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| RANK | +/- | DRIVER | POINTS | BEHIND | STARTS | POLES | WINS | TOP 5 | TOP 10 | WINNINGS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +1 | Jimmie Johnson | 5728 | Leader | 30 | 2 | 5 | 12 | 19 | 6,074,780 |
| 2 | -1 | Mark Martin | 5716 | -12 | 30 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 18 | 4,598,680 |
| 3 | -- | Juan Montoya | 5670 | -58 | 30 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 16 | 4,560,080 |
| 4 | -- | Tony Stewart | 5644 | -84 | 30 | 0 | 4 | 15 | 21 | 6,184,680 |
| 5 | +2 | Jeff Gordon | 5623 | -105 | 30 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 21 | 5,628,030 |
| 6 | -1 | Kurt Busch | 5607 | -121 | 30 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 17 | 3,993,030 |
| 7 | +1 | Greg Biffle | 5540 | -188 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 14 | 4,151,310 |
| 8 | +2 | Carl Edwards | 5536 | -192 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 13 | 4,814,820 |
| 9 | -3 | Denny Hamlin | 5509 | -219 | 30 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 16 | 4,239,890 |
| 10 | -1 | Ryan Newman | 5505 | -223 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 14 | 4,320,030 |
| 11 | -- | Kasey Kahne | 5422 | -306 | 30 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 12 | 4,864,470 |
| 12 | -- | Brian Vickers | 5377 | -351 | 30 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 4,084,730 |
| Race Schedule | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| No. | Date | Race | Time (ET) | Links |
|
|
| 31 | October 17 | Charlotte | Sat 7 p.m.  | Tickets |  |
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| 32 | October 25 | Martinsville | Sun 1 p.m. | Tickets | Travel | |
|
| 33 | November 1 | Talladega | Sun 12 p.m. | Tickets | Travel | |
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| 34 | November 8 | Texas | Sun 2:30 p.m. | Tickets | Travel | |
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| 35 | November 15 | Phoenix | Sun 2:30 p.m. | Tickets | Travel | |
|
| 36 | November 22 | Homestead | Sun 2:30 p.m. | Tickets | Travel | |
While the leader might not be a shock, there are plenty of eye-openers as you look up and down the standings. Some drivers like Mark Martin and Juan Montoya continue to be contenders while others like Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle and Denny Hamlin haven't lived up to expectations.
Who's the biggest surprise after four races? Bill Kimm and Jason Schoellen have theirs. Read what they have to say and then weigh in with your thoughts in the Comments section below. And don't forget to vote for who you agree with most in the poll at the right.
Who's the biggest surprise in the Chase heading to the halfway point?
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| CARL EDWARDS | JUAN MONTOYA |
|---|---|
Am I alone in amazement that Carl Edwards is struggling the way he is? I thought once the Chase started things would turn around, but here we are four races in and I am astonished he continues to fall short each week. Edwards still is winless and, in fact, isn't even a threat. This is the same driver and team that won a series-leading nine races in 2008. Nothing has changed on the No. 99 team, except it can't seem to find the magic it was blessed with last year. Not only is Edwards not winning, he's not even performing up to his standards. He's either barely finished at or below his average finish at the first four tracks. • New Hampshire -- Average finish: 13.8; 2009 finish: 17
The way Edwards started the Chase last year, I really thought he would turn things around. A third at New Hampshire, a third at Dover and a second at Kansas led me to believe, despite Edwards' struggles, he could find that spark again. But it just hasn't happened. And that's what is so surprising. We saw Juan Montoya excel before the Chase started, so his success isn't surprising. Mark Martin predicted it before the Chase even started. But Edwards as a non-factor after his amazing '08, well, that is something I never thought I would see. • Bill Kimm, NASCAR.COMThe opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. | This isn't a veiled shot at Mark Martin's age, but the guy must be Nostradamus. The Joey Logano prediction? Yawn. Foreseeing Juan Montoya's success in the Chase? Pure prophet. Montoya has posted as many top-fives (four) in the four Chase races as in his previous 68 starts. I figured he'd be good, but not consistently stellar. He's the only driver to finish fourth or better beginning at Loudon, and led laps in three of the Chase events, including the most at Loudon and 78 at Fontana. That's impressive for someone who was driving cars without fenders three years ago. Montoya has had a career year in 2009, so top-15 finishes wouldn't have been a huge surprise ... but firing off third- and fourth-place finishes like rounds out of a Tommy gun is something few could have imagined. His performance is especially impressive considering this is his first time facing the heat of the Chase that leaves many drivers -- even veterans -- wilting under the pressure. What makes Montoya's finishes even more mind-boggling is how aggressively he drives. He was welded together in a four-wheel drift with Jeff Burton at Loudon. He was door-to-door with Brad Keselowski in the turns at Kansas. He waited just two laps to pound Greg Biffle's bumper at Fontana and didn't lift a hair when Denny Hamlin cut across his nose. He has had so many doughnuts, he should be sponsored by Krispy Kreme. How he has kept the fenders on it and run like a true title contender is beyond me. • Jason Schoellen, NASCAR.COMThe opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. |
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