Fast Facts: The Chase

The Chase for the Sprint Cup is NASCAR’s version of “the playoffs” in other professional sports leagues. This year, 12 drivers will spend the last 10 races of the season fighting for the Sprint Cup supremacy – and 11 of them will be looking to dethrone “Five-Time,” Jimmie Johnson. Here’s a look back at previous Chases.

• The first chase – the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup – took place in 2004. The top 10 drivers in points were locked in, with Jeff Gordon in first, followed by Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth, Elliott Sadler, Kurt Busch, Mark Martin, Jeremy Mayfield and Ryan Newman. After ten races, Busch came out the victor for Roush Racing.
• In 2005, the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup saw Tony Stewart come in as the top qualifier and end the season with his second Cup Series title. Joining Stewart in the top 10: Greg Biffle, Rusty Wallace, Johnson, Busch, Martin, Mayfield, Carl Edwards, Kenseth and Newman.
• 2006 was the beginning of Johnson’s reign as Cup Series champ. Kenseth came into the 2006 Chase for the NEXTEL Cup as the top qualifier, followed by Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Earnhardt Jr., Martin, Jeff Burton, Gordon and Kasey Kahne.
• In 2007, the field was expanded to the top 12 drivers in points – the results, however, were very similar to 2006, with Johnson bringing home the hardware after securing the top spot going into the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup. Rounding out the top 12: Gordon, Stewart, Edwards, Kurt Busch, Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr., Kenseth, Kyle Busch, Burton, Harvick and Clint Bowyer.
• In 2008, Johnson tied Cale Yarborough for the most consecutive Cup Series championships when he won the 2008 Chase for the Sprint Cup. Kyle Busch came into the fight as the top seed, followed by Edwards, Johnson, Earnhardt Jr., Bowyer, Hamlin, Burton, Stewart, Biffle, Gordon, Harvick and Kenseth .
• 2009 saw Martin as the top seed in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, joined in the top 12 by Stewart, Johnson, Hamlin, Kahne, Gordon, Kurt Busch, Brian Vickers, Edwards, Newman, Juan Pablo Montoya and Biffle.
• In 2010, Hamlin came in as the top seed and gave Johnson a run for the title until the very last race, but Johnson came out on top to become a five-time champ. Joining them in the top 12 were: Harvick, Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch, Stewart, Biffle, Gordon, Edwards, Burton, Kenseth and Bowyer.

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