Its actually shaping up to be a real nice battle in Cup. Its hilarious though that the real points are way closer. But at least it looks like the real winner will also win the Chase. And that's how it should be, you win a championship by doing good in 36 races, not just 10. I still remember the uproar over Kenseth's championship in 2003. He only won one race but he managed to do good every race and he grabbed the title. I just couldn't understand it. The team worked hard all season and now the fans were saying that the #17 didn't deserve it. With the old points system you had to do your best all year. You couldn't afford a little slip up. You had to go for those bonus points leading a lap, you had to get the car back out there after a crash. Now you just drive around till the Chase begins and then you get caught in a crash at the first race and now your dream of getting the title is over.
UNOFFICAL Classic Driver Points Standings [after Texas race 34 of 36]:
1) #48-Jimmie Johnson 4902 [6 wins]
2) #99-Carl Edwards 4881 -21 [8 wins]
3) #18-Kyle Busch 4736 -166 [8 wins]
4) #31-Jeff Burton 4528 -374 [2 wins]
5) #16-Greg Biffle 4503 -399 [2 wins]
6) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. 4415 -487 [1 win]
7) #29-Kevin Harvick 4370 -532
#24-Jeff Gordon 4332 -570
9) #20-Tony Stewart 4247 -655 [1 win]
10) #07-Clint Bowyer 4205 -697 [1 win]
11) #11-Denny Hamlin 4160 -742 [1 win]
12) #17-Matt Kenseth 4105 -797
13) #6-David Ragan 4074 -828
14) #9-Kasey Kahne 3811 -1091 [2 wins]