The 2011 Chase for the Cup is only two races old and already Denny Hamlin is effectively out of the Championship battle. Hamlin is 66 points behind Tony Stewart with eight races to go. It is not impossible but it is extremely unlikely that Hamlin will be able to contend.
Ryan Newman in eleventh is just 34 points off the lead. I think Newman is still close enough to have a shot but he will need to put some top finishes on the board and eat into that deficit over the next three races or so to put himself in position.
Is 34 points too much to overcome or does Ryan still have a realistic chance at the Cup?
