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Does Kyle Busch have a chance to make a run at the Cup? History doesn't bode well.

Countdown to the Cup

Clock is ticking on Busch with only eight races remaining

By NASCAR.COM
September 25, 2008
12:05 PM EDT

type size: + -

The Chase continues this weekend at Kansas ...

Date	Track	Time	TV

Sept. 14	Loudon	1 p.m.	ABC
Sept. 21	Dover	1 p.m.	ABC
Sept. 28	Kansas	1 p.m.	ABC
Oct. 5	Talladega	1 p.m.	ABC
Oct. 11	Charlotte	7 p.m.	ABC
Oct. 19	Martinsville	1 p.m.	ABC
Oct. 26	Atlanta	1 p.m.	ABC
Nov. 2	Texas	3 p.m.	ABC
Nov. 9	Phoenix	3 p.m.	ABC
Nov. 16	Homestead	3 p.m.	ABC

All times ET

... and don't count out Kyle Busch, who trails by 210 points. Busch already has experienced a larger swing in the points than he currently faces this season.

Entering Talladega in April, Busch trailed then-points leader Jeff Burton by 80 points. Five races later -- after Dover -- Busch led the standings by 142 points -- a swing of 222 points.

5 -- Average finish at Kansas for ...

Clint Bowyer. Technically it's 5.5 -- ninth in 2006 and second in '07.

Jimmie Johnson's starting average is 5.5, including two poles. In six races, Johnson's starting positions have been second, first, fourth, 22nd, third and first.

Incidentally, both Bowyer and Johnson are members of the Bowtie brigade, which has won five consecutive Manufacturer championships and 31 total. However, in large part because of Greg Biffle's back-to-back victories, Ford has cut into Toyota's lead in the 2008 Manufacturers race.

Toyota continues to lead, but only by seven points over Ford, 172-165. Chevy is third (159), while Dodge is fourth (120).

4 -- Times since the Chase began in 2004 that a driver has gained more than 100 points in a race ...

the largest being a 148-point swing by Jimmie Johnson at Atlanta in 2004. He left Martinsville trailing leader Kurt Busch by 207 points, won at AMS (while Busch finished 42nd) and cut the deficit to 59 points.

Inside the Numbers

100-point swings during the Chase

Year	Driver	Track	Swing

2004	Jimmie Johnson	Atlanta	148
2004	Mark Martin	Atlanta	143
2006	Jimmie Johnson	Martinsville	105
2004	Tony Stewart	Atlanta	101

3 -- Chase drivers who have won at Kansas

Jeff Gordon's two victories are tops among all drivers, and Tony Stewart and defending race winner Greg Biffle also have been to Victory Lane.

Gordon and Stewart also have a series-best five top-10 finishes in seven starts.

Even more good mojo for the 0-for-2008 Gordon: four of his finishes have been top-fives.

Three Chase drivers also have won poles at Kansas: Jimmie Johnson (2), Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Matt Kenseth.

Meanwhile, three non-Chase drivers have won this race since 2004:

• 2004: Joe Nemechek
• 2006: Tony Stewart
• 2007: Greg Biffle

Mark Martin has been the only driver to win at Kansas while competing in the Chase (2005).

2 -- Chase drivers with top-10 average finishes at Kansas

Clint Bowyer (5.5) and Jeff Gordon (10.6). However, they have a lot of company at the top of the Average Finish chart: five Chasers in the top five!

The Chase field at Kansas:

Inside the Numbers

Chase drivers' average finish at Kansas

Rank	Driver	Races	W	T5	T10	Avg. Finish

1	Clint Bowyer	2	0	1	2	5.5
2	Jeff Gordon	7	2	4	5	10.6
3	Greg Biffle	6	1	3	3	11.0
4	Tony Stewart	7	1	3	5	11.1
5	Jimmie Johnson	6	0	1	4	12.0
12	Kevin Harvick	7	0	0	2	16.1
13	Carl Edwards	4	0	1	2	17.0
14	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	7	0	0	4	17.1
19	Jeff Burton	7	0	1	1	19.6
24	Matt Kenseth	7	0	1	2	22.1
34	Denny Hamlin	3	0	0	0	26.3
35	Kyle Busch	4	0	0	1	26.5

Rank in regards to Kansas Speedway races

1 -- Chance for Kyle Busch to make a run?

He's already enjoyed a 222-point swing this year, but realistically does Busch have a chance to compete for the Cup championship? History doesn't bode well.

Jimmie Johnson's rally from 165 points down with seven races remaining in 2006 is the largest deficit an eventual champion has made up in the Chase.

Now consider Busch's on-track history at the remaining tracks: