Stewart has won three of the first eight Chase races and has five top-four finishes.

Fans of the eliminated drivers would have had no reason to watch the latter Chase races.

"More times than not, the fastest car don't win, so I'm not going to get excited," Berrier said, referring to the remaining Chase races.

In fact, it may be quite the foreshadowing moment for how the two head into the Chase eight races from now.

A driver error in the first Chase race on part of Carl Edwards caused Hamlin to spin with 85 to go.

In doing so, he became the first driver to win the first two Chase races in a season.

As it stands, the Chase races have 43 drivers, including the 10 in the Chase.

His older brother Kurt, the 2004 champion, finished 35th in the first Chase race last year and fell 142 points behind Stewart.

Five of the 10 Chase races will be run in the Car of Tomorrow.

Stewart, who did not make the Chase, finished 11th in points, winning three of the Chase races.