Twelve Questions: Bristol

This is 12 Questions, making its return for the run to Richmond and beyond.

Actually, it might be called 12 Questions, Plus Denny Hamlin, because he's 14th in points but 12th when you pull in the wild-card. So we'll go with that for now...

13. Denny Hamlin (1 victory, 59 points out of top 10): Will he and Mike Ford still be an item come Chicagoland? Will he and Mike Ford be an item in 2012? Hamlin had a bad day at Michigan, hitting the wall and finishing 35th. He slipped to 14th in the points, but still remains 12th in the points because he's the top points guy with a victory behind Brad Keselowski, who has two.

12. Brad Keselowski (2 victories, 52 out of 10th): What will happen once his ankle heals? It certainly hasn't hurt him to drive hurt, if you take my meaning. Captain Courageous earned his third straight top-3 finish at Michigan, his home track. He and Paul Wolfe are clicking better than just about anyone right now.

11. Clint Bowyer (0 victories, 24 out of 10th): Will it be all for naught? Can he make the top 10? He's still 11th in points, 24 points out of 10th. He could get to the top 10, because he runs well at Bristol and Richmond. Right now, he needs a victory...big-time.

10. Tony Stewart (0 victories, 24 points clear of 11th): Will Smoke discover something? Will Darian Grubb pull one out of his hat? "All about balance, Daniel-san." That's how Mr. Miyagi put it in The Karate Kid. Right now, there is no balance, and if it keeps up, there will be no Chase. So said the Man himself at Michigan.

9. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (0 victories, 30 clear of 11th): Can he stick it out for three more races? Can he find a set of tires he likes, two stops in a row? Junior runs well at times and poorly at times. If he ever irons out the rough patches...he'll be fine and in the Chase. If he doesn't...Junior Nation just might be done.

8. Kurt Busch (1 victory, 52 ahead of 11th): How far away are we from another hissy fit? Will this one work like the last one did? Kurt is on that up-and-down rollercoaster that all drivers hate, and he's in danger of a freefall if he isn't careful. Bristol should help...

7. Ryan Newman (1 victory, 55 ahead of 11th): Has Tony Gibson saved his job? Has Ryan rediscovered the Rocketman persona? Yes and yes, I think. He's being consistent, challenging for the top spots and wicked-fast at times.

6. Jeff Gordon (2 victories, 69 clear of 11th): Can SuperG find his cape? Can Lance McGrew find a way to close the deal? Gordon has been fast, but not dominant lately, and that is enough to make the Chase. What he'll do once it starts is anybody's guess.

5. Matt Kenseth (2 victories, 89 up on 11th): Who needs Crown Royal? Is Jimmy Fennig the answer? Not Matt, and yep, it sure seems that way. Kenseth has been wicked-fast and is even qualifying well, so it looks like Matty Ice is headed to the Chase with a head of steam.

4. Carl Edwards (1 victory, 90 up on 11th): Was MIS engine job enough to stall his momentum? Will Roush Fenway find and fix it? Carl has been on cruise of late, working toward the Chase. He is decent at Bristol, great at Atlanta, OK at Richmond.

3. Kevin Harvick (3 victories, 90 up on 11th): Is Harvick going to get back to early-season form? Is he going to have another "moment?" Harvick is either in the mix all day or sneaking into the top 10 at the end of the race. There doesn't seem to be a middle ground. That could hurt once the Chase starts.

2. Jimmie Johnson (1 victory, 120 ahead of 11th): Can he really only have one victory? Is this a smoke screen for the Chase and No. 6? That's what it says, and no, I don't think so. He's not as dominant as he once was, but until the Chase begins, there's no way to tell if he's mortal or not.

1. Kyle Busch (4 victories, 129 up on 11th): Was MIS victory a statement? Is he just getting started? Young Master Busch is certainly acting the part, isn't he? He is consistently fast, seems to have shed the whole Rebel Without a Clue persona and is racing hard and well. He has a lot of momentum heading toward the Chase, of which he is the only driver to have clinched a spot.