NASCAR trotted out eight drivers Thursday who are all mathematically eligible to make the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.
In reality, Saturday night's "regular season" finale is a race between Kyle Busch and Jeff Gordon for the final berth in the 12-driver field.
The two wild card berths are both technically open. But with two wins on the season, Kasey Kahne is in strong shape to lock one of them down. So Busch and Gordon talked as if it's just down to them for the last slot.
"I think it's just Jeff and I," Busch said. "Nothing against any of the other guys, but the way past history preserves itself, I think it's just Jeff and I."
Busch can clinch a berth by winning the race, or by losing 12 or fewer points to Gordon.
It doesn't hurt that Richmond is one of his best tracks. He's a fourtime winner there, including in May, his only victory this season.
"It certainly relieves a little bit of pressure than if [[the race] was anywhere else," Busch said. "But it is a short track where anything can happen."
Gordon only makes it into the Chase by finishing 13 points ahead of Busch. And, a week after failing to knock Denny Hamlin out of the way at Atlanta for what would have been a crucial victory, Gordon is vowing to do anything needed to make the Chase.
"We're going to do whatever it takes to win," he said Thursday.
