Clint Bowyer has been impressive this season. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Chase Hopefuls

1. Clint Bowyer – Bowyer made the Chase three times with Richard Childress Racing. Now he tries to give Michael Waltrip Racing its first Chase berth.

2. AJ Allmendinger – Allmendinger has shown steady improvement and finished 15th in points with Richard Petty Motorsports last year. Now he joins Penske Racing, which has put at least one driver in the Chase in four of the past five years.

3. Kurt Busch – The 2004 champ made the Chase four times with Penske, but was released followed last season. Now he’s with Phoenix Racing, a single-car, mid-pack team expected to struggle. With Hendrick cars and engines, he could surprise.

Marcos Ambrose had a good run in the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

4. Jeff Burton – A four-time Chase driver hopes to bounce back from the worst season of his career at RCR.

5. Paul Menard – He won a race in his first season with RCR, but stumbled to 17th in points.

6. Juan Pablo Montoya – He made the Chase in 2009, but has struggled the past two seasons. Earnhardt Ganassi Racing has made wholesale changes and has a long way to go to be a contender again.

7. Jamie McMurray – Ditto. McMurray went from three wins in 2010 to 27th in points last season. It will take a big turnaround to be a Chase contender.

8. Marcos Ambrose – He won a race and made steady progress last year. Two wins and a wild card are not all that far-fetched.

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