by Mark Rothstein for BetUS.com
Kasey Kahne has many of the Nextel Cup?s best drivers feeling a little tense this week.
Kahne threw his name into the Chase for the Cup hat by winning last Sunday?s Sony HD 500 at California Speedway, closing to within 30 points of the 10th and last qualifying spot. A similar result at Saturday?s Chevy Rock & Roll 400 would almost certainly put Kahne in the Top 10. The men most likely to be victimized by such a scenario are Tony Stewart, Mark Martin and Jeff Burton, the three men currently holding down the last three spots in the Chase.
Burton and Martin are getting relatively long odds at +1600 for Saturday night?s event at Richmond International Raceway in Virginia. There?s good reason for that: Neither driver has won a race this year, although Burton has enjoyed pole position four times. Burton says he?s more than happy to feel the pressure of holding onto his spot, compared to previous years when he was out of contention. He credits the move from Roush Racing to Richard Childress Racing in 2004 for revitalizing his career.
Martin, on the other hand, is still with Roush Racing and hanging onto his Chase hopes by a thread. A strong and consistent start to the season saw Martin finish no worse than 13th in 12 of his first 13 points races. It?s been a bit of a struggle since then, enough that Martin praised his team for finishing 12th last week (and collecting five valuable bonus points for leading three laps). Another 12th at Richmond might not cut it for Martin in what he says will be his last full-time year on the Cup circuit.
Stewart is breathing a little more easily. He?s 13 points ahead of Martin in the drivers? standings, and he?s one of the co-favorites this week at +700 with Dale Earnhardt Jr. Stewart and Earnhardt have three career victories apiece at Richmond. With ten Top-10 results in 15 appearances, Stewart has no qualms about Saturday?s race. ?It?s the favorite track of mine on the circuit,? the defending Cup champion told the Associated Press. ?It?s where I got my first win.?
The same can be said for Kahne. His maiden victory was at the 2005 Chevy American Revolution 400, and he will be motivated more than anyone else to take the checkered flag yet again at Richmond. He?s listed at +800 to collect his sixth win of the season.
Kasey Kahne has many of the Nextel Cup?s best drivers feeling a little tense this week.
Kahne threw his name into the Chase for the Cup hat by winning last Sunday?s Sony HD 500 at California Speedway, closing to within 30 points of the 10th and last qualifying spot. A similar result at Saturday?s Chevy Rock & Roll 400 would almost certainly put Kahne in the Top 10. The men most likely to be victimized by such a scenario are Tony Stewart, Mark Martin and Jeff Burton, the three men currently holding down the last three spots in the Chase.
Burton and Martin are getting relatively long odds at +1600 for Saturday night?s event at Richmond International Raceway in Virginia. There?s good reason for that: Neither driver has won a race this year, although Burton has enjoyed pole position four times. Burton says he?s more than happy to feel the pressure of holding onto his spot, compared to previous years when he was out of contention. He credits the move from Roush Racing to Richard Childress Racing in 2004 for revitalizing his career.
Martin, on the other hand, is still with Roush Racing and hanging onto his Chase hopes by a thread. A strong and consistent start to the season saw Martin finish no worse than 13th in 12 of his first 13 points races. It?s been a bit of a struggle since then, enough that Martin praised his team for finishing 12th last week (and collecting five valuable bonus points for leading three laps). Another 12th at Richmond might not cut it for Martin in what he says will be his last full-time year on the Cup circuit.
Stewart is breathing a little more easily. He?s 13 points ahead of Martin in the drivers? standings, and he?s one of the co-favorites this week at +700 with Dale Earnhardt Jr. Stewart and Earnhardt have three career victories apiece at Richmond. With ten Top-10 results in 15 appearances, Stewart has no qualms about Saturday?s race. ?It?s the favorite track of mine on the circuit,? the defending Cup champion told the Associated Press. ?It?s where I got my first win.?
The same can be said for Kahne. His maiden victory was at the 2005 Chevy American Revolution 400, and he will be motivated more than anyone else to take the checkered flag yet again at Richmond. He?s listed at +800 to collect his sixth win of the season.
