With Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle all residing in the top-12 in the Chase for the Sprint Series standings, Roush Fenway drivers may end up comprising a quarter of the Chase’s participants.
All three will attempt to cement their places in the Chase at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday. As of the season’s first 24 regular season races, only Kevin Harvick and Jeff Gordon have secured their slots, meaning many drivers will make or break their Chase chances this weekend.
For the three Roush Fenway drivers, it’s no different.
Edwards, who is currently fourth in the Sprint Cup Series standings, would need to have a disastrous race to be in danger of being absent from the field. In order to secure his spot, Edwards needs only to finish 21st or better with no laps led, 23rd or better with at least one lap led or 25th or better with the most laps lead. Such a finish shouldn’t prove to be a problem for a man who has six career victories in Atlanta.
Kenseth finds himself in seventh place in the Chase standings headed into the penultimate race in Atlanta, and will need a solid showing to cement his place in the field. Kenseth needs to finish 15th or better with no laps led, 17th or better with at least one lap lead or 19th or better with the most laps led to ensure he’s racing in the Chase series past next weekend.
Finally, Biffle will need to add to his fourteen top-10 finishes if he wants to guarantee himself a place in the field. Biffle is currently 11th in the standings, ahead of only Clint Bowyer on the all-important top- 12 list, but controls his own destiny in Atlanta. Biffle needs to finish fourth or better with no laps led, fifth or better with at least one lap lead or seventh or better with the most laps led to secure his spot.
Since the Sprint Series’ conception in 2004, Roush Fenway has placed 17 cars in the Chase field — the most of any racing organization.
With a little luck and some solid racing, that number can rise to 20 come Sunday night.
