RIR: Last chance to make the grade

RACE WEEK AT RIR: Auto racing coverage

The talk around NASCAR garages this week is all about the final spots in the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

Eleven drivers are competing for eight spots, with the "bubble boys," Brian Vickers in 13th and Kyle Busch at 14th, needing big performances from their teams and some bad luck from other teams to sneak into the top 12.

This week is not much different from a final exam in school.

If you've taken care of business leading up to this race, you don't have a lot of worries. Some discomfort perhaps, but nothing too serious.

If you've struggled in the previous 25 races, then you have to ace this week's race in order to get that passing grade.

That's why those previous 25 weeks are so important.

"With the sport and competition level going up every week and getting closer, it does make it harder," said Tony Stewart, the man who has done the best on the tests leading to the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 tomorrow at Richmond International Raceway.

Stewart leads in the points race and has clinched a spot in the Chase. So have Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin.

Gordon knows about life when things are going well -- he's won four points championships -- and when things are going less than well. He was 11th in points in 2005.

"I think the most stress you go through as a team and a driver is on the bubble," Gordon said. "It's not the guys on the outside. To me, it's the guys in ninth, 10th, 11th,12th and maybe even eighth.

"Those guys are just sweating every lap, every qualifying session, every practice, every race because it can make or break them."

Ryan Newman occupies the No. 9 spot in the standings, and he's been trying to solidify his spot in the Chase for weeks.

It hasn't worked out as he hoped.

For the past several races, he said his thoughts have been on driving to win, not driving to make the Chase.

"To me, there's no more pressure than there was in Daytona or the first Bristol or any other race," Newman said recently. "I just go out there and do my job. We have more things to consider [than points].

"That doesn't put more pressure on you. It just means you have to educate yourself about your surroundings in respect to points. The way I drive the car and the way I race is the same. I'm still going for the best points position, whether it's first or 15th."

That's exactly what drivers are supposed to do in the races leading to Richmond, said a man who knows a bit about racing and pressure.

"Everyone pretty much goes out to try to win, but you don't always have the car to win the race," said Dale Jarrett, the 1999 Cup champion and now a NASCAR analyst for ESPN. "You go out and on the day or night of the race, you see what kind of car you have. It might be a top-five car.

"But it might be good enough to only finish 10th or 15th. And if that's the case, that's the way you have to drive. It's a race-by-race basis."

Even if a driver is having a good season and is assured of a Chase spot several weeks out, there still is motivation to drive as well and as hard as possible.

Each victory means 10 bonus points when the Chase standings are set. But there's even more to it than that.

"Obviously, wins get you huge momentum," Gordon said. "But consistent finishes like we had [at Michigan], we've got to build on that second-place finish to really prove to ourselves and everyone else that we're going to be a threat in this championship."

Points, points, points. Mark Martin is a bit weary of hearing all this talk about points. Martin sits in 10th place, and a good performance tomorrow night puts him in the Chase.

But Martin thinks there is more to life than points and the Chase.

"All I'm saying is don't forget we are still racing every week," he said. "Points are points. They are what they are. Let's talk about the excitement and thrill of the events as well."

The man has a point.

Contact Paul Woody at (804) 649-6444 or pwoody@timesdispatch.com.