Here is a trivia tidbit I ran across & found rather interesting.
So it ISN'T too early to be thinking about the Chase ...

Of the 54* drivers who've made the Chase in its first 5 years
50 drivers have been in the top 20 after the 1st 4 races
44 drivers have been in the top 15 after the 1st 4 races
39 of the 54* drivers were in Chase position after the 1st 4 races
*(the top 10 in 2004-06 or the top 12 the past 2 years)

NOTE : The 4 drivers who came from outside the top 20 after 4 races to make the Chase were :
2005 - Matt Kenseth (finished 7th) & Jeremy Mayfield (finished 9th)
2006 - Kevin Harvick (finished 4th)
2007 - Martin Truex Jr. (finished 11th)

Here is something to ponder over & make some predictions ...
2009 Top 25 in points after the 1st 4 races :
01. Jeff Gordon ---- 0 win - 2 top 5 - 3 top 10 - 634 points ----
02. Clint Bowyer ---- 0 win - 2 top 5 - 3 top 10 - 591 points -43
03. Kurt Busch +4 - 1 win - 2 top 5 - 3 top 10 - 588 points -46
04. Carl Edwards +5 - 0 win - 1 top 5 - 2 top 10 - 547 points -87
05. Matt Kenseth -2 - 2 win - 2 top 5 - 2 top 10 - 546 points -88
06. Tony Stewart +2 - 0 win - 0 top 5 - 3 top 10 - 521 points -113
07. Kyle Busch -1 - 1 win - 2 top 5 - 2 top 10 - 514 points -120
08. Kevin Harvick +3 - 0 win - 2 top 5 - 2 top 10 - 511 points -123
09. Kasey Kahne +4 - 0 win - 0 top 5 - 1 top 10 - 484 points -150
10. Greg Biffle -6 - 0 win - 1 top 5 - 2 top 10 - 480 points -154
11. Brian Vickers +6 - 0 win - 1 top 5 - 3 top 10 - 477 points -157
12. David Reutimann -7 - 0 win - 1 top 5 - 1 top 10 - 475 points -159

Currently OUT of the Chase :
13. Jimmie Johnson +6 - 0 win - 0 top 5 - 2 top 10 - 457 points -177
14. Denny Hamlin ---- 0 win - 0 top 5 - 1 top 10 - 456 points -178
15. Jeff Burton +3 - 0 win - 1 top 5 - 1 top 10 - 437 points -197
16. Michael Waltrip -4 - 0 win - 0 top 5 - 1 top 10 - 434 points -200
17. Elliott Sadler -1 - 0 win - 1 top 5 - 1 top 10 - 427 points -207
18. Jamie McMurray +4 - 0 win - 0 top 5 - 1 top 10 - 423 points -211
19. Martin Truex Jr. +7 - 0 win - 0 top 5 - 1 top 10 - 423 points -211
20. A.J. Allmendinger +1 - 0 win - 1 top 5 - 1 top 10 - 417 points -217
21. Juan Montoya -6 - 0 win - 0 top 5 - 0 top 10 - 408 points -226
22. David Ragan +2 - 0 win - 0 top 5 - 1 top 10 - 405 points -229
23. Bobby Labonte -13 - 0 win - 1 top 5 - 1 top 10 - 403 points -231
24. Dale Earnhardt Jr. +5 - 0 win - 0 top 5 - 1 top 10 - 397 points -237
25. Casey Mears +2 - 0 win - 0 top 5 - 0 top 10 - 397 points -237

2008 Chase drivers are in BOLD
(8 drivers are currently IN while 4 drivers are currently OUT of the 2009 Chase)

Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin & Jeff Burton are working hard to make it into the Chase
Will they make it in ???

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is in a DEEP hole ...
it makes one wonder if NASCAR's favorite driver can make the Chase !!!

Will NASCAR up the Chase from the top 12 to the top 15 hoping their picks can then make it in ???

What do you people think ???