NASCAR’s Chase: Breaking down the field’s championship chances

NASCAR’s playoffs known as the Chase for the Sprint Cup get under way Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill.

Sixteen drivers are in the Chase, which unfolds over four segments and 10 races, winding up in November in the season-finale at Homestead-Miami.

The Observer’s David Scott takes a look at the 16-driver Chase field.

Favorites

Kyle Busch: Won four races in just 15 starts after returning from injury suffered at Daytona in February. But he hasn’t performed well in Chase in other seasons.

Joey Logano: Might be best hope of non-Joe Gibbs Racing teams to win; has flair for winning big races this season (Daytona 500, Bristol’s night race).

Matt Kenseth: Has as much momentum entering the Chase as any driver, with victories in three of past six races.

Kevin Harvick: Defending champ knows what it takes to win, but he hasn’t won a race since March (although he’s got 10 runner-up finishes).

Contenders

Jimmie Johnson: Six-time champ knows what it takes to win a title and excels on most of the Chase tracks. Like other Hendrick drivers, doesn’t have much momentum.

Brad Keselowski: Team Penske has been strong all season and Keselowski enters the Chase with nine consecutive top 10s. But he’s got one victory, and that came early in the season at Fontana.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.: NASCAR’s most popular driver has won at its biggest tracks (Daytona, Talladega) this season as he chases his first championship.

Carl Edwards: Victory at Southern 500 in Darlington gives him plenty of momentum. Part of the Joe Gibbs Racing juggernaut.

Pretenders

Kurt Busch: Not much attention is being paid to Busch, who missed the first three races of the season (suspension). But he won two of his first three races after returning.

Jeff Gordon: Might have extra incentive as he enters final 10 races of his career. Hasn’t found much traction this season, but seventh-place at Richmond offers hope.

Denny Hamlin: Will finish season racing with torn ACL in right knee. That didn’t seem to bother him much at Richmond, where he finished sixth last week.

Won’t last long

Martin Truex Jr.: Had some momentum earlier in the summer, and victory at Pocono clinched his Chase spot. Hasn’t been consistent since.

Jamie McMurray: Chase rookie in uncharted territory. But he has career victories at the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400, so he’s not afraid of the big stage.

Ryan Newman: Knows how to advance through Chase without winning races, as he did in 2014. But he makes it difficult on himself by doing that. It’s hard to see him doing as well unless he can win.

Clint Bowyer: Might be distracted as he looks for ride for 2016 season. No victories this season and has just two top-fives.

Paul Menard: Like McMurray, might not know what he’s in for as a first-time Chaser. He’s also struggled recently, with nothing better than a 24th-place finish in is last three races.

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