While most of the attention has been focused on the top three in points, Stewart has quietly been hanging on in fourth.
People have said stick a fork in those from fourth back, they’re done. According to many, the Chase will be decided between the Hendrick duo of Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson over the course of the final four races. Clint Bowyer has a slim chance, but even he’s a long shot. For those behind the top three, well there’s always next year.
Whoever issued that forecast however forget to tell Smoke.
"Anything can happen to any of the teams," says Stewart. "At this point, who knows? Until somebody comes up and says ok, mathematically you are out of it, until then, we have got a shot. That is all I can say about it. That is all we know.”
Last year, Stewart scored more points than any other driver over the course of the last ten races, despite not being in the Chase. He also scored victories in two of the final four races, the first coming at Atlanta.
During the series last visit to Atlanta, in March, Stewart led 151 laps and finished second to Johnson. The result was his 11th top 10 finish in the last 12 races including his two wins at Atlanta. That’s the kind of success that should keep Stewart in the mix and makes him a threat for victory Sunday.
Edwards looks to clinch at Memphis
By Charles Krall,Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service,October 26
Carl Edwards has been in the center of the NASCAR news this week thanks
to his much-publicized confrontation with Roush Fenway Racing teammate
Matt Kenseth following the Nextel Cup Series race at Martinsville. He
hopes to stay in the news this weekend by clinching the Busch Series
title Saturday at Memphis Motorsports Park in Millington, Tenn.
Edwards exerted his dominance in the first half of the Busch season,
winning four times in the first 15 races and building a 662-point lead
over Kevin Harvick in second. Since then, Edwards’ luck has turned.
In the 16 races since his fourth win of the season at Nashville in June,
Edwards has finished 20th or worse eight times. In the past two races,
he has finishes of 38th at Kansas and a 33rd at Lowe’s. After racking up
11 top five finishes in the first 15 races, Edwards has three since.
The point advantage over second remains formidable, but current series
runner-up David Reutimann has closed from 811 points out of the lead
after Nashville to 638.
“From the first half of the season to the second half, we haven’t really
performed that much differently,” Edwards said. “We’ve had terrible
results. I mean, starting at Kentucky (the week after Nashville),
leading the race, dominating and being wrecked on a restart.
“Last week we had what I thought was the fastest car. And Jimmie
Johnson, of all people, spun out at the speedway, and we ended up
getting wrecked there. It was like the most crazy luck that I think has
put us in this position.”
Edwards needs to lead by 585 points after Saturday’s race to clinch the
title.
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