While none of these 5 drivers will have much of a chance to win the Nextel Cup, they will be packing their bags for New York City after the fall Richmond race (again, no particular order):
- Kyle Busch, driving the Hendrick #5 Kelloggs Chevy. There’s an unwritten rule that there must be a Busch in the Chase.
- Dale Earnhardt Jr., driving the DEI #8 Budweiser Chevy. The good news; Tony Eury Jr is back. The bad; there’s still flat tracks on the circuit.
- Kasey Kahne, driving the Evernham #9 Dodge Dealers Dodge. The sophomore slump is over, and Jr will have some competition for camera time at the end of the year from NBC.
- Ryan Newman, driving the Penske #12 ALLTEL/Mobil 1 Dodge. Over/under on the number of poles for Rocket; 10 (take the over). Over/under on the best finish for Rocket; 10 (also take the over).
- Carl Edwards, driving the Roush #99 Office Depot Ford. Since he never ran for ROTY, can he really have a sophomore slump?
