Newman Finishes 20th -- Squeaks In to "The Chase"

I damned near died from exhaustion from watching the race at Richmond, VA on Saturday night.

First off, good things were happening. Ryan started on the pole (5th of the year) and ran really good to start things off. He was Top 5 all day, then cautions were flying left and right -- but since Ryan was in the front, all was well.

Then something happened that usually never happens at the Richmond short track -- a long, green flag run. We were about to watch green flag pit stops for the first time that night. Most of the leaders were coming in, including Ryan, for tires and fuel. That put Ryan and others a couple of laps down, so I'm praying for the rest of the field to cycle through their green flag stops so Ryan would get back out in front -- and avoid a caution.

Wouldn't you know it -- Dale Jarrett and Jimmy Spencer get together and the yellow flag waves. Shit -- Ryan's in 18th! Before, he was safely in "The Chase," the Top 10 drivers in the points standings would get into the run for the championship starting next week in New Hampshire. Ryan was teetering on the edge, showing him currently in 10th place in the standings and just a few points ahead of Jamie McMurray who was charging to the front.

You see, every guy Jamie passes, he gains points. If Ryan gets passed, he loses points. Ryan was backing up little by little, then reports came in that Ryan might run out of gas -- 8 laps short. I was pissed, freaking out the whole while and Katie was telling me to settle down. I couldn't! I was pacing around the room, trying to figure out ways to see how Ryan could still get into "The Chase." I was yelling at the TV -- "Pass Jamie!" or "Don't pass Ryan, dammit!!"

Then it finally came down to the last 5 laps. The leader at the time, Kurt Busch, had run out of gas and Jeremy Mayfield, who looked like he would get into "The Chase," had taken the lead. Then, Ryan received word that his gas would barely make it -- then, a stroke of luck. Jamie McMurray's engine started to go, he was running on 7 cylinders instead of 8. Jamie was yelling over the radio -- "Don't pass me!" But guys were flying by him. Mayfield took the checkered flag and took the 9th spot in "The Chase," while Ryan held out and crossed the line in 20th place, taking the 10th spot in "The Chase." McMurray, finished 15 points behind Ryan and currently sits 11th in the points, not making "The Chase for the Cup."

Here are the 10 guys who will compete in the next ten races for the championship:

Jeff Gordon
Jimmie Johnson
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Tony Stewart
Matt Kenseth
Elliott Sadler
Kurt Busch
Mark Martin
Jeremy Mayfield
Ryan Newman

Those top ten guys will now have their points reset -- Gordon will be in 1st with 5050 points, and it'll drop 5 points down the line. Ryan will start with 5005 points. As for the other racers who didn't make "The Chase," they'll try to reach for 11th place, which holds a $1 million bonus at the end of the season. They will race along side the contenders for the Cup, but I don't think it'll be too friendly out there.

Next race is at New Hampshire, the track where Ryan picked up his first ever Cup win in 2002, helping to solidify his title for the Rookie of the Year. It's going to be a nerve-wracking 10 races to Homestead-Miami, but nothing will ever compare to that race in Richmond last Saturday night.