With nine out of twenty-six regular season races completed, fans and teams are beginning to see which drivers are the best, and which are lacking.  And they are beginning to see who all are in the position to make the Chase. There are several surprising names in the mix.

As of now, there are seven drivers who are virtually locked into the Chase. Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Brad Keslowski, Joey Logano, Kurt Busch, and Denny Hamlin. All seven have wins, and a win means you’re in. However when we look at the points area of the Chase, we see some very surprising names in or near the Chase.

Martin Truex Jr. is the highest of these. He had such a terrible season last year, but this year he only has on finish outside the top-ten. Then there are Jamie McMurray, Aric Almirola, and Paul Menard. The three of them are all in the Chase as of now. And all three are steadily consistent.

When you look just outside the Chase, (and by that I mean just barely outside the Chase), you see Danica Patrick. She has never finished better than twenty-seventh in points, and yet she has been in and out of the Chase grid all year. And we’re going to Talladega. She had a chance to win here last year, but a untimely caution foiled her bid for the win. Can Danica be the first woman to make the Chase? Don’t bet against her.

Two other drivers who have been having good seasons this year are Casey Mears and David Ragan. Both have stellar results at Talladega, and a win would almost guarantee either of them a place in the Chase. And Ragan is now guaranteed to have a top-notch ride for the rest of the year.

There are also a few top drivers who are currently not in the Chase. Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards. Both have stumbled this season and neither of them has more than one top-ten finish. It has become evident that Tony is frustrated with this, and Edwards probably isn’t much happier. Both are looking to change their results, and Talladega may offer them the chance.

So with seven spots pretty much secured and nine yet to be decided, this season has had a good variety of winners so far. And there will without a doubt be several more people to win races over the next few months. And when we reach the cutoff race at Richmond, it may very well have several unexpected drivers battling for a Chase spot.