NASCAR’s Regular Season Is About To End

Tonight's race at Richmond International Raceway is the cutoff to determine which drivers will be vying for NASCAR's 2013 Sprint Cup Series Championship. And just like last year, Jeff Gordon needs to race his way into the Chase.

Gordon finds himself on the outside looking in as he sits just 6 points out of tenth place going in the last race that will determine who will be in this year's Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship. The top ten drivers after tonight's Federated Auto Part 400 plus two wild cards will be eligible for NASCAR's playoff series.

Gordon is off to a good start though as he was fastest in qualifying and will start on the pole for tonight's race. The pole is the 73rd of Gordon's career and makes this the 21st season in a row that he has won a pole. However, the driver currently 10th in the driver point standings - Kurt Busch qualified second and will start on the front row alongside Gordon.

With seven drivers already clinching a spot in the Chase, there are technically ten other drivers that are still in the running for one of the five remaining spots including Dale Earnhardt Jr., Joey Logano, Greg Biffle, Kurt Busch, Jeff Gordon, Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Newman, Brad Keselowski, Jamie McMurray and Paul Menard.  Earnhardt just needs to finish 32nd or better and he is in.

Here is the complete lineup for tonight's race.