View Greatest Chase Comebacks
Greatest Comebacks in the Chase
By Gregg Leary
10-22-08
Category:NASCAR -> Sprint Cup
With four races to go in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup are the eleven drivers trailing Jimmie Johnson… history?
The Official Driver Standings:
1. Jimmie Johnson Leader
2. Greg Biffle -149
3. Jeff Burton -152
4. Carl Edwards -198
5. Clint Bowyer -242
6. Kevin Harvick -256
7. Jeff Gordon -275
8. Tony Stewart -338
9. Dale Earnhardt Jr. -379
10. Matt Kenseth -408
11. Denny Hamlin -420
12. Kyle Busch -445
In Chase history the greatest deficit ever overcome was Jimmie Johnson’s title run in 2006. JJ made up 165 points in 5 races to take the lead and eventually the championship. Jimmie made up an average of 33 points per race.
Greg Biffle, now in Second Place, would have to make up 38 points per race to overcome Johnson’s lead. It’s possible. Kyle Busch, currently in Twelfth, would have to amass 112 points more than Jimmie in each of the four remaining contests. There are 780 points remaining with a 644 point differential based on the points for four first place and four forty third place finishes. Although it is NOT impossible… based on Jimmie Johnson’s stellar Chase statistics…it ain’t gonna happen! It looks like the only legitimate candidates with a chance to overtake Johnson are Biffle, Burton or Edwards. Any driver more than 200 points back in an extreme longshot.
Chase Comebacks:
2004: Kurt Busch -1 after Race 28….Led Rest of Season: CHAMP
2005: Tony Stewart -23 after race 28…Led Rest of Season CHAMP
2006: Jimmie Johnson -165 after race 29….Took lead at Race 34 CHAMP
2007: Jimmie Johnson -68 after Race 31….Took lead at Race 34 CHAMP
2008: Jimmie Johnson -10 after Race 28…Took lead at Race 29…Leads by 149 after race 32
MAXIMUM POINT SWING…161 PER RACE
1st Place and Leading the Most Laps…195
43rd Place Finish: 34
195-34 EQUALS 161
Jimmie Johnson overcame a 165 Point deficit in 5 races in 2006 to win the Championship. Don’t look for history to repeat itself in 2008. Jimmie Johnson should tie Cale Yarborough and MAKE history by winning his third straight Cup.