Labor Day weekend.

It’s a chance for most to reflect on all the hard work we do through the consumption of red meat and carbonated beverages that rhyme with “Diller Night.”

For this working man, there’s no time to slack, not when we’re 2/3 of the way through the Sprint Cup season. As an homage to said working man, I decided to show you some point totals from 2010 to 2009. Take a look at the numbers, then some thoughts on what they all mean.

1    Kevin Harvick    3521    Leader  1  Tony Stewart       3564    Leader       
2    Jeff Gordon         3242    -279    2  Jimmie Johnson    3344    -220       
3    Kyle Busch          3170    -351    3  Jeff Gordon         3310    -254       
4    Carl Edwards      3113    -408    4  Denny Hamlin      3141    -423       
5    Denny Hamlin      3108    -413    5  Carl Edwards      3110    -454       
6    Tony Stewart       3107    -414    6  Kurt Busch          3103    -461       
7    Jeff Burton           3101    -420    7  Ryan Newman     2995    -569       
8    Matt Kenseth       3095    -426    8  Greg Biffle           2986    -578       
9    Jimmie Johnson    3077    -444    9  Juan Montoya      2975    -589       
10  Kurt Busch          3073    -448    10 Mark Martin       2971    -593       
11  Greg Biffle            3055    -466   11 Kasey Kahne      2963    -601       
12  Clint Bowyer        2920    -601   12  Matt Kenseth     2945   -619       
13  Jamie McMurray  2820    -701   13  Kyle Busch        2911    -653       
14  Mark Martin        2819    -702   14   Brian Vickers    2906    -658       
15  Ryan Newman     2802    -719   15   Clint Bowyer     2833    -731       
16  Kasey Kahne       2784    -737   16   David Reutimann2785    -779    
17  David Reutimann  2765    -756   17   Marcos Ambrose 2639 -925     
18  Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2750    -771  18    Jeff Burton          2568    -996       
19  Juan Montoya       2728    -793  19    Joey Logano*     2487    -1077       
20  Martin Truex Jr.    2660    -861  20    Casey Mears      2478    -1086      
                                    
The lead pack is thin.

This year’s Chase is kind of like when my old dog Sam went after a toy. Everyone, Sam included, knew he was getting the toy. My dog was an idiot by the way.

Eleven of the twelve Chase spots are all but secured. Clint Bowyer has a 100 point cushion for that final spot. I’m being generous when I say six drivers maybe, kind of, sort of, probably not but I’m in a giving mood are within fighting distance of that last spot, 175 points off the pace.  

In 2009, there were nine drivers within 175 points of each other. Those nine drivers were fighting for the final six Chase spots. It was a much deeper pool of contenders

Maybe there is more parity than we thought.
Among Chase contenders, the lead pack features eight drivers within 100 points of each other, an example of consistent consistency.

As for those drivers who will only be chasing the next party or set of  NASCAR hotties, in 2009  there were 17 drivers in the Top 35 at least 1,000 points behind Tony Stewart. In 2010, that number is only 13.  

Maybe we should all tick off a Logano.

Kevin Harvick may not win the 2010 Sprint Cup. Still, Captain I’m Getting an Awesome New Sponsor is doing something historic. Harvick has 3,521 points through 24 races. This time last year, dude had 2300 points. That’s a 1,221 point increase for those with an abacus or 53% for those with a calculator.

How will this impact my picks for this week? If you’re not chasing, you’re not going to see you name on my pick list, especially down just 105 fake dollars after Kyle Busch swept Bristol. Now some quick picks and odds from the newly redesigned Spread. Enjoy the weekend, and insert random catchphrase here.

25 fake dollars on Jimmie Johnson at 6/1
15 fake dollars on Kurt Busch at 8/1
10 fake dollars on Tony “I wish I could quit you” Stewart at 12/1

Jimmie Johnson 6/1
Kurt Busch 8/1
Kevin Harvick 8/1
Kyle Busch 10/1
Kasey Kahne 10/1
Juan Pablo Montoya 12/1
Denny Hamlin 12/1
Carl Edwards 12/1
Greg Biffle 12/1
Tony Stewart 12/1
Jeff Gordon 12/1
Jeff Burton 18/1
Matt Kenseth 18/1
Jamie McMurray 20/1
Clint Bowyer 20/1
Mark Martin 30/1
David Reutimann 30/1
Martin Truex Jr 30/1
Joey Logano 35/1
Ryan Newman 40/1
Dale Earnhardt Jr 50/1
AJ Allmendinger 75/1
Sam Hornish Jr 100/1
Travis Kvapil 100/1
Bobby Labonte 100/1
Scott Speed 100/1
Paul Menard 100/1
Regan Smith 100/1
Brad Keselowski 100/1
Marcos Ambrose 100/1
David Ragan 100/1
Reed Sorenson 100/1
Elliott Sadler 100/1
Field (Any Other Driver) 50/1