photo credit: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images for NASCAR

The top-12 drivers in the point standings have been competing in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, a 10-race stretch to determine the championship. Over the course of the Chase, drivers have been mathematically eliminated based on points awarded during each race. With just one race remaining, three drivers have a realistic shot to win this year’s championship. Who will win the 2010 NASCAR championship?

Denny Hamlin? Jimmie Johnson? Kevin Harvick?

Denny Hamlin has been the current points leader after the past two races. Hamlin has won a series-high eight races this year. He turned heads when he had to have emergency surgery to repair a torn ACL during an off-week and then returned the following week to climb back into his car and win the race. This would be his first Sprint Cup title.

Reigning series champion Jimmie Johnson is on his ‘drive for 5′. He has won four consecutive series championships and has been chosen as the favorite to win this year as well. However, this is the first time in the past four years Johnson has found himself second in the point standings at this point in the season.

For Kevin Harvick, he spent much of the ‘regular’ season on top of the point standings. This would be Harvick’s first Sprint Cup championship although he has won two Nationwide Series titles (2001, 2006).

Only 46 points separates first-to-third heading into the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. It’s the closest point margin in the Chase for the Sprint Cup since the format debuted in 2004.

Current Chase Standings:

Any one of the three drivers can win making this the closest title race since the Chase began in 2004.

For Hamlin to win the championship regardless of where Johnson or Harvick finishes at Homestead, he must finish second having led the most laps or if he wins.

For Johnson, he must win and lead the most laps regardless of where the other drivers finish.

For Harvick, he must win and lead the most laps with Johnson finishing 4th or worse and Hamlin finishing 7th or worse.

Season Stats (following 35 of 36 races):

Stats at Homestead:

Next:
Sunday, November 21st – Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway (season finale)