2008 Chase for the Sprint Cup


The 2008 Chase for the Sprint Cup was contested in the final ten races of the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series to determine a champion. The Chase began with the Sylvania 300 on September 14, 2008 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and ended with the Ford 400 on November 16, 2008 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The 2008 Chase was won by Jimmie Johnson, his third consecutive championship.
From 2004 through 2007, the championship system was known as the "Chase for the Nextel Cup", but with the 2005 merger of Sprint and Nextel, the name of the series became known as the Sprint Cup Series in 2008.

Drivers

Seeding

♦ – Edwards was docked the ten-point winner's bonus as a result of a violation found during post-race inspection at the UAW-Dodge 400 in Las Vegas.

Schedule

≠ — Non-qualifier for the 2007 Chase.

Italics denotes non-qualifier for 2008 chase.

♣ – Denotes night race or race that will start in the late afternoon and finish at night.

Television

This marked the second year of exclusive national television coverage of the Chase for the Sprint Cup on ABC. Dr. Jerry Punch remained in the play-by-play position, with Andy Petree in one color commentary position, but there were changes in the booth and host position.
Brent Musburger and Suzy Kolber were out in the host position, and former MRN Radio, TNT and NBC play-by-play voice Allen Bestwick took their place after spending the 2007 season on pit road. Joining him were 1989 NASCAR series champion Rusty Wallace and JTG Daugherty Racing owner and former Cleveland Cavaliers center Brad Daugherty in the on-site studio, while 1999 series champion Dale Jarrett took Wallace's spot in the broadcast booth and Shannon Spake replaced Bestwick on pit road, joining Jamie Little, Dave Burns and Mike Massaro.

Results

NOTE: Actual race finish in parentheses.

Race One: [2008 Sylvania 300]

Results:
  1. Greg Biffle
  2. Jimmie Johnson
  3. Carl Edwards
  4. Jeff Burton
  5. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
  6. Tony Stewart
  7. Denny Hamlin
  8. Kevin Harvick
  9. Clint Bowyer
  10. Jeff Gordon
  11. Kyle Busch
  12. Matt Kenseth
Point Standings:
  1. Carl Edwards 5,220 ₧
  2. Jimmie Johnson tied
  3. Greg Biffle −30
  4. Dale Earnhardt Jr. -50
  5. Jeff Burton −50
  6. Denny Hamlin −72
  7. Tony Stewart −77
  8. Kyle Busch −78
  9. Clint Bowyer −83
  10. Kevin Harvick −86
  11. Jeff Gordon −99
  12. Matt Kenseth −177

    Race Two: [2008 Camping World RV 400]

Results:
  1. Greg Biffle
  2. Matt Kenseth
  3. Carl Edwards
  4. Jimmie Johnson
  5. Kevin Harvick
  6. Jeff Gordon
  7. Clint Bowyer
  8. Jeff Burton
  9. Tony Stewart
  10. Dale Earhnhardt Jr.
  11. Denny Hamlin
  12. Kyle Busch
Points:
  1. Carl Edwards, 5,390 ₧, leader
  2. Jimmie Johnson −10
  3. Greg Biffle −10
  4. Jeff Burton −82
  5. Kevin Harvick −101
  6. Clint Bowyer −106
  7. Tony Stewart −113
  8. Jeff Gordon −118
  9. Dale Earhnardt Jr. -129
  10. Matt Kenseth −167
  11. Denny Hamlin, −193
  12. Kyle Busch, −210

    Race Three: [2008 [Camping World RV 400 presented by Coleman]]

Results:
  1. Jimmie Johnson
  2. Carl Edwards
  3. Greg Biffle
  4. Jeff Gordon
  5. Matt Kenseth
  6. Kevin Harvick
  7. Jeff Burton
  8. Denny Hamlin
  9. Clint Bowyer
  10. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
  11. Kyle Busch
  12. Tony Stewart
Points:
  1. Jimmie Johnson, 5,575 ₧, leader
  2. Carl Edwards, −10
  3. Greg Biffle, −30
  4. Jeff Burton, −121
  5. Kevin Harvick, −136
  6. Jeff Gordon, −143
  7. Clint Bowyer, −164
  8. Dale Earnhardt, Jr., −190
  9. Matt Kenseth, −192
  10. Denny Hamlin, −243
  11. Tony Stewart, −255
  12. Kyle Busch, −311

    Race Four: [2008 AMP Energy 500]

Results:
  1. Tony Stewart
  2. Jeff Burton
  3. Clint Bowyer
  4. Jimmie Johnson
  5. Kyle Busch
  6. Kevin Harvick
  7. Greg Biffle
  8. Matt Kenseth
  9. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
  10. Carl Edwards
  11. Jeff Gordon
  12. Denny Hamlin
Points:
  1. Jimmie Johnson, 5,718 ₧, leader
  2. Carl Edwards, −72
  3. Greg Biffle, −77
  4. Jeff Burton, −99
  5. Clint Bowyer, −152
  6. Kevin Harvick, −171
  7. Tony Stewart, −203
  8. Jeff Gordon, −232
  9. Matt Kenseth, −245
  10. Dale Earnhardt, Jr., −249
  11. Kyle Busch, −331
  12. Denny Hamlin, −335

    Race Five: [2008 [Bank of America 500]]

Results:
  1. Jeff Burton
  2. Kyle Busch
  3. Jimmie Johnson
  4. Greg Biffle
  5. Jeff Gordon
  6. Tony Stewart
  7. Clint Bowyer
  8. Kevin Harvick
  9. Denny Hamlin
  10. Carl Edwards
  11. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
  12. Matt Kenseth
Points:
  1. Jimmie Johnson, 5,878 ₧, leader
  2. Jeff Burton, −69
  3. Greg Biffle, −86
  4. Carl Edwards, −168
  5. Clint Bowyer, −185
  6. Kevin Harvick, −207
  7. Tony Stewart, −228
  8. Jeff Gordon, −245
  9. Kyle Busch, −326
  10. Dale Earnhardt, Jr., −354
  11. Matt Kenseth, −360
  12. Denny Hamlin, −380

    Race Six: [2008 TUMS QuikPak 500]

Results:
  1. Jimmie Johnson
  2. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
  3. Carl Edwards
  4. Jeff Gordon
  5. Denny Hamlin
  6. Kevin Harvick
  7. Matt Kenseth
  8. Clint Bowyer
  9. Greg Biffle
  10. Jeff Burton
  11. Tony Stewart
  12. Kyle Busch
Points:
  1. Jimmie Johnson, 6,073 ₧, leader
  2. Greg Biffle, −149
  3. Jeff Burton, −152
  4. Carl Edwards, −198
  5. Clint Bowyer, −242
  6. Kevin Harvick, −256
  7. Jeff Gordon, −275
  8. Tony Stewart, −338
  9. Dale Earnhardt, Jr., −379
  10. Matt Kenseth, −408
  11. Denny Hamlin, −420
  12. Kyle Busch, −445