Chase scenarios: What each driver must do to reach the next round
Sunday's CampingWorld.com 500 at Talladega Superspeedway is the third and final race in the Contender Round of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
At the conclusion of the race, the field of championship contenders will be reduced from 12 drivers to eight.
Here's the official NASCAR scenarios of what each of the 12 Chase drivers has to do on Sunday at Talladega to advance to the Eliminator Round:
Joey Logano — Locked in. No matter where he finishes on Sunday, Logano is guaranteed to advance to the next round, thanks to his victory at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the first race of the Contender Round.
Denny Hamlin — The Joe Gibbs Racing driver has posted one victory, three top-two and four top-five finishes in the Chase so far. At Talladega, Hamlin will automatically advance with a finish of 14th and no laps led; 15th and at least one lap led; or 16th and the most laps led.
Kurt Busch — It's been a good year for Busch at Stewart-Haas Racing. He will make the Eliminator Round with a Talladega finish of eighth and no laps led; ninth and at least one lap led; or 10th and the most laps led.
Carl Edwards — One of four JGR drivers still alive in the Chase, Edwards will advance with a Talladega finish of seventh and no laps led; eighth and at least one lap led; or ninth and the most laps led.
Kevin Harvick — The defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion and his SHR team will make the Eliminator Round with a finish of third and no laps led or fourth with at least one lap led.
Jeff Gordon — In his final season of racing, the four-time Sprint Cup champ makes it to the next round with a finish of second or better; third and at least one lap led; or fourth the and the most laps led.
Brad Keselowski — The 2012 champion has the identical clinch scenarios that Gordon does: Finish second or better; third and at least one lap led; or fourth the and the most laps led.
Martin Truex Jr. — To guarantee advancement, the Furniture Row Racing driver needs to finish second with no laps led or third with the most laps led.
Kyle Busch — Controls his own Chase destiny only with a victory at Talladega.
Ryan Newman — Controls his own Chase destiny only with a victory at Talladega.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. — Controls his own Chase destiny only with a victory at Talladega.
Matt Kenseth — Controls his own Chase destiny only with a victory at Talladega.
