All eyes on Little E

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Throughout the entire 2007 season the focus has been (in one way or another) on Little E. Whether it was the contract negotiations with his step-mother, the decision regarding which team he would drive for next year, or what number he will choose to use in 2008. One thing that is for certain is that Junior's career choices have been in the forefront all season.

So, with one race left until The Chase begins, why wouldn't the spotlight be pointed directly at Junior?

Heading into the Chevy Rock n' Roll 400 this weekend, Dale Jr. sits a lengthy 128 points out of the 12th and final qualifying spot for the chase. If you are a Junior fan don't throw away your Budweiser hat or tear off your No. 8 bumper sticker just yet, there is still a slim chance Dale Jr. could make The Chase after all. In the spirit of Elton John we say: Saturday Night's alright for fighting.

As it stands right now the top eight drivers in the field are locked in; however, the last four spots are still technically up for grabs.

Let me break it down for you:

The maximum number of points that one driver can possibly accumulate in a race is 195. The driver can get 185 points for winning, five points for leading a lap, and another five if he leads the most laps. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the least amount of points any driver can receive after a race is 34 for finishing dead last. Therefore the most points that can be made up during a race that includes all eligible drivers is 161.

As it stands right now, Clint Bowyer is 166 points ahead of Junior in the ninth spot and Kyle Busch sits 161 points ahead in the 10th position. Provided Bowyer and Busch start the race on Saturday night as planned, both drivers are guaranteed a spot in the playoffs leaving only Kurt Busch in 11th and Kevin Harvick in the 12th and final spot vulnerable. Sorry to break it to Junior Nation, but the chances of the No. 8 machine making the chase are looking slimmer and slimmer especially when I tell you that all Kurt Busch has to do is finish higher than 36th, and Harvick higher than 32nd, to clinch the final spots.

Again, I must reinforce that Junior fans should not hang their heads too low since Richmond is one of Little E's best tracks. Junior has three wins and has finished in the top ten nine times in his career at the Virginia track. However, Harvick is the defending champion of the race and in his last five starts at Richmond has an average finish of fifth.

I apologize to Junior Nation if I have crushed your dream of a Dale Jr. championship this season but just remember what AC/DC said: It's a long way to the top, if you want to Rock n' Roll.

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Article Number: 000018