The Chase is on

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The significance of the race this Saturday night at Richmond would have taken on a whole new meaning had the Chase format stayed at 10 participants.

Had the format stayed the same, we'd have four teams -- Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Martin Truex and Clint Bowyer -- all within 38 points of each other, fighting for the last two spots. To me, that's what the September race at Richmond is supposed to be all about. Instead, to make it interesting we have the Series' "Golden Child" in Dale Jr. having to flip the world upside down and Kevin Harvick having to forget to show up. Hardly the drama we've grown accustomed to here in Richmond once the Chase was put in place.

Next year, it could wind up that four teams are fighting for the 12th position and that would be cool, but I think the significance of the Chase lost just a bit of its luster in adding more available slots. To date, what has made it a reward to be in, was just how hard it was to achieve an available top 10 slot and each year some pretty sporty teams had to roll into New Hampshire, not part of the dance.

Knowing Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart are the early favorites (and rightfully so) and have the best odds at winning it all, I am picking Denny Hamlin and Carl Edwards to duel it out at Homestead for the crown. Edwards is peaking at the right time, and I just like what I see in him at this time. Hamlin has had some tough luck here lately, but to me, he's consistent and he's ripe. Many can argue these choices, but I'm going with my gut feelings in what I see.

Tracking the moves

With no disrespect to Tony Raines, Hall of Fame Racing did the right thing in the hiring of JJ Yeley. Yeley, who has not flourished the way his teammates have at Joe Gibbs Racing, is now a seasoned younger driver who has matured this year. He's a good qualifier and could grow to become an even better racer as the No. 1 sled at HOF. Good move.

Joe Gibbs Racing joining the Toyota family is a huge step for the folks at Toyota. Instantaneously, Toyota now has three of the best drivers in the business and one of the best organizations in the business working with them. Great move.

The announcement of Tony Eury Jr. moving to Hendrick Motorsports with Dale Jr. will be good for both juniors. With Eury calling the shots, Junior (the driver) has a familiar voice and the transition to a new team will be smoother and quicker. Good move.

Budweiser's forthcoming announcement that it will sponsor Kasey Kahne and the Gillette/Evernham Motorsports No. 9 team, is a pretty big move for both entities. In Budweiser, GEM gets an American Icon of a sponsor and dream marketing tool, not to mention a lot of bucks. In Kahne, Budweiser gets a fresh face and a kid with a lot of talent. Not sure he's the poster boy for a beer product like Junior might have been, but worse choices could have been made. Good move for GEM; remains to be seen if it will be for Budweiser, but I think it will work out.

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