BRISTOL, Tenn. – The problem facing several drivers in making the Chase for the Sprint Cup is similar to what was facing Burt Reynolds, Jerry Reed and Sally Field in “Smokey and the Bandit.”

            “A long way to go … and a short time to get there.”

            Being in the top 12 at the end of the season’s first 26 races means having a chance at the championship. Three races remain in the 26 that comprise the regular season.

            Clint Bowyer and Mark Martin have swapped 12^th place three weeks in a row. Bowyer enters the Irwin Tools Night Race, at Bristol Motor Speedway, clinging to a 35-point advantage over Martin. The issue is far from decided between the two, but Martin doesn’t have to outperform Bowyer by much in the three races leading up to the Chase. He has the luxury to chip away.

            The same cannot be said for Ryan Newman, Jamie McMurray, Kasey Kahne, Dale Earnhardt Jr., David Reutimann and Juan Pablo Montoya, all of whom trail Bowyer by between 103 and 173 points. The odds do not favor them.

            The only way to make a move is by getting as hot as the weather, and it’s the hottest time of the year. At this point, it isn’t enough to avoid a misstep. Winning all three races might catch Bowyer, but anything less requires some help. It won’t help to catch Burton if they can’t catch Martin, as well.

            “We're still racing for the final Chase spot,” said Earnhardt. “I mean, I feel like it's not impossible.”

            Montoya has all but conceded. He is 44 points farther behind than Earnhardt. He’s got nothing to lose, whether he wins the lottery – that’s approximately what making the Chase would be like at this point – or not.

“We can take a lot more risks now and take these races to really understand and bring the car to a new level,” he said. “I think if we screw up the setup and finish 20th, it doesn't really matter. I mean, am I going to finish 19th or 20th in the points? Who cares? I don't.”

You may contact Monte Dutton at mdutton@gastongazette.com.