By Seth Herrold
The NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup field was determined on Saturday night in Richmond. Going into the race it seemed the field was already set. The top 10 in points were there, Kasey Kahne had one of the two wild card spots locked up with two wins on the season and Kyle Busch led the field of drivers who had one victory in the race for the final wild card spot.
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Busch entered the race having won the spring race at the track. Heck, he has won the last four spring races at the track. He also led the next driver with one victory in the standings, Jeff Gordon, by 12 points. That meant all Busch had to do to lock up a spot in the Chase was finish 11 spots behind Jeff Gordon and have another driver with one lone win on the season not win.
Early on in the race things looked even brighter for Busch as Gordon’s team had clearly missed their set-up. The 24 car fell behind as Gordon battled with an extremely loose race car. It wasn’t long and Gordon was a lap down.
This was nothing new for Gordon this season. You race cars long enough ( this is the 20th year Gordon has raced in a Sprint Cup race) and you’re bound to have some bad luck. For Gordon, the whole season has been nothing but bad luck. The 24 car has been stricken with everything from flat tires to engine failures to getting caught up in other people’s wrecks. Luck was on Gordon’s side just once this year. Rain fell at Pocono, causing an end to the race while Gordon was in front. As a result, the 24 was the winner. Then, after finally catching a break, Gordon began to heat up; chasing down Busch in the standings to the point where he put himself in a position to make the Chase.
Saturday night’s race in Richmond for Gordon was like his entire season rolled into one night. The bad start was just like the one Gordon endured at the start of the year. Down a lap, Gordon showed why he is regarded as one of the best drivers in racing history. He communicated with his team, got the adjustments he needed and drove. Gordon drove like the four-time champion he is. He was picking off cars left and right and then came the question: “How many more cars do I need to pass to be the Lucky Dog?”
A quick explanation for non-NASCAR fans: NASCAR has a rule where the first car one lap down gets to come around and get back on the lead lap each time a caution comes out on the track. It’s called the “Lucky Dog” Award.
The answer Gordon’s crew relayed to him was “You are the Lucky Dog.” Gordon was the first car one lap down and then, again mirroring his season, he caught a break like he did at Pocono. Rain drops fell on the track, causing a caution, and Gordon got the Lucky Dog Award and was back on the lead lap. While this was happening, Busch was struggling. With an opportunity in front of him. Gordon began to march through the pack, much the way he marched through the standings after the Pocono win. Gordon fought his way to 12th, then 11th, then 10th. The 24 didn’t stop – ninth, eighth, seventh and sixth; fifth, fourth and then third. Gordon moved into second place. Busch was 16th, 14 spots behind. Gordon wouldn’t catch the leader that night, but he placed second and with Busch’s 16th-place finish, Gordon made the Chase and kept his hopes for a fifth NASCAR championship alive.
Gordon is now in the Chase and one of the hottest drivers on the circuit with a ton of momentum behind him. He won’t be the favorite to win the championship, but obviously, you can never count Jeff Gordon out.