LOUDON, N.H. -- Sunday at New Hampshire, two Hendrick Motorsports drivers essentially punched their tickets to the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. entered Sunday's race needing 35 points to secure a spot in the top 30 of the point standings, the next step to officially earn a place in NASCAR's postseason. He earned 39.
Jimmie Johnson, meanwhile, needed 26 points to secure his top-30 spot -- with no help. However, his performance netted 22 points.
Still, with the way the race played out, those 22 points were enough to do the job.
The driver of the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet SS also clinched his top-30 spot. Since both Johnson and Earnhardt have multiple wins, positions in the 16-driver Chase field are all but assured.
The only requirement left is to start the remaining seven races of the regular season.