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And the winner is . . .
Here are the scenarios for the contending drivers to win the Nextel Cup championship:
By Times Staff Writer
Published November 21, 2004
KURT BUSCH: Wins the championship if he wins the Ford 400. Can also win the championship if he finishes second and earns five bonus points for leading at least one lap.
JIMMIE JOHNSON: Wins the championship if he wins the Ford 400 and leads the most laps (for the maximum 190 points), and Busch finishes second without leading a lap, or finishes third but does not lead the most laps, or finishes fourth or lower.
JEFF GORDON: Wins the championship if he wins the Ford 400 and gains the maximum 10 bonus points. Busch also must finish third or lower and not lead a lap, or finish fourth or lower and lead a lap, or finish fifth or lower and lead the most laps.
DALE EARNHARDT JR.: Wins the championship if he wins the Ford 400 and gains the maximum 10 bonus points. He also needs Busch to finish 15th or lower and not lead a lap, Johnson to finish 10th or lower and not lead a lap, and Gordon to finish ninth or lower and not lead a lap.
MARK MARTIN: Wins the championship if he wins the Ford 400 and gains the maximum 10 bonus points. He also needs Busch to finish 19th or lower and not lead a lap, Johnson to finish 13th or lower and not lead a lap, and Gordon to finish 12th or lower and not lead a lap. Earnhardt's finish would not matter as long as he does not lead a lap. If Martin wins the race and Earnhardt finishes second and leads the most laps, the two would be tied and Earnhardt would win the tiebreaker (number of 2004 wins).
A FIVE-WAY TIE: This happens if Martin wins the Ford 400 but doesn't lead the most laps; Earnhardt finishes second and leads a lap or finishes third and leads the most laps; Gordon finishes 13th; Johnson finishes 14th; and Busch finishes 20th. Each driver would finish with 6,449 points. The tiebreaker would be number of 2004 wins: Busch has three, Johnson has a series-high eight, Gordon has five, Earnhardt has six and Martin has one.
- Source: NASCAR
[Last modified November 21, 2004, 00:16:21]
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