Richmond's wild ride

Only four drivers have clinched a spot in NASCAR's 12-man Chase for the Sprint Cup heading into Saturday night's race at Richmond, the final event before the field is set.

This year's Chase could go off minus the circuit's top-winning drivers this season. Both Mark Martin and Kyle Busch have a series-high four wins, but Martin enters Saturday's race clinging to 10th in the point standings. Busch sits 14th, 37 points behind Matt Kenseth, who holds the 12th and final Chase spot entering Saturday's race.

Kenseth is trying to join Jimmie Johnson as the only drivers to make the Chase every year since its inception in 2004.

Kenseth has to worry about more than just Busch, though. Brian Vickers sits 13th in the standings, 20 points behind Kenseth. No driver has scored more points than Vickers in the last eight races.

Get ready for what could be some wild action Saturday. See Page 7 for a look at the challengers, who has to worry and who doesn't, in the quest to join Johnson, Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon and Denny Hamlin in the Chase field.

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CARL EDWARDS

Rank 5th

Points ahead of 13th 105

Clinches Chase with... 24th or better; 25th or better and leads a lap; 27th or better and leads most laps

Avg. finish last 5 RIR races 20.0

In or out You won't see a backflip with his foot broken, but you'll see Edwards again in the Chase.

Quote "Until we're mathematically in it, I'm not resting on anything."

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KASEY KAHNE

Rank 6th

Points ahead of 13th 96

Clinches Chase with... 21st or better; 23rd or better and leads a lap; 24th or better and leads most laps.

Avg. finish last 5 RIR races 21.2

In or out Atlanta win proved vital, given that he's been off at Richmond lately. Still, he makes it.

Quote "I just feel like, from sixth to 14th, it's close, and any one of us can miss it."

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KURT BUSCH

Rank 7th

Points ahead of 13th 95

Clinches Chase with... 20th or better; 22nd or better and leads a lap; 24th or better and leads most laps.

Avg. finish last 5 RIR races 15.6

In or out He's been up and down lately but still plenty strong enough to make the Chase.

Quote "Last year, we just had Hendrick, Roush, Childress; those three teams figured it out better than anybody and they each put their cars in the Chase. This year, we've had some (other) teams advance their program."

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JUAN PABLO MONTOYA

Rank 8th

Points ahead of 13th 88

Clinches Chase with... 18th or better; 20th or better and leads a lap; 21st or better and leads most laps

Avg. finish last 5 RIR races 27.8

In or out Richmond has not been kind to him, but he scored a career-best 10th there in May, so count on him making Chase.

Quote "We're in good shape."

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RYAN NEWMAN

Rank 9th

Points ahead of 13th 81

Clinches Chase with... 16th or better; 17th or better and leads a lap; 19th or better and leads most laps.

Avg. finish last 5 RIR races 12.0

In or out He has been strong on the short tracks this season. He makes it.

Quote "I'm confident with our team and I'm confident with our abilities, but I just don't know, racing-wise, if something is going to happen in front of us or whatever."

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MARK MARTIN

Rank 10th

Points ahead of 13th 69

Avg. finish last 5 RIR races 10.2

Clinches Chase with... 12th or better; 14th or better and leads a lap; 15th or better and leads the most laps.

In or out His track record is good at Richmond, but you wonder if bad luck will strike again. Look for him to make it, but it will be close.

Quote "We have our race to do, and we have to handle our business the same no matter what."

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GREG BIFFLE

Rank 11th

Points ahead of 13th 68

Avg. finish last 5 RIR races 20.6

Clinches Chase with... 11th or better; 13th or better and leads a lap; 15th or better and leads the most laps.

In or out He's either hot or cold at Richmond, and lately, he's been cold. Time for a change. He slips in.

Quote "I don't think we can play it safe."

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MATT KENSETH

Rank 12th

Points ahead of 13th 20

Avg. finish last 5 RIR races 22.8

Clinches Chase with... 2nd or better if he leads a lap; 3rd or better if he leads the most laps.

In or out Has not been impressive at Richmond lately. Look for that streak to continue and for him to miss the Chase.

Quote "We're barely running good enough to make it if everything goes right."

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BRIAN VICKERS

Rank 13th

Points behind 12th 20

Avg. finish last 5 RIR races 25.4

In or out Even with Kenseth's struggles, Vickers hasn't run well enough at Richmond to make it. He just misses the Chase.

Quote "It's very clear as to what we have to do, which is pretty much go there and win the race."

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KYLE BUSCH

Rank 14th

Points behind 12th 37

Avg. finish last 5 RIR races 8.0

In or out Forget the problems he's had throughout the season. He's strong at Richmond, and that will get him in the Chase.

Quote "The pressure is on for sure."