Stewart, also winless this year, needs to finish 18th or better to be a Chaser.
The system has rewarded winning. With three victories this season, Brad Keselowski, in 11th place, has clinched one of the two wild-card berths. Denny Hamlin (one win) holds the other wild card. If Paul Menard (also one W) wins at Richmond, he would secure the second wild card.
Wild cards go to drivers ranked from 11th to 20th who have the most wins.
GORDON'S NO. 3
A tip of the ol' restrictor plate to Jeff Gordon for collecting his 85th career Cup series victory Tuesday in the rain-delayed race at Atlanta. Gordon is now third on the all-time list behind Richard Petty (200 wins) and David Pearson (105).
The way Gordon held off teammate Jimmie Johnson over the last few laps was clean racing at its best. Asked where the duel with five-time reigning champion Johnson ranks on his career list, Gordon smiled and said: "It's going to rank way up there because we won. From where I was sitting, it was very frustrating and intense. I mean, I felt like I was swatting flies inside there, I was so loose. I was just trying to squeeze the throttle down to get a little bit of an edge, and when I did that, the whole back end [of the No. 24 Chevrolet] would slide out.
"And certainly when you're battling with a guy as talented as Jimmie is and that team as good as they are, definitely it's going to be one that's going to be significant. That's the kind of race team we have right now. [Previously] we've not been able to do battle with those guys like we have this year, especially the last several weeks. And that's what's got me extremely excited."
PHILLY NOT 'PERFECT FIT'
Watching the inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix Sunday, I kept thinking, "Why isn't this happening in Philly instead of Baltimore?"
