Survival game: Wild night at Texas shakes up the Chase standings
A wild night at Texas Motor Speedway saw Jimmie Johnson win the AAA Texas 500, with the eight Chase drivers separated by just 18 points after the middle race of the Eliminator Round of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
All eight will head to Phoenix International Raceway next week still in contention to be one of the four drivers who will advance to the Championship Round in two weeks at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where they will race for the 2014 Sprint Cup title.
Because Johnson is no longer in championship contention, that means at least three of the final four spots will be filled on points. If one of the eight Chase drivers win at PIR, he will clinch a spot in the Championship Round along with the top three drivers in points after that race. If another non-Chaser wins at PIR, the top four in points will advance.
Following the Texas race, Joey Logano leads the points over Denny Hamlin. The two are tied with 4,072 points, but Logano owns the tie-breaker. Ryan Newman is third (-2), followed by Jeff Gordon (-12). On the outside looking in right now are Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards, both 13 points back, Brad Keselowski (-17) and Kevin Harvick (-18).
"I think most likely we're going to have to win Phoenix, just like I felt we were going to have to win here today," said Keselowski. "I'm sure there's going to be some contact along the way, across the board. Everybody is very desperate. The points are very, very, very close. Anybody can have a bad day and be out of it. And that's just the reality."
"We're just happy the guys have done a good job of fighting back," said Newman. "Some guys had some misfortune ... We'll keep digging."
VIDEO: Joey Logano spins after contact during Sunday's race at Texas
