Wednesday, October 13th "What If" Question

Tracks like the Kansas Speedway and Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California are used to seeing Roush Fenway Racing drivers in victory lane. Two weeks ago Greg Biffle kept up his end of the bargain when he took the checkered flag at Kansas for his second win of the 2010 season.

The win was significant not only for the fact that Ford would be giving his No. 16 team an extra $100,000 for winning a Chase race, but earning the maximum amount of points helped keep Biffle in the championship hunt. Last weekend in California it looked like RFR was picking right up where they left off in Kansas as Biffle, Carl Edwards and Matt Kenseth each had contending cars for the Pepsi Max 400.

Then one by one they each went up in smoke ... literally. Biffle was the first to go on lap 40. Edwards came next at lap 60 when his car was pushed to the garage. He later returned but 14 laps down. Kenseth remained on track and up front, swapping the lead with numerous drivers over the course of the event.

Then over the final 10 laps his engine started to smoke and he limped to the finish line. Now the three drivers sit outside the top five in points, Edwards over 100 markers out of first and Biffle and Kenseth over 200 out. It's not impossible but it'll be a longshot for them to get back in title contender.

But ...

What if Greg Biffle's engine did not go 'boom' on Sunday at California. Would he have ended up being a factor for the championship?

@Talon64 He probably would've finished top 5, and would still be within 100 points of the lead. Definitely a factor.

@MisanAkuya He would have snagged a top ten maybe top five, run well at Texas and Homestead but ultimately not be a factor

@Spacie_Stacie I think he really would have been ending up being a factor, you never know what will happen this weekend!

@Ol_Man_Winter Didn't watch Cup race Sun., just going on hearing about it. I say no, JJ & Harvick will be factors, Gordon & Hamlin will drop