CHASE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP | The top ten

Jeff Gordon
Points: first, 5,371 (change in standings: plus 2)What happened: Started 21st at Dover, and his Hendrick Motorsports team worked on the car the entire race to grab third place. He's finished seventh and third in the first two Chase events to take over the points lead.
Kurt Busch
Points: second, 5,370 (change in standings: minus 1)What happened: Busch struggled on long runs at Dover, but after starting 13th, managed a fifth-place finish. He slipped one spot in the standings, but only trails Gordon by one point. He's not putting too much stock in his standing, though, knowing Sunday's race at Talladega could change everything.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Points: third, 5,353 points (change in standings: minus 2)What happened: Earnhardt had handling problems late in the race and was eventually lapped. Still, he finished ninth.
Jimmie Johnson
Points: fourth, 5,314 (change in standings: plus 1)What happened: Johnson was penalized for speeding on pit road, yet still finished 10th. The penalty and finish did not hurt him. He jumped one spot in the standings and trails his Hendrick Motorsports teammate by 57 points.
Mark Martin
Points: fourth, 5,314 (change in standings: plus 2)What happened: Martin was the second best car at Dover, never having the little bit extra to challenge for the win. No matter. He climbed two spots.
Elliott Sadler
Points: sixth, 5,275 (change in standings: none)What happened: Sadler was also flagged for speeding on pit road, which halted what was shaping up to be a promising day at Dover. He ended up in 20th at the end of the race and failed to gain any ground in the chase.
Matt Kenseth
Points: seventh, 5,272 (change in standings: minus 3)What happened: The reigning series champion took the biggest hit of all chase contenders when he wrecked trying to enter pit road. He finished 32nd and plummeted in the standings.
Ryan Newman
Points: eighth, 5,264 (change in standings: plus 1)What happened: Newman did everything he could to get back in the chase: He won the race at Dover. Still, his climb back into it will be long and hard. He's still 107 points behind the leader and not too thrilled with Talladega coming up next.
Tony Stewart
Points: ninth, 5,236 (change in standings: minus 1)What happened: Stewart started 23rd, finished sixth and lost ground in the chase. A week after a wreck intentionally caused by Robby Gordon derailed Stewart's championship hopes, the two tangled slightly on the track at Dover. Stewart will likely avoid Gordon the rest of the way, starting at Talladega, where he's usually a top contender.
Jeremy Mayfield
Points: 10th, 5,214 (change in standings: none)What happened: Mayfield began the weekend by winning the pole and ended it with a seventh place finish. He's still got a long way to go: He's 157 points behind the leader.
Associated Press