NASCAR: Hayden talks about final 4 weeks of season

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on October 30, 2016 1:45 AM

• Print
• Email

rcoggins@newsargus.com

MARTINSVILLE, Va. -- NASCAR's playoff system is different from most stick-and-ball sports.

The teams eliminated from the Chase for the Sprint Cup still get the opportunity to compete, and anyone at any time can play the spoiler role. Teams in other playoff sports are done once they are beaten.

So, with four races left this season, Goldsboro resident Alex Hayden calls for more unpredictability when the third round of the Chase begins today at Martinsville Speedway.

"Four of the eight left (in the Chase) are from Joe Gibbs Racing, so you know at least JGR is going to have someone in Miami racing for a championship," said Hayden, who is a broadcaster with MRN Radio, and works with NBCSN and FOX on occasion.

"I think (Kevin) Harvick advances."

What about six-time Cup champ Jimmie Johnson?

The Lowe's team has constantly been overlooked and enters today's race with no advantage. The remaining eight Cup contenders have 4,000 points apiece after last weekend's race at Talladega.

Denny Hamlin has more pit-road penalties (16), including seven in Chase races. But despite shooting the bullet between their toes instead of in their foot, they've consistently climbed into the top five despite the variety of violations they've committed.

Defending Cup champ Kyle Busch is looming in the shadows.

So is Joey Logano.

"Logano has such a great outlook on life in general, let alone racing," Hayden said. "He doesn't let too mnay things get to him. I think that even keel (mentality) is going to be what it takes, plus a little bit of Lady Luck.

"He's been in this position before and has come up short a couple of different times. I think this is their year."