Drivers in the Chase, a closer look
DRIVER: Matt Kenseth
ADJUSTED CHASE POINTS: 5,050
HOMETOWN: Cambridge, Wis.
AGE: 34
CAR: No. 17 DeWalt Tools Ford
CREW CHIEF: Robbie Reiser
BEST CHAMPIONSHIP FINISH: 1st (2003)
OUTLOOK: Kenseth, the driver many believe forced the Chase format because of his lackluster 2003 title run, has momentum on his side as he tries to win a championship under the new system. He's got four wins this season and has turned it up a notch heading into the Chase.
DRIVER: Jimmie Johnson
ADJUSTED CHASE POINTS: 5,045
HOMETOWN: El Cajon, Calif.
AGE: 30
CAR: No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet
CREW CHIEF: Chad Knaus
BEST CHAMPIONSHIP FINISH: 2nd (2003, 2004)
OUTLOOK: Johnson, who has four wins this season, led the points for most of the year. A perpetual title contender, he's hoping this is the season he finally finishes the job.
DRIVER: Kevin Harvick
ADJUSTED CHASE POINTS: 5,040
HOMETOWN: Bakersfield, Calif.
AGE: 30
CAR: No. 29 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet
CREW CHIEF: Todd Berrier
BEST CHAMPIONSHIP FINISH: 5th (2003)
OUTLOOK: Harvick is the darkhorse of this championship Chase. He's running away with the Busch Series title and will get extra track time running both schedules. A championship would be the first for Richard Childress Racing since Dale Earnhardt's 2001 death.
DRIVER: Kyle Busch
ADJUSTED CHASE POINTS: 5,035
HOMETOWN: Las Vegas.
AGE: 21
CAR: No. 5 Kellogg's Chevrolet
CREW CHIEF: Alan Gustafson
BEST CHAMPIONSHIP FINISH: 20th (2005)
OUTLOOK: After a rocky start to the season that had him on almost every driver's bad side, Busch has quietly stayed out of trouble and made himself a championship contender. Probably too immature to win a title just yet, but talented enough to make a run at it.
DRIVER: Denny Hamlin
ADJUSTED CHASE POINTS: 5,030
HOMETOWN: Chesterfield, Va.
AGE: 25
CAR: No. 11 FedEx Chevrolet
CREW CHIEF: Mike Ford
BEST CHAMPIONSHIP FINISH: --
OUTLOOK: The surprise of the Chase field, the rookie has been impressive and thrust himself into Chase contention by sweeping the Pocono races. He lacks the experience to win the title this year but could pull off a stunner like he did at the start of the year when he won the Budweiser Shootout.
DRIVER: Dalr Earnhardt Jr.
ADJUSTED CHASE POINTS: 5,025
HOMETOWN: Kannapolis, N.C.
AGE: 31
CAR: No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet
CREW CHIEF: Tony Eury Jr.
BEST CHAMPIONSHIP FINISH: 3rd (2003)
OUTLOOK: Earnhardt is on a comeback after finishing a career-worst 19th in the standings last year. But he's been hit-or-miss this year and had a pair of engine failures at inopportune times. Unless he gets really hot, he's a longshot to win the title.
DRIVER: Mark Martin
ADJUSTED CHASE POINTS: 5,020
HOMETOWN: Batesville, Ark.
AGE: 47
CAR: No. 6 AAA Ford
CREW CHIEF: Pat Tryson
BEST CHAMPIONSHIP FINISH: 2nd (1990, '94, '98, 2002)
OUTLOOK: Martin has yet to prove this season that his team is strong enough to win a title, and he's yet to win a race this year. But he'll go down fighting in what's likely his final season of full-time Cup racing.
DRIVER: Jeff Burton
ADJUSTED CHASE POINTS: 5,015
HOMETOWN: South Boston, Va.
AGE: 39
CAR: No. 31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet
CREW CHIEF: Scott Miller
BEST CHAMPIONSHIP FINISH: 3rd (2000)
OUTLOOK: Although he's winless this season, Burton is having a tremendous year after several miserable seasons. He's led a ton of laps, but late-race slips have prevented him from making it to Victory Lane. If Burton can put it all together, he's got a chance.
DRIVER: Jeff Gordon
ADJUSTED CHASE POINTS: 5,010
HOMETOWN: Vallejo, Calif.
AGE: 35
CAR: No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet
CREW CHIEF: Steve Letarte
BEST CHAMPIONSHIP FINISH: 1st (1995, 1997, 1998, 2001)
OUTLOOK: After missing the Chase last year, Gordon's team has rebounded in hopes of getting him his fifth title. His season has just been OK by Gordon's standards, but the driver nicknamed "Money Man" is sure to turn it up a notch over the stretch run.
DRIVER: Kasey Kahne
ADJUSTED CHASE POINTS: 5,005
HOMETOWN: Enumclaw, Wash.
AGE: 26
CAR: No. 9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge
CREW CHIEF: Kenny Francis
BEST CHAMPIONSHIP FINISH: 13th (2004)
OUTLOOK: Kahne, who has five wins this season, dominated on 1.5-mile tracks earlier this year. With five of the Chase races on 1.5-milers, another hot streak could make him the runaway Chase winner
