Here are the final 2008 Chase for the Cup standings.
1. Jimmie Johnson -0
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This was a dominating Chase performance as Jimmie Johnson claimed his third NASCAR Sprint Cup title in a row.
2. Carl Edwards -69
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Edwards came back with back-to-back wins in Atlanta and Texas and finished the season off with a win in Homestead. But it was too little too late as Jimmie Johnson safely claimed the cup.
3. Greg Biffle -217
Greg Biffle started the 2008 Chase with a big New Hampshire win which launched him up the standings. He then backed that performance up with another dominating victory in Dover and a third place effort in Kansas. However five double-digit finishes in the final seven races caused him to steadily lose ground to the leaders.4. Kevin Harvick -276
Kevin Harvick was quiet during the 2008 Chase. He started the 2008 Chase with three top ten finishes but slipped further from the lead as the top teams were tearing up the finishing order. Talladega and Lowes saw him finish outside of the top ten and lose even more ground.Kevin Harvick managed only one single top five finish during the 2008 Chase and was winless in all of 2008. Although it is difficult to complain about a fourth place points effort this was not the 2008 season that this team was expecting.
5. Clint Bowyer -303
Clint Bowyer was remarkably consistent in his inconsistency during the 2008 Chase. Every other Chase finish was in the top ten while non top ten finishes were 12, 12, 12, 20 and 12.Bowyer needs to work on his consistency if he wants to compete for a Championship but 2008 was his second top five points finish in only three years in the Cup series. This is a team that has many more Chases in its future.
6. Jeff Burton -349
Jeff Burton posted five top ten finishes in the first five races of the 2008 Chase including the big Victory at Lowes Motor Speedway which launched him as a serious 2008 Chase contender. Unfortunately Burton then posted three consecutive finishes in the teens and finished up 2008 with a disappointing 40th place effort in Homestead.7. Jeff Gordon -368
Jeff Gordon had a very unusual 2008 season. He finished 2007 with 6 wins, 21 top five and 30 top ten finishes. Compare those numbers with this season where he has zero wins only 13 top fives and 19 top tens. Seven of those top tens came during the Chase.Jeff Gordon has a legendary history in NASCAR. It remains to be seen if his future is still as bright as his past or if he is slowly slipping into has-been status.
8. Denny Hamlin -470
Denny Hamlin had a frustrating Chase in 2007. Bad luck and bad finishes caused him to wind up a distant twelfth in the final standings, last among the 2007 Chasers. Hamlin improved upon that dismal finish in 2008 but this team was hoping for more than eighth place prize money.Hamlin and his Joe Gibbs team seem to have the tools but haven't been able to put together the consistent runs necessary to contend for the Cup.
9. Tony Stewart -482
Tony Stewart used to be known for finishing the season strong. However, he had a disappointing Chase in 2007 and only managed three top ten finishes during the 2008 Chase.There may be a fundamental issue with Joe Gibbs Racing that has all three of their Chase drivers eliminated from Championship contention early in the Chase. Maybe Tony Stewart's 2009 plans are a distraction preventing him from climbing out of this hole? No matter what the problem is one thing is clear, Tony Stewart is looking forward to a fresh start with his new team in 2009.
10. Kyle Busch -498
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I don't recall witnessing such a dramatic collapse in a race team during the modern era of NASCAR. Kyle Busch dominated the first 26 races of 2008. However since the Chase started Kyle Busch has flopped. The best that team can hope for is to chalk 2008 up as a learning experience and try to do it better next year.
11. Matt Kenseth -500
Matt Kenseth won the NASCAR Championship in 2003 in such dominating fashion that he is often credited with causing NASCAR to invent the Chase format. Since the Chase format was introduced Kenseth's best points finish was a distant second in 2006.Bad luck found Matt during the Chase opener in New Hampshire as Matt got caught up in somebody elses wreck and finished 40th. He was starting to climb out of that hole but a 41st place finish at Lowes guaranteed him a place in the bottom half of the 2008 Chase standings.
