# 2009 Chase for the Sprint Cup

The 2009 Chase for the Sprint Cup was the ten-race playoff that determined the champion of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, contested among the top twelve drivers following the Chevy Rock and Roll 400 on September 12 at Richmond International Raceway. The entire chase was broadcast on ABC in the USA and TSN 2 in Canada.

## Format

For the second year, the twelve drivers who qualified for the Chase had their point totals reset to 5,000 points, with a ten-point bonus for each race they won prior to the Chase. The driver who earns the most points at the end of the Chase will be declared the 2009 series champion.

## Changes

This year's changes were where the ten races will be. Atlanta Motor Speedway's fall date, the Pep Boys Auto 500, was switched to the Labor Day weekend, and Auto Club Speedway, which hosts the Pepsi 500, took the space in the race schedule. Talladega Superspeedway's date, the AMP Energy 500 was in return, moved to Atlanta's date with Auto Club moving into Talladega's original position.

## Races

| Date | Race | Site | Time (US ET) | 2008 Winner | 2009 Winner |
| 9/20 | 2009 Sylvania 300 | New Hampshire Motor Speedway | 1 PM | Greg Biffle | Mark Martin |
| 9/27 | 2009 AAA 400 | Dover International Speedway | 1 PM | Greg Biffle | Jimmie Johnson |
| 10/4 | 2009 Price Chopper 400 | Kansas Speedway | 1 PM | Jimmie Johnson | Tony Stewart |
| 10/11 | 2009 Pepsi 500 | Auto Club Speedway | 2:30 PM | Jimmie Johnson § | Jimmie Johnson |
| 10/17 | 2009 NASCAR Banking 500 only from Bank of America | Lowe's Motor Speedway | 7 PM | Jeff Burton | Jimmie Johnson |
| 10/25 | 2009 TUMS Fast Relief 500 | Martinsville Speedway | 1 PM | Jimmie Johnson | Denny Hamlin |
| 11/1 | 2009 AMP Energy 500 | Talladega Superspeedway | 1 PM | Tony Stewart | Jamie McMurray$^‡$ |
| 11/8 | 2009 Dickies 500 | Texas Motor Speedway | 2:30 PM | Carl Edwards | Kurt Busch |
| 11/15 | 2009 Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 | Phoenix International Raceway | 2:30 PM | Jimmie Johnson | Jimmie Johnson |
| 11/22 | 2009 Ford 400 | Homestead Miami Speedway | 2:30 PM | Carl Edwards | Denny Hamlin |
‡ – Ineligible for the Chase as he did not finish in Top 12.

## Qualified Drivers

The 12 drivers who have qualified for the chase after the Chevy Rock and Roll 400
* Tony Stewart (Stewart Haas Racing #14 Chevrolet)
* Jimmie Johnson (Hendrick Motorsports #48 Chevrolet)
* Jeff Gordon (Hendrick Motorsports #24 Chevrolet)
* Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing #11 Toyota)
* Carl Edwards (Roush Fenway Racing #99 Ford)
* Kasey Kahne (Richard Petty Motorsports #9 Dodge)
* Kurt Busch (Penske Racing #2 Dodge)
* Juan Pablo Montoya (Earnhardt Ganassi Racing #42 Chevrolet)
* Ryan Newman (Stewart Haas Racing #39 Chevrolet)
* Mark Martin (Hendrick Motorsports #5 Chevrolet)
* Greg Biffle (Roush Fenway Racing #16 Ford)
* Brian Vickers (Red Bull Racing Team #83 Toyota)

## Standings

| Rank Current/Pre-Chase | Rank Current/Pre-Chase | Driver | Points/(Behind) | Points/(Behind) | Poles | Wins Pre-Chase/Overall | Wins Pre-Chase/Overall | Top 5 | Top 10 |
| 1 | 1 | Mark Martin | 5040 | Leader | 6 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 14 |
| 2 | 2 | Tony Stewart | 5030 | (−10) | 0 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 18 |
| 3 | 3 | Jimmie Johnson | 5030 | (−10) | 1 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 15 |
| 4 | 4 | Denny Hamlin | 5020 | (−20) | 0 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 14 |
| 5 | 5 | Kasey Kahne | 5020 | (−20) | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 10 |
| 6 | 6 | Jeff Gordon | 5010 | (−30) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 18 |
| 7 | 7 | Kurt Busch | 5010 | (−30) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 14 |
| 8 | 8 | Brian Vickers | 5010 | (−30) | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 13 |
| 9 | 9 | Carl Edwards | 5000 | (−40) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 11 |
| 10 | 10 | Ryan Newman | 5000 | (−40) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 12 |
| 11 | 11 | Juan Pablo Montoya | 5000 | (−40) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 |
| 12 | 12 | Greg Biffle | 5000 | (−40) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 12 |

## Results

NOTE: Standings in Cup points before the race in parentheses.

### Race Seven: 2009 AMP Energy 500

| Preceded by2008 Chase for the Sprint Cup | NASCAR seasons 2009 | Succeeded by2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series |