Editor's note: NBC broadcasters will offer opinions on upcoming races the remainder of the season. This week, analyst Dale Jarrett discusses Sunday's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400 from Chicagoland Speedway about 2:30 p.m. ET.
The Chase for the Sprint Cup is finally here.
This weekend at Chicagoland Speedway, 16 drivers will begin the championship-determining segment of the season. The field includes four first-time Chasers as well as previous champions Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch.
The 1.5-mile track in Joliet, Ill., matches the distance of half the Chase tracks and offers the first glimpse of this Chase field competing for the championship instead of part of it racing carefully just to get into the field.
MORE: 16 for '16: Chase drivers | Chicagoland sked | Entries
These aren't the only drivers, though, that could win this weekend. For drivers not in the Chase, the rest of the season is a combined quest for a win and attempt to improve in order to be a title contender next season.
With so many different storylines this weekend, what can one expect at Chicagoland? NBC analyst Dale Jarrett says this is a "pretty wide-open race."
And the track itself could play a role in how things play out.
"Much like the other mile-and-a-half tracks that will be in the Chase, it's a worn-out surface which allows you to race bottom, middle and top and I think we'll see that utilized throughout the day," said Jarrett, a Hall of Fame driver. "I think we're going to see some pretty tense racing with what we've seen to this point."
That applies to the Chase drivers particularly.
MORE: Stewart not angry at Newman | First-time Chasers' unique challenges
The Chase cannot be won in this opening segment, but drivers must avoid getting in a hole. As Jarrett points out, "The one thing you don't want to do is take away that opportunity to move into that next round."
Just look at Kevin Harvick last season. He finished 42nd in the opening race and was forced into recovery mode.
"We saw how Kevin Harvick had to really battle back last year after having the issue at Chicagoland and then turning around and New Hampshire not working out for him and had to go win Dover, so you don't want to put yourself in that position if you can help it," Jarrett said.
"Obviously they're going to race hard so it may do that to someone, but I expect a very competitive and entertaining race."
For the drivers not in the Chase, the focus shifts. They'll try for their best finishes and to win races.
MORE: Hamlin hopes to dispatch gremlins | Best Chase battles
But for those that came so close to making the Chase last Saturday night, this has probably been a week of adjustment from battling for a berth to finishing the season strong, though without a shot at the title.
"It can be a little bit of a letdown," Jarrett said. "You raced hard, you did everything that you could for 26 weeks and trying to make all of that happen and then you came up a little bit short of what your goals were which were to be a part of that 16 so it can be a little bit of a letdown.
"On the other side of that, I think there are drivers that still appreciate and look forward to that opportunity of trying to get a win for the season understanding what that could do for them and their race team and how that could help them move forward. I think, most even though they may have had that letdown at the first part of the week once they get to the track I think they'll be ready to race. They understand, there's still 10 opportunities to do good things, whether it's to get your team better prepared for next year or win a race for your sponsor."
For those that are battling for the title, though, the recent races have been vastly different.
MORE: Toyota on roll after Richmond | Five things to know at Chicagoland
Some locked into the Chase early and have raced essentially for wins. Others were fighting to lock into the Chase field.
All of them now need a win once more, though — or at least a solid points finish. The first elimination of drivers comes after the first three races.
2016 Chase for the Sprint Cup drivers (Getty Images)
Is there a shift in mentality for the teams that had the early wins?
"I think probably for most of those teams that won early on, for the last few weeks they've been getting themselves back in that championship mode," Jarrett said. "You can't just turn things on all the sudden and say, 'OK, now it's Chase time.' You have to get yourself prepared for that and I think we've seen a number of the teams that won early do that. Those are teams and drivers that have been here and know more what to expect so they're capable of doing that a little bit more than ones that are new coming in to this. …
"You know that everybody's bringing a little something more. Every manufacturer is going to have a little bit more horsepower. Everybody has got their very best body that they have, knowing this is a mile and a half track. So everything that they could possibly have is going to be put into this. You have to get yourself worked up and prepared for this and so I expect them to perform at the high level that we think they will."