NASCAR (DAYTONA) - Media Correctly Predict Nine Of 12 Chase Drivers

Members of the media correctly identified nine of the 12 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup competitors in a preseason poll held on NASCARMedia.com. Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet) was voted the preseason favorite, while champion Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet) was picked to finish second.

In the preseason media poll Stewart led all competitors with 1,796 points, including 85 first place votes out of 236 votes cast online. Johnson had 1,679 points and 32 first place votes. Media predicted Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet) third, Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell Pennzoil Chevrolet) fourth and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet) fifth.

While the media did pick 75 percent of the Chase field correctly, voters were not anticipating the breakout seasons enjoyed by sophomores Clint Bowyer (No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet) and Martin Truex Jr. (No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet). The media predicted Bowyer to finish 18th and Truex 26th.

Jeff Burton (No. 31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet) was the third driver not predicted to make the Chase. He was 13th in the poll with 335 points. The drivers predicted to make the Chase that missed it were Earnhardt Jr., Kasey Kahne (No. 9 UAW/Dodge Dealers Dodge), who was picked seventh and Greg Biffle (No. 16 Dish Network Ford), predicted eighth.