Clinch scenarios at California

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Burton control their own Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup destiny this weekend. With certain Auto Club Speedway finishes – outlined below – they will join Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards, who have already secured spots in the 2008 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

To clinch a Chase spot, a driver needs to leave Auto Club Speedway with a 196-point lead over 13th place.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Earnhardt is currently 350 points ahead of 13th place. Regardless of any other driver’s finish, Earnhardt will clinch if he finishes:
40th or better
41st or 42nd and leads at least one lap

Jimmie Johnson
Johnson is currently 348 points ahead of 13th place. Regardless of any other driver’s finish, Johnson will clinch if he finishes:
40th or better
41st and leads at least one lap

Jeff Burton
Burton is 274 points ahead of 13th place. Regardless of any other driver’s finish, Burton will clinch if he finishes:
15th or better
16th or 17th and leads at least one lap
20th and leads the most laps

Six other drivers can clinch this weekend as well, but do not control their own destiny. Unlike Johnson, Earnhardt and Burton, all six must increase their current points lead over 13th place in Sunday’s race.

Below are those drivers who can mathematically reach the 196-point margin over 13th position this weekend:

• Tony Stewart: Is 170 points ahead of 13th place and needs to pad his lead by 26 points.

• Greg Biffle: Is 141 points ahead of 13th place and needs to pad his lead by 55 points.

• Kevin Harvick: Is 129 points ahead of 13th place and needs to pad his lead by 67 points.

• Jeff Gordon: Is 108 points ahead of 13th place and needs to pad his lead by 88 points.

• Matt Kenseth: Is 78 points ahead of 13th place and needs to pad his lead by 118 points.

• Denny Hamlin: Is 57 points ahead of 13th place and needs to pad his lead by 139 points.

• Clint Bowyer, currently 12th in the series standings, cannot clinch a Chase position at Auto Club Speedway under any scenario, assuming David Ragan starts Sunday’s race.

— Source: NASCAR