in NASCAR Articles

There's just two races remaining in the Chase for the Cup and there's five drivers that's very much in contention for the title as we head into the desert for the Checker Auto Parts 500. Points leader Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Dale Earnhardt Jr., rookie Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick.

Johnson enters Sunday's race at Phoenix with a slim 17 point lead. His 8.7 average finish is tops among active drivers, with four top-10s -- including a second-place finish in 2003 at Phoenix, when he led 84 laps. He's never finished outside the top 15 at PIR and has raced all 1,875 laps in his six starts.

Kenseth enters this event as one of the favorites and is just 17 points behind Johnson. However, his 20.750 average finish at Phoenix is ninth among the 10 Chase drivers. In eight races at the track he has one victory and four top-10 finishes, but he has only one top-10 finish in his past four starts Phoenix.

Earnhardt Jr. began his career at Phoenix with finishes of 27th and 37th -- then rebounded to reel off four consecutive top-five finishes, including two wins. However, his past two finishes were 40th and 23rd. Earnhardt Jr. is third in the standings just 78 points behind.

Joe Gibbs showed he wasn't afraid to put a virtual newcomer into a Cup ride and Hamlin immediately made an impact this year. However, in the spring race at Phoenix Hamlin posted a dismal 34th finish. He has just one DNF this season along with three poles. Hamlin is fourth in the standings 80 points behind.

Harvick is 105 points from the lead but still has a shot at the title. Harvick has four wins this year including a victory at Phoenix. He has 13 top-5 finishes and 18 top-10's this season.

A gap of 105 points is a lot to make up but Harvick can do it. Harvick might be the best at charging to the front and staying there, but right now he needs more than to run up front; he needs to win the next two races to take the title. Any problem (even a small one) from here on out and it's all over for this team. Expect Harvick to run an aggressive race on Sunday in this must win situation.

Selection - Kevin Harvick

Note: No race has ever been won from the Bud Pole at Phoenix -- and race winners have done so from a top-10 starting position only seven of 20 times. The average starting position of the winners at Phoenix has been 13.8.

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Robbie Maddux is a freelance columnist and regular contributor to the BetUS.com Locker room.