With the last off weekend over, for the Sprint Cup guys, the drivers (and the fans) are on the final stretch — a 17-race showdown. Who will make it to the Chase for the Sprint Cup and who won’t? After Richmond September 6, it will be known. Most importantly, who will win the championship?

The current Chase contenders are:

•Kyle Busch: He’s been sitting on top of the charts for weeks, since Richmond in May to be exact. He currently has the most wins in the Cup series (seven), five wins in the Nationwide series and two wins in the Craftsman’s Truck series, making a total of 14 wins already this season. When the Chase starts, he’ll be seeded first, like he currently sits, but will have 70 bonus points.

•Dale Earnhardt Jr.: He has gradually and consistently made his way to the top, or as far he can get at the moment, putting himself in one of the best positions he needs to be in. Sitting securely in second spot, Earnhardt Jr. is sure to be guaranteed a spot come September and thanks to his recent win at Michigan, he’ll be sitting fourth (as the standings stand now). With another win or two, he could easily put himself in yet another good position — second — when the Chase starts.

•Jeff Burton: Over the past few years, Burton has shown that he isn’t a has-been. After being “just one of the Burton brothers” for many years, he began to make a new name for himself two years ago when he not only won again, but made the Chase for the Nextel Cup (now Sprint Cup). Despite his one win this season, so far, when the Chase begins, he’d be seeded seventh — a four points position drop.

•Carl Edwards: His season started fairly well after finishing 19th at the Daytona 500, he went on to win Fontana, Calif. and Las Vegas, back-to-back. Unfortunately, the high was short-lived as Edwards’ car failed post-race inspection at Las Vegas. He’d be able to keep the win, but wouldn’t get the extra 10 bonus points for winning. A month later, he won again at Texas and with no troubles before or after inspection, he got to keep the 10 bonus points. With the three wins already this season and the 20 bonus points, Edwards will be seeded, as the standing are now, second behind leader Busch.

•Jimmie Johnson: Last year’s two-time Champion, has only won one race so far this season. After coming off of a dominating year, his team hasn’t been able to accomplish exactly what they need to. He has been just as consistent as the three guys ahead of him and if the Chase was to begin right now, he’d move up a spot to fifth and that is thanks to being the reigning champion. If he gets another win or two from this weekend until Richmond, he is sure to move up a few more spots.

•Jeff Gordon: He started out the year badly, finishing 38th at the Daytona 500. As the first few weeks went by he worked his way up the standings falling a few spots and picking up a few spots. He was outside looking in several weeks ago, but the moment he got into the Top 12 he hasn’t looked back. Of course there are times where it may appear he could fall back down the charts, he has maintained sixth for a while now. Regardless of beingwin-less this season, he’s being consistent enough and allowing everyone else to have misfortune. He’ll fall to eighth if the Chase was to start now, with no bonus points.

•Greg Biffle: Like Gordon, he is winless this year, but he’s been on a solid roll inside the Top 12, reaching as high as second. He has fallen several spots and risen several spots throughout the past couple of weeks. Most recently, he’s moved up four spots, thanks to others misfortunes and finishing fourth at Chicagoland two weekends ago. He has been very close to wins but seems to have the worst car (or luck) when it came down to the wire. These next couple of weeks will be very much like the rest of his season, but there isn’t any doubt he won’t make it.

•Matt Kenseth: He was on the outside looking in just a few weeks ago, but with good finishes the past couple of races, he’s moved up. If he can maintain the consistency and momentum he is sure to be securely in the points and make the Chase. However, with the lack of wins he’ll be the biggest loser, falling to 12th in the Chase standings.

•Kevin Harvick: Harvick has been in and out of the Top 12 the past couple of weeks. He too is winless. His third-place finish at Chicagoland shot him up four spots to rest ninth in the points. The week before he was outside of the Chase looking in.

•Tony Stewart: Stewart has been in the news lately mainly for his decision to leave Joe Gibbs Racing to become part owner of another team. Many thought the decision making was taking away from his racing. They have failed to notice that he has pretty much been solid in the Chase standings. His resent bout with the flu forced him to make the decision to vacate his car several laps in to allow another driver (J.J. Yeley) to drive it for him. This occurrence caused him to fall down the standings and nearly out of the Chase. He was, however, able to move up two spots after a fifth-place finish at Chicagoland.

•Kasey Kahne: After going winless last season, Kahne has two wins (Charlotte and Pocono) and an Allstar win. When the season started, he wasn’t negative points in the hole and finished the Daytona 500 on a high-note — seventh. After Daytona, he kept his momentum for a good while before luck (or lack of) stepped him, forcing Kahne to battle with not making it in. As a Kahne fan, I hope and wish he does, but I also know that there is a possibility he won’t. If he does make and doesn’t get anymore wins, he’ll be seeded nicely in third or fourth depending on if any other driver has another win before September 6.

•Denny Hamlin: Hamlin seems to have made the biggest decline in recent weeks falling to 12th. Bad luck has caught up with him and doesn’t look to let go. If he’s able to defy bad luck, he’ll move up to sixth in points when the Chase begins.

Drivers like Clint Bowyer, Brian Vickers and David Ragan are on the outside looking in. They have all been in the Top 12, Bowyer just recently fell out, a move I think may be for good. Ragan and Vickers have had short-lived times in the Top 12, but have had great runs week in and week out. I can bet they’re hoping Hamlin, Kahne or even Stewart have a few (more) bad weeks and fall out.

The next seven weeks are sure to be worth watching and waiting. Let’s just hope our driver(s) make it.

Don’t miss:
From Indianapolis

• Sprint Cup qualifying, Saturday morning at 10 on ESPN2
• International Armed Forces 200 (Craftsman’s truck race), Friday night at 7:30 on SPEED
• Kroger 200 (Nationwide race), Saturday night at 7:30 on ESPN
• Allstate 400 @ the Brickyard (Sprint Cup race), Sunday at 1 p.m. on ESPN