AT A GLANCE | Top 10 drivers

A glance at the 10 drivers competing in NASCAR's Chase for the Nextel Cup, in order of points standings:
Kurt Busch (No. 97)
Chase points: First, 6,015. No change.
What happened: Busch is making it look as if the championship is his to lose, scoring a fifth-place finish at Martinsville to give him a top-six or better in all six of the Chase races.
Jeff Gordon (No. 24)
Chase points: Second, 5,919. Plus 1
What happened: Gordon started 15th at Martinsville, had a poor middle of the race and rallied to finish ninth. Afterward, he learned of the crash of a Hendrick Motorsports plane that killed 10 people, including 24-year-old Ricky Hendrick, who was like a little brother to him.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 8)
Chase points: Third, 5,890 points. Minus 1
What happened: Earnhardt had been good at Martinsville in the past, finishing in the top five of the previous five races. But he finished 33rd Sunday, and dropped a spot in the standings.
Jimmie Johnson (No. 48)
Chase points: Fourth, 5,808. Plus 4
What happened: So, perhaps it was premature to write Johnson out of the championship chase. His second consecutive victory vaulted him four spots in the standings. A hot streak like this could put him back into contention, but like Gordon, he also must get past the Hendrick tragedy.
Mark Martin (No. 6)
Chase points: Fifth, 5,791. No change.
What happened: Martin finished 12th at Martinsville, but those in front of him in the standings have generally beaten him ahead of him in the races.
Tony Stewart (No. 20)
Chase points: Sixth, 5,769. No change.
What happened: Stewart led 18 laps at Martinsville, but finished 15th. He heads to Atlanta laden with emotion -- his helicopter pilot, Scott Lathram, was killed in the Hendrick crash, and was on board only because he wanted to give Stewart an award for his support of the U.S. armed forces.
Elliott Sadler (No. 38)
Chase points: Seventh, 5,760. Minus 3
What happened: Sadler finished 32nd at Martinsville, and dropped three spots in the standings.
Matt Kenseth (No. 17)
Chase points: Eighth, 5,755. Minus 1
What happened: Kenseth had a disappointing day at Martinsville, finishing 16th to lose one spot in the standings. He's hoping to bounce back this weekend at Atlanta.
Ryan Newman (No. 12)
Chase points: Ninth, 5,749. No change.
What happened: Newman battled with teammate Rusty Wallace for second place over the last few laps, and ended up finishing third.
Jeremy Mayfield (No. 19)
Chase points: 10th, 5,651. No change.
What happened: Mayfield used good pit strategy to finish sixth in Martinsville, his best finish there since 1996. Still, he's 364 points behind Busch.
Associated Press