Homestead in two weeks to try to see how we can move up in points. We don't wish any bad luck upon anybody else. I have a great car owner, great crew chief by my side, great engineering staff. We're doing what we can to put ourselves in position.”
5. Tony Stewart
“As far as the championship is concerned, it’s out of our control. So, we’re back to the mode we were at this time last year and the year before that and that’s just trying to win races. We can’t do anything about the points now. It’s strictly a matter of us going out and doing the best we can each week.”
6. Juan Montoya
“It’s simple if you want to win this you’ve got to win races and you’ve got to beat everybody whether his name is Jimmie or Jeff or Mark, I don’t care.”
7. Greg Biffle
“We’re obviously not in contention for the championship but we need to get the best finishes we can in the 3M Ford and finish out this season on a high note. Any momentum we can gain for 2010 will help.”
8. Denny Hamlin
About Jimmie Johnson’s Texas wreck:
“I'm so far back, it really didn't matter. I got my three DNFs. It was kind of a moot point for myself. It just shows anything can happen. Just the beginning of the race, guys are antsy, anything can happen. You never know.”
9. Ryan Newman
“I think we've done a lot of great things this year as a team. A win right now would be huge, not just for this year but rolling into momentum for next year.”
10. Kasey Kahne
“At the start of this year, our team’s goal was to get Richard back in victory lane. Then we went to making sure that Richard was in the Chase as a team owner. To get him back on top would be the ultimate for us as a group.”
11. Carl Edwards
“We’ve worked pretty hard and I was real happy with the pickup there. We’re competitive. I feel like we can hold our own against these guys and that’s big.”
12. Brian Vickers
“It’s no secret that it’s not gone well for us lately in the Chase.”
NASCAR Sprint Cup Point Standings
[After Race 34 of 36 - Includes Points Behind Leader]
1. Jimmie Johnson [Leader] [6297]
2. Mark Martin [ -73]
3. Jeff Gordon [-112]
4. Kurt Busch [-171]
5. Tony Stewart [-178]
6. Juan Montoya [-236]
7. Greg Biffle [-247]
8. Denny Hamlin [-322]
9. Ryan Newman [-324]
10. Kasey Kahne [-399]
11. Carl Edwards [-440]
12. Brian Vickers [-551]
NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase Schedule
11/15/09 Race 35 Phoenix International Speedway 2:30 p.m. [ABC]
11/22/09 Race 36 Homestead International Speedway 2:30 p.m. [ABC]
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