Parks Pit Report: Challenger Round-Sylvania 300

The one thing about this new Chase format that came into play a year ago is that desperation doesn’t just set in, it will do so more than once.  When a Chase driver does win a race, the desperation factor is gone, but even those without a win want to try and improve a bit before a reset.

But when one’s back is against the wall, it is at the point where it officially becomes all or nothing.

After Sunday’s race at New Hampshire, that point has set in on different levels for some drivers, specifically those that are outside the cutoff for the next round or just barely in.

Let’s look at positions 13-16 in the Chase Grid, which are the positions that will be eliminated at the end of the Challenger Round.  One of those spots is filled with a driver in his first-ever Chase, and hasn’t been making a lot of headway.  However, a strong day next weekend could change that.  Another is a driver that flat out earned his way into the Chase the hard way, winning multiple races despite missing nearly half the regular season due to injury.  However, a wreck put him on the outside looking in, but still in position where he could make it through without a win.

However, the last two drivers, there is only one way to make it into the next round.

One driver is in this position because of penalties from last weekend, and even though they are in appeal, it puts the team in a spot that even with the points returned, a win is the only way to move on.

The other…last year’s champion.

After a wreck last week, and then running out of fuel on Sunday, Kevin Harvick is over a race out in points from the lead, and even with a strong finish, his closest competition can still keep him out of a title run.  The No. 4 team is in a position where their backs are against the wall, and the wall in front is moving in.  There is no other option left, they have to flat out win the race.  After leading over two-thirds of Sunday’s event at New Hampshire, Harvick and company were beyond upset about running out of fuel.

Now, there is no other option, it’s take the win…go to victory lane…make the Contender Round.

Desperate times sometimes call for desperate measures, and for these four teams, they only have one race to make those measures count.  Otherwise, the yellow front splitter valiance, name panel on the windshield, and rear spoiler will come off.

RESULTS:  1-Kenseth  2-Hamlin  3-Logano  4-Biffle  5-Edwards  6-Johnson  7-Gordon  8-Truex Jr.  9-Kahne  10-Newman

NOTABLE FINISHES:  12-Keselowski  14-McMurray  15-Menard  19-Kurt Busch  21-Harvick  25-Earnhardt Jr.  26-Bowyer  37-Kyle Busch

CAUTIONS:  9 for 41 laps.  Lap 37-43 (#43 Accident-Turn 2); 48-52 (Fluid On The Track); 61-64 (#14 Accident-Turn 1); 121-124 (#7 Accident-Turn 3); 160-164 (#18 Accident-Turn 4); 193-196 (Debris-Turns 3 and 4); 205-209 (#10, 31, 55 Accident-Turn 1 [Red Flag: 6:04]); 212-214 (#34 Accident-Backstretch [48]); 239-242 (#51 Accident-Turn 3).

LEAD CHANGES:  16 among 7 drivers.  C. Edwards 1-19; K. Harvick 20-27; B. Keselowski 38; C. Whitt 39; K. Harvick 40-120; B. Keselowski 121; K. Harvick 122-159; B. Keselowski 160; K. Harvick 161-192; B. Keselowski 193; M. Kenseth 194-210; K. Harvick 211; M. Kenseth 212-218; D. Hamlin 219-239; G. Biffle 240-251; K. Harvick 252-297; M. Kenseth 298-300.

TIME OF RACE:  2 Hrs, 58 Mins, 51 Secs.

AVERAGE SPEED:  106.480 MPH

MARGIN OF VICTORY:  8.941 Seconds

CHASE GRID:  1. Kenseth, 2099 points*; 2. Hamlin, -6*; 3. Edwards, -10; 4. Logano, -10; 5. Johnson, -16; 6. Newman, -25; 7. Kurt Busch, -26; 8. Keselowski, -27; 9. Truex Jr, -28; 10. Gordon, -31; 11. McMurray, -41; 12. Earnhardt Jr, -42; 13. Kyle Busch, -43; 14. Menard, -43; 15. Harvick, -65; 16. Bowyer, -81