Associated Press

File 2005 Some of the best Sprint Cup racing of the season should occur on Saturday night at Richmond International Raceway since 10 of the 12 Chase spots have been secured by drivers.

NASCAR fans have been waiting for a race like Saturday night's for a long time.

One where nothing matters but who wins.

With 10 of the 12 Chase positions set -- and Greg Biffle and Clint Bowyer likely to grab the other two spots -- Saturday night's Sprint Cup race at Richmond International Raceway has little to do about who makes NASCAR's playoffs.

It's either win or go home. Fans have to be excited about that.

With a points system that rewards consistency -- three of the top six in points remain winless after 25 races this year -- fans are subjected to more talk about points than victories throughout the season.

It shouldn't be the case this time.

No driver better exit his car and say he's happy finishing fifth unless he hasn't had a top-five finish in a long time or had to overcome extreme obstacles during the event.

Saturday night should be the best race of the year and if not, fans will be owed an explanation.

Admittedly, someone could dominate the field, but the fact remains that second truly is the first loser this time.

That's how drivers are looking at Saturday's race.

"We are going to go and run really hard,'' Jeff Burton said about this weekend's race after clinching a Chase spot at Atlanta. "We are going to kick it off [Saturday] and just bring everything we have got. We've been protecting a little bit the last four or five weeks. It is no more protecting now. It is go time and we have to lay it all on the line.''

That go-for-it attitude is what fans, who will pay $40-$90 a ticket to watch Saturday's race, want to hear. Fans invest their time and money into a NASCAR event, and although there's no guarantee what they'll see, there is the guarantee this time they won't see drivers cruising for fifth-place points.

Every driver should have Kurt Busch's attitude toward this race. When asked about how he'll approach the race, he said: "Go for the win.''

It helps that there are 10 bonus points available for a Chase driver who wins -- that adds extra motivation -- but this, for the most part, is about racing for the trophy. That's the reason these drivers began racing. It was for a trophy.

So, fans should expect drivers to be more gung ho and crew chiefs willing to gamble on fuel or tires or when to stop. There isn't anything to lose. Be daring. Be bold. Be a racer.

This could be the last time this season to see such boldness, at least among the top 12 drivers with the Chase starting next week at New Hampshire. Then, it is back to racing hard but smart, protecting your position and leaning more toward what is safe than risky for the most part.

Because championships aren't won with brawn, they're won with brains.

"The win, win, win attitude is not always the best for a championship,'' Denny Hamlin said. "I've gone out there in certain Chase races and said, 'Man, I've got to get a win. I've got to get a win.' I end up crashing when I should've just taken a fifth-place finish and moved on and had a shot at the championship at the end.

"I think after drivers get bit by that attitude so much, that's when everyone starts to realize the more you back it down and get what you can, the better shot you're going to have at winning the championship in the long-term."

There's no long-term focus Saturday night. It's all about 400 laps at Richmond. Let's see who wants to win it the most.