2019 NASCAR Chase Preview - Round 1

NASCAR’s Chase for the Championship begins September 15^th at Las Vegas with the South Point Casino 400. In Round 1 – the Challenger Round – 3 tracks await 16 drivers: Las Vegas, Richmond and the Charlotte ROVAL. Let’s preview each of those races right now.

1.     South Point Casino 400 – Las Vegas Motor Speedway: 7:30 PM Eastern, NBCSN

Kevin Harvick won the spring race here and is an odds-on favorite to claim the checkers here again this time. But watch for Truex to recapture his 2017 magic on the 1.5-mile tracks. Also, don’t count out the 9 team of Chase Elliott or the 18 of Kyle Busch.

My expert prediction – you can’t go wrong with Truex on the 1.5-mile tracks. Truex punches his ticket to the Contender Round right away.

Chaser Running Order – Vegas:

Truex (Winner), Harvick (2^nd), Kyle Busch (3^rd), Elliott (5^th), Bowman (6^th), Hamlin (7^th), Newman (8^th), Larson (10^th), Kurt Busch (11^th), Logano (12^th), Keselowski (13^th), Bowyer (15^th), Jones (16^th), Blaney (19^th), Byron (21^st), Almirola (27^th)

Chase Standings after Vegas:

1.     Truex (IN)

2.     Harvick – 2043 points

3.     Kyle Busch – 2042 points

4.     Elliott – 2040 points

5.     Bowman – 2038 points

6.     Hamlin – 2038 points

7.     Newman – 2036 points

8.     Larson – 2035 points

9.     Kurt Busch – 2033 points

10.  Logano – 2032 points

11.  Keselowski – 2031 points

12.  Bowyer – 2029 points

13.  Jones – 2029 points (tied for 12^th)

14.  Blaney – 2025 points (-4 from 12^th)

15.  Byron – 2023 points (-6 from 12^th)

16.  Almirola – 2017 points (-12 from 12^th)

2.     Federated Auto Parts 400 – September 21^st, 7:30 PM Eastern, NBCSN

Short track, Short tempers. Expect guys like Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney – guys who got their start at short tracks – to get the upper hand. Home track advantage favors Hamlin, so advantage to Denny Hamlin at Richmond.

Chaser Running Order – Richmond:

Hamlin (Winner), Larson (2^nd), Elliott (3^rd), Blaney (5^th), Logano (7^th), Keselowski (8^th), Byron (9^th), Bowman (10^th), Almirola (11^th), Jones (14^th), Newman (16^th), Kyle Busch (17^th), Kurt Busch (18^th), Bowyer (20^th), Truex (22^nd), Harvick (25^th)

Chase Points After Richmond:

1. Truex (IN)

2. Hamlin (IN)

3. Elliott – 2081 points

4. Larson – 2078 points

5. Bowman – 2072 points

6. Keselowski – 2069 points

7. Kyle Busch – 2069 points

8. Logano – 2069 points

9. Blaney – 2065 points

10. Newman – 2064 points

11. Harvick – 2062 points

12. Kurt Busch – 2059 points

13. Jones – 2059 points (tied for 12^th)

14. Byron – 2058 points (-1 from 12^th)

15. Bowyer – 2053 points (-6 from 12^th)

16. Almirola – 2051 points (-8 from 12^th)

3. Bank of America ROVAL 400 – September 29^th, 2 PM Eastern, NBCSN

Last year’s ROVAL race was chaotic, no doubt. Expect more of the same with us fans not knowing who’ll make the Contender 12 until the very last lap. Chase Elliott’s experience on road courses will serve him well, but after seeing Almirola’s miracle run last season, I won’t count him out. I think I’ll give him the win here.

Chase Running Order – Charlotte ROVAL:

Almirola (Winner), Elliott (2^nd), Byron (5^th), Jones (9^th), Kurt Busch (11^th), Logano (14^th), Blaney (16^th), Newman (19^th), Harvick (22^nd), Kyle Busch (24^th), Keselowski (27^th), Larson (29^th), Bowyer (32^nd), Bowman (34^th), Hamlin (39^th), Truex (40^th)

Chase Points After Charlotte:

1. Truex (IN)

2. Hamlin (IN)

3. Almirola (IN)

4. Elliott – 2125 points

5. Logano – 2099 points

6. Byron – 2097 points

7. Larson – 2093 points

8. Kyle Busch – 2089 points

9. Newman – 2089 points

10. Keselowski – 2086 points

11. Harvick – 2084 points

12. Bowman – 2083 points

13. Jones – 2073 points (-10 from 12^th) (ELIMINATED)

14. Kurt Busch – 2072 points (-11 from 12^th) (ELIMINATED)

15. Blaney – 2065 points (-18 from 12^th) (ELIMINATED)

16. Bowyer – 2065 points (-18 from 12^th) (ELIMINATED)

So, after Charlotte – Erik Jones, Kurt Busch, Ryan Blaney and Clint Bowyer…I’m sorry to tell you that you have been eliminated from the Chase. Onto the Contender 12!