Current Cup stats

Statistical Advance: Race to the Chase Week 7

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The final four events in the Race to the Chase are packed with subplots.

• There's Kyle Busch's attempt at 13 wins in a season. Since the schedule was reduced in size in 1972, 13 wins in a season has been the standard. Richard Petty won 13 in 1975 and Jeff Gordon did it in 1998. Busch has a solid shot a matching — and surpassing — that number. Busch nabbed victory No. 8 last weekend at Watkins Glen, becoming the 18th driver with eight wins in the first 22 races — 13 of the previous 17 went on to win the series championship.

• There's Matt Kenseth�s goal of making the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup for the fifth time. In and out of the top 12 over the past seven weeks, Kenseth looks to stay in over the next four races. The statistics suggest he will. He has a series-best Driver Rating of 103.5 at the four remaining tracks before the Chase, as well as a win at all four.

• There's the Chase bonus point hunt for Carl Edwards and Jimmie Johnson. Busch — assuming he makes the Chase — has already locked up the top seed with 80 bonus points. But both Edwards and Johnson have an excellent shot at closing the gap. Last season, Edwards won at Michigan and Bristol, while Johnson conquered Auto Club Speedway and Richmond.

• And there's the snowballing winless drought of Tony Stewart. Stewart's drought is at 36. He has come close to ending the slide though, earning runner-up finishes in each of the last two races. He also has the second-best Driver Rating at the next four tracks (100.6).

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