If the cheating incidents had not occurred , NASCAR deemed that Gordon would likely have garnered enough points to make the Chase .
A further ripple , Jeff Gordon was added to the Chase as the unprecedented 13th driver to a 12 - man chase .
If the cheating incidents had not occurred , NASCAR deemed that Jeff Gordon would likely have garnered enough points to make the Chase .
A further ripple , Jeff Gordon was added to the Chase as the unprecedented 13th driver to a 12 - man chase .