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With two races remaining until the Chase, 12 points separate the haves (Clint Bowyer) and the have-nots (David Ragan).

Countdown to the Chase

Going back to Cali -- and looking for a ray of sunshine

By NASCAR.COM
August 28, 2008
12:23 PM EDT

type size: + -

The Race to the Chase is under way, continuing this weekend at Fontana:

Date	Track	Time	TV

Aug. 31	Fontana	7 p.m.	ESPN
Sept. 6	Richmond	7 p.m.	ABC

All times ET

5 -- Wins for Chevrolet this season

What a difference a year makes. Through 24 races in 2007, the Bowtie Brigade was kicking tailpipes and taking names. Jeff Gordon (four wins), Jimmie Johnson (4), Tony Stewart (3) were the manufacturer's leaders.

This year, Johnson leads the way with two -- and, if there's a ray of hope, he is the defending race winner.

Meanwhile, Gordon is riding a 29-race winless streak, dating to Charlotte last fall.

Chevy has six wins in 16 races at Fontana -- Gordon (1997, '99 and Spring 2004), Johnson (2002 and Fall '07) and Kyle Busch (Fall 2005).

4 -- Driver Ratings of 100-plus for Smoke at Fontana

Tony Stewart has posted several impressive runs at California -- he's finished in the top 10 in three of the past four races, and in the past seven races has a Driver Rating of 101.0 (fifth-best) with an Average Running Position of 10.6 (sixth) -- but he's still 0-for-14 at the track.

Among his best runs:

• Summer 2005 -- 128.2 Driver Rating (finished fifth)
• Spring 2006 -- 101.9 Driver Rating (finished 43rd)
• Summer 2006 -- 101.9 Driver Rating (finished ninth)
• Spring 2007 -- 114.4 Driver Rating (finished eighth)

California is one of four current tracks at which Stewart is winless, including Talladega (19 races), Darlington (16) and Las Vegas (10). He also was 0-for-11 at Rockingham.

3 -- Drivers who can clinch a Chase berth at Fontana

To clinch a Chase spot, a driver needs to leave California with a 196-point lead over 13th place. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Burton can lock up a playoff spot regardless of what any other driver does:

• Earnhardt -- Finish 40th or better; or finish 41st and lead at least one lap.
• Johnson -- Finish 40th or better; or finish 41st and lead at least one lap.
• Burton -- Finish 15th or better; 16th or 17th and lead one lap; or 20th and lead the most laps.

Six-Shooter

Drivers who can clinch but must rely on help from other drivers:

Pos.	Driver	Scenario

6	Tony Stewart	Currently 170 points ahead of 13th; needs to pad his lead by 26 points.
7	Greg Biffle	Currently 141 points ahead of 13th; needs to pad his lead by 55 points.
8	Kevin Harvick	Currently 129 points ahead of 13th; needs to pad his lead by 67 points.
9	Jeff Gordon	Currently 108 points ahead of 13th; needs to pad his lead by 88 points.
10	Matt Kenseth	Currently 78 points ahead of 13th; needs to pad his lead by 118 points.
11	Denny Hamlin	Currently 57 points ahead of 13th; needs to pad his lead by 139 points.

• Note: Clint Bowyer is currently 12 points ahead of 13th-place David Ragan. There is no scenario for Bowyer to clinch a spot if Ragan starts Sunday's race.

2 -- Races, in the past seven, without a top-10 for ...

David Ragan, who has never posted three consecutive top-10 finishes. His longest streak is two -- and those also have come in the past seven races: Daytona (fifth) and Chicago (eighth), and Michigan (third) and Bristol (10th).

And what a difference a year had made for Ragan. Last year he exited Bristol 24th in points after a 41st-place run, his eighth finish of 30th-or-worse in 24 races.

This year, he's only 12 points behind Clint Bowyer for 12th place in the point standings -- and a Chase berth -- with five top-fives and nine top-10s (with only three 30th-or-worse finishes).

California Dreaming

Career stats at Fontana

Driver	Races	W	T5	T10	Best Finish	Avg. Finish

Clint Bowyer	5	0	1	2	3rd	12.4
David Ragan	3	0	0	0	12th	14.0

1 -- Victory for Dodge at Fontana

Ford leads the way with nine victories at California, including Carl Edwards' win in February, and Chevrolet has six. The only Dodge driver to visit Victory Lane: Kasey Kahne on Sept. 3, 2006.

In 12 races at Fontana, Dodge has one win, 11 top-five finishes and 28 top-10s.

Kahne also has two of Dodge's four wins this year; Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch have one each.