Best formula for advancing in Chase Contender Round?
Quite frankly, I think we saw some drivers playing it safe in the first round of the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase. They did just enough to make sure they were in the top 12 in points to be able to advance. That might have been a successful strategy in the first round, but it won't work in this second round as the pressure continues to increase tenfold.
I was talking with Brad Keselowski and he said the easiest way to contain that pressure is to win. That is what he did in the first race of the Chase. He told me that really took all the pressure off he and the team because they knew with that win they were automatically locked into the next round.
The reality is all the drivers remaining in the Chase know what the formula is. It is to win. If you do that then you automatically advance. The hard question for these remaining 12 teams is who is good enough to take advantage of that opportunity. Remember, we only have three more races -- Kansas, Charlotte and Talladega -- before four more teams are eliminated.
This weekend, just like any weekend, the key will be unloading at Kansas with a fast race car and then being able to challenge for a really good qualifying position. If they can do that, then it sets the table for doing what you need to do. Kevin Harvick has been leading the way in that. He unloads fast. He qualifies up front. He's been leading a lot of laps and racking up a lot of bonus points despite not being able to win yet in the Chase.
He basically dictated strategy to the other teams. It sent a clear message to the other teams that they had to find speed in their car to try and keep up with that No. 4 car. If they ever can figure out how to get rid of the demons that plague that team, and quit beating themselves, I'm just telling you that the competition is going to be in a lot of trouble.
Last Sunday at Dover, I was disappointed in the way that Jimmie Johnson ran. I expected him, especially since he had won there nine times, to run a lot better. I expected him to run like his teammate, Jeff Gordon who won the race, but unfortunately he didn't. The opportunity for Jimmie was there when Kevin had problems after dominating that race, but it was Jeff who stepped up and showed the muscle, not Jimmie.
For guys like Ryan Newman who advanced on points and not by winning, well, that isn't going to be good enough in this next round. You are going to have to go out and win or at the very minimum finish in the top five these next three races to have any hope of advancing to Round No. 3.
VIDEO: Dale Earnhardt Jr. says he's searching for speed in Chase Contender Round
