The Chase is finally here. Ten races of bumping, grinding, and elimination. It consists of four rounds, and after each of the first three rounds four of the sixteen drivers are eliminated. The final round is just one race, and it is winner takes all. The highest finisher of the final four drivers will win. A win in any round automatically advances you to the next round. Last Kevin Harvick won the season ending race at Homestead, and the Championship as well. And Ryan Newman finished second, with 0 wins to Harvick’s 5. Strange, isn’t it? Here are the drivers, rounds and how I predict they will turn out.

Drivers: Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth, Joey Logano, Kevin Harvick, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kurt Busch, Carl Edwards, Brad Keslowski, Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, Jamie McMurray, Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman, Clint Bowyer, and Paul Menard.

Round 1: The Challenger round

Races                              Winner

Chicagoland                    Matt Kenseth: His recent speed says opening the Chase with a win is likely.

New Hampshire               Kyle Busch: Busch won here earlier this year, and all recent stats indicate a win from him.

Dover                               Kevin Harvick: Kevin is the only threat Jimmie Johnson has here, and Jimmie never sweeps Dover.

Drivers eliminated: Paul Menard, Clint Bowyer, Jeff Gordon, and Martin Truex Jr.

Why- Menard and Bowyer are not in a position to challenge for good finishes and wins, and Gordon and Truex have lost their recent speed and success.

Round 2: The Contender Round

Races                               Winner

Charlotte                          Jamie McMurray: This is McMurray’s best track, and he is without a doubt very strong in the Chase.

Kansas                             Kevin Harvick: Harvick has staggering success at Kansas, especially in the Chase.

Talladega                         Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Jr. has won two of this year’s three restrictor-plate races so far, why not continue?

Drivers eliminated Ryan Newman, Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin, and Brad Keslowski.

Why- Newman and Hamlin don’t have the speed to progress past this round, and Johnson and Keslowski struggle in this round

Round 3: The Eliminator Round

Races                               Winner

Martinsville                       Jeff Gordon: Sure I eliminated him, but I think this is where he will win his final race.

Texas                                Jimmie Johnson: Again, he is eliminated, but Johnson rules the Fall race at Texas

Phoenix                            Kevin Harvick: Harvick is the unrivaled king of Phoenix, with seven wins here, including the last four.

Drivers eliminated Joey Logano, Carl Edwards, Kurt Busch, and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Why- You have to eliminate four, and these four are the slowest remaining.

Final Four: Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth, and Jamie McMurray.

Race: The Ford Ecoboost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Previous winner: Kevin Harvick.

Race Winner: Kevin Harvick.

Final Results-

1. Kevin Harvick

2. Kyle Busch

3. Matt Kenseth

4. Jamie McMurray

Why- Harvick is just out right dominate, no questions asked. Busch is fast, but Harvick has him beat. Only a little though. Kenseth is Busch’s equal, but not Harvick’s. McMurray will most likely use consistency to reach the final round, like Ryan Newman did last year. But he simply isn’t fast enough to win. These are my Chase picks.