NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams are getting their final off-weekend of the season in the days ahead, regrouping for the last two races of the regular season and then the ten-race Chase to crown a champion. Action will resume Sunday, September 6th, with the Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. The sixteen-driver Chase Grid will then be filled the following weekend after the regular-season finale at Richmond International Raceway. With just eleven race winners this season, there can be a maximum of thirteen race winners in the Chase lineup, which means at least three drivers are going to gain entry into the post-season Chase based on the regular-season point standings … Right now, Clint Bowyer holds the final provisional post-season berth.

Among the drivers on the outside looking in with just two races left in the regular season are Aric Almirola, Kasey Kahne, Greg Biffle, Austin Dillon and Kyle Larson … At the other end of the spectrum are Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson – who are tied for the series lead with four wins apiece.