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NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
CUP: Top 35 Cutoff Reaches Critical Stage
This Sunday's race at Bristol will be more critical for some then others...
Mike Hembree  |  Posted March 16, 2010   Charlotte, NC
David Gilliland and his Doug Yates owned team are 36th in the owner points. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
Although much of the discussion this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway is likely to center on the Carl Edwards-Brad Keselowski incidents at Atlanta Motor Speedway and the tightening of the second and fourth turns at BMS, there’s an underlying theme that’s potentially more important.

It’s the points.

After Sunday’s Bristol race, the top 35 teams in owner points will automatically qualify for future events this season. Through Sunday, the point totals from last season are used. So, finish positions in Sunday’s race and how they impact the owner standings are critical factors when the circuit moves to Martinsville, Va. the following week.

With entry lists holding strong and teams going home every week after failing to qualify, the top-35 guarantee can be more important than fresh tires after a long green-flag run.

Among the drivers bouncing around the top-35 cutoff entering Bristol are Sam Hornish Jr., David Gilliland, Brad Keselowski, Travis Kvapil, Mike Bliss, Kevin Conway, David Stremme and Robby Gordon.

Mike Hembree is NASCAR Editor for SPEEDtv.com and has been covering motorsports for 28 years. He has written several books on NASCAR, including "NASCAR: The Definitive History of America's Sport" and "Then Tony Said To Junior: The Best NASCAR Stories Ever Told". He is a six-time winner of the National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year Award.

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