Friday, November 12, 2004
The 10 drivers competing in NASCAR's Chase for the Nextel Cup, in order of points standings:
Kurt Busch
Car: No. 97 Sharpie FordPoints: First, 6,191Last week: Busch almost ran out of gas before he was able to pit at Phoenix, and his car stalled as he tried to get off the service road.
Jeff Gordon
Car: No. 24 DuPont ChevroletPoints: Second, 6,150Last week: Gordon gained 31 points on the leader by finishing third. He trails Busch by 41 as he heads into the Southern 500 at Darlington -- a race Gordon has won three times.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Car: No. 8 Budweiser ChevroletPoints: Third, 6,144 pointsLast week: Earnhardt won in Phoenix to pull within 47 points of Busch. Before getting out of his car in Victory Lane, crew chief Tony Eury reminded him to watch his language.
Jimmie Johnson
Car: No. 48 Lowe's ChevroletPoints: Fourth, 6,143Last week: Johnson gained 11 points on Busch but is still 48 points out of first place. He slipped two spots in the standings after finishing sixth.
Mark Martin
Car: No. 6 Viagra FordPoints: Fifth, 6,089Last week: Martin called the Chase a tale of lost opportunities after finishing 15th in Phoenix and falling 102 points behind the leader.
Tony Stewart
Car: No. 20 Home Depot ChevroletPoints: Sixth, 6,049Last week: Stewart finished eighth. He's 142 points behind Busch.
Ryan Newman
Car: No. 12 ALLTEL DodgePoints: Seventh, 6,036Last week: Newman started from the pole, lost a lap during a green flag pit stop, but battled back to finish second.
Elliott Sadler
Car: No. 38 M & amp;M's FordPoints: Eighth, 5,869Last week: Sadler wrecked because of a flat tire and finished 38th.
Matt Kenseth
Car: No. 17 DeWalt Tools FordPoints: Ninth, 5,855Last week: Kenseth blew his engine just after the halfway point of the race and finished 36th.
Jeremy Mayfield
Car: No. 19 Dodge Dealers/UAW DodgePoints: 10th, 5,836Last week: Mayfield managed to finish 21st but set his sights on Darlington, one of his favorite race tracks.
Associated Press