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Instant expert: your cheat sheet for The Chase

Sporting News, The, Sept 23, 2005 by Matt Crossman

What we learned from 2004

1 Winning isn't everything. Consistency is. Last year, Jimmie Johnson won four of the 10 Chase races. Kurt Busch won one. But Busch won the championship because he had nine top 10 finishes, and Johnson finished second because he had seven.

2 It'll be exciting to the finish. The champion might not be known until the final lap of the final race.

3 No cussing on live TV!

4 There will be drama, excitement and controversy. The only thing missing will be trash-talking. Tony Stewart and Greg Biffle are the most willing to commit verbal battery. Maybe we can prod them. ... Tony! Earlier this season, Jeff Gordon promised to wreck you. Remember that? Biffle! You're old, old, old.

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7 easy steps to Chase expertise

What it's officially called: The Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup.

What you should call it to sound cool: The Chase.

Who's involved: The top 10 drivers in points after 26 races; the 26th race was Saturday. The rules also allow anyone within 400 points of the leader to gain entry if they're not in the top 10, but nobody qualified that way.

What's next: The final 10 races will determine the champion. Points are doled out the same way as in the regular season.

How it works: The top 10 drivers had their points recalibrated going into Sunday's race at New Hampshire. The leader was set at 5,050, with subsequent Chase drivers decreasing by five, down to the 10th-place guy's 5,005.

How it's like playoffs: The regular season goes out the window.

How it's not like playoffs: None of the Chase qualifiers gets eliminated, and teams not involved in the Chase still race.

A newbie's guide to the guys in the Chase

Or what to say when somebody asks you about a Chase driver.

1 Tony Stewart. Talented and temperamental--and he recently has developed a squeaky Mr. Clean image.

2 Greg Biffle. Fast but unknown.

3 Rusty Wallace. A hyperactive veteran.

4 Jimmie Johnson. Pretty boy.

5 Kurt Busch. Defending champion.

6 Mark Martin. A sentimental favorite and a Cup four times.

7 Jeremy Mayfield. The most normal person of the bunch.

8 Carl Edwards. Richie Cunningham,The backflip guy.

9 Matt Kenseth. The 2003 champ; never says anything.

10 Newman. Has an engineering degree from Purdue.

Get to know the tracks

Date. Track. What to call it sound cool. What you need to know. Predicted winner

1 September 18. New Hampshire International Speedway. Loudon. Will be as intense and awkward as a first date. Jimmie Johnson

2 September 25. Dover International Speedway. The Monster Mile. Someone always is dominant. Mark Martin

3 October 2. Talladega Superspeedway. Talladega. There will be a major accident, called The Big One. (Yes, a crash that hasn't happened already has a nickname.) Tony Stewart

4 October 9. Kansas Speedway. Kansas. Fuel mileage will be the key. Greg Biffle

5 October 15. Lowe's Motor Speedway. Charlotte. The home track for just about everybody. Jimmie Johnson

6 October 23. Martinsville Speedway. Martinsville. It looks like a paperclip. Kurt Busch

7 October 30. Atlanta Motor Speedway. Atlanta. Suffered damage in a storm this summer. Tony Stewart

8 November 6. Texas Motor Speedway. Texas. The fastest track on the circuit. Greg Biffle

9 November 13. Phoenix International Raceway. Phoenix. Anything can happen and probably will. Tony Stewart

10 November 20. Homestead-Miami Speedway. Homestead. Will be as intense and awkward as a last date. Greg Biffle

Instant expert: your cheat sheet for The Chase

Sporting News, The, Sept 23, 2005 by Matt Crossman

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