After 9 races in 2004-2006 worst spot a future chaser was? with #9-Kasey Kahne, 31st in drivers championship points after 9 races, the question has been, after 9 races in the three previous Chase's, what was the worst spot a future Chaser [in that season] was in after the 9th race? In 2006 after the 9th race, #11-Hamlin was 19th in drivers points [and made it in the chase at 5th], in 2005 it was #17-Matt Kenseth who was 23rd [and made it in at 9th] after 9 races and in the first year of the Chase, 2004, Jeremy Mayfield [then in the #19, now in the #36] was 16th [and went into the chase at 9th]. The three drivers who won the last three Nextel Cup Championships were no deeper then 6th, that being #20-Tony Stewart. In 2006 #48-Jimmie Johnson was 1st and in 2004, #97-[now in the #2]-Kurt Busch was 4th after 9 races.(5-1-2007)