How to Clinch a Spot in "The Chase"

The following information includes all the details of which driver needs to do what to secure their coveted spot in the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup heading to the Sony HD 500 at California Speedway.

Pos	Driver Name	Points	Over 11th	Behind 10th
1	Tony Stewart	3410	622
2	Jimmie Johnson	3197	409
3	Greg Biffle	3186	398
4	Rusty Wallace	3139	351
5	Mark Martin	3014	226
6	Jeremy Mayfield	2983	195
7	Kurt Busch	2982	194
8	Carl Edwards	2849	61
9	Ryan Newman	2819	31
10	Jeff Gordon	2799	11
11	Matt Kenseth	2788		-11
12	Jamie McMurray	2787		-12
13	Elliott Sadler	2765		-34
14	Dale Jarrett	2721		-78
15	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	2682		-117
16	Kevin Harvick	2677		-122
17	Joe Nemechek	2660		-139
18	Brian Vickers	2590		-209
19	Jeff Burton	2529		-270

All drivers listed above are still mathematically eligible for the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup.

Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson and Greg Biffle have clinched spots in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup.

Any driver with an advantage of 191 points or more over the 11th place driver following the Sony HD 500 at California Speedway will have clinched a spot in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup.

Rusty Wallace will clinch a spot in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup when he starts the Sony HD 500 at California Speedway.

Mark Martin will clinch a spot in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup with a finish of fifth place or better in the Sony HD 500 at California Speedway.

Jeremy Mayfield, Kurt Busch and Carl Edwards have a mathematical chance of clinching a spot in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup in the Sony HD 500 at California Speedway. Any driver with a lead of 191 points or more following the Sony HD 500 at California Speedway will have clinched a spot in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup.

At a minimum, at least two spots in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup will be up for grabs going into the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway.