Saturday night at RIR promises to be a wild one

My colleague Joe Menzer has already so eloquently described how the drama we've seen the last few weeks in the Cup Series -- and especially what we're going to see Saturday night at Richmond -- is solely thanks to the Chase.

I couldn't do any better, so I'm not going to try. Get over it.

This is good stuff

With the postseason picture blurry, Joe Menzer says it's time critics embrace the Chase.

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But I will go out on a thin limb and say that -- despite all the goofy meanderings up and down the point standings that occurred among the 10 guys between fifth and 14th in the standings in 500 miles last Sunday night at Atlanta -- it ain't over.

Not by a long shot.

I bet we'll see just as much variance Saturday night. Heck, with only 122 points covering that entire group, guys will be coming and going throughout the entire 400 laps.

And when the checkered flag flies, I hate to say it because for the unlucky soul who's gonna drop out of the top 12, the agony that'll ensue the next 10 races, and even the next several years will barely be measureable.

I wanted to say that the 12 guys that were sitting in the top-12 spots at the green flag will be on stage celebrating their upcoming 10-race sojourn that they hope leads to a title when it's all over.

But I can't. I thought I could lean on the crutch of these being the best teams in the sport, and they are where they are for a reason. But then, all you have to do is listen to Matt Kenseth moan about how his team -- as good as he knows it is -- has no business being where it is in the standings. (Continued)