NASCAR Cup Series

Breaking down drivers on Chase for the Sprint Cup bubble

Published Nov. 15, 2016 3:22 p.m. ET

Chase Wilhelm

The Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway will give NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers one more chance to make the Chase.

There are seven drivers on the bubble with a legitimate shot to make it in, but it’s going to be tougher for some more so than others.

Chase Elliott, Austin Dillon and Jamie McMurray hold the currently hold the final three spots in the points, as Ryan Newman and Kasey Kahne find themselves on the outside looking in.

And let’s also not forget that Chris Buescher is not 100 percent guaranteed a spot in the Chase yet, despite his win at Pocono Raceway.

Buescher currently sits 30th in the standings, 11 points ahead of David Ragan. A poor result for him could potentially drop him outside of the top 30, leaving room for another driver to make it in on points.

Newman is now 22 points behind McMurray after a 15-point penalty for failing post-race laser inspection at Darlington. He needs to post a remarkable finish and hope that McMurray has some bad luck.

For Kahne, all the stars have to align at RIR. In order for him to make it in on points, he needs to lead the most laps and finish second, McMurray needs to finish in the 40th and final spot and Buescher needs to fall out of the top 30.

But of course, a win for Newman or Kahne would eliminate any of these concerns.

For Ryan Blaney and AJ Allmendinger, winning is a must. It’s mathematically impossible for either driver to make up their deficits, regardless of where other bubble drivers finish.

Get ready, folks. Anything can happen, and probably will, on Saturday night at Richmond.