If Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth want to have a chance to capture the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title they will need to perform well at Dover. The one-mine concrete track has been kind to the duo of Roush Fenway Racing over the course of their careers as each has recorded 2 wins and a combined 28 finishes inside the top ten.
While Biffle and Kenseth have avoided a catastrophic finish in the Chase’s first two races, neither has performed at the top level that will be required if they are to win the 2012 Sprint Cup title.
After running away with the point standings in the first 26 races Biffle and Kenseth have gotten lost in the reshuffle. Erasing a 33 point deficit will be difficult for Biffle while Kenseth will need to make up 35 points.
There is one thing going for the two. Few drivers are as good as Biffle and Kenseth at Dover but still their work will be cut out. One of the drivers better then them is Jimmie Johnson. Johnson has an eye popping 7 career wins at Dover and he over took Brad Keselowski for the point series lead following the race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Denny Hamlin, who won at New Hampshire, has struggled at Dover. In 13 career starts he has just 4 finishes inside the top ten. Brad Keselowski has yet to record a top ten in 5 starts there.
If Biffle and Kenseth can make up some ground they may yet salvage a shot at the title. This is one of those races where Roush Fenway Racing has to have circled before the Chase started, looking to make some waves. While the waves may not push them ahead of the field, they could again even the play surface. Considering the upcoming tracks that may not be all too bad.
The following race is at Talladega. Kenseth and Biffle have worked well together on the plate tracks this year, highlighted by a Daytona 500 win for the No. 17. A good run at Dover and Talladega will propel them into races at Charlotte and Texas where both drivers perform at a high level. From there it could be Biffle or Kenseth’s championship to win. Still they need to get to that point and it all starts this coming weekend at Dover.