CUP CONTENDERS Chase for Championship A glance at the 12 drivers competing in NASCAR’s Chase for the Nextel Cup championship, in order of points standings:

JIMMIE JOHNSON
Hendrick Motorsports

Car: No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet
Chase points: First, 5506
Position change: Plus 3
What happened: Johnson won the pole, but wrecked his primary car in practice and had to start at the rear of the field. Then he was trapped on the tail end of the lead lap after a second rain delay, and had to motor to finish third.

JEFF GORDON
Hendrick Motorsports

Car: No. 24 Dupont Chevrolet
Chase points: Second, -6
Position change: Minus 1
What happened: Gordon was also trapped near the rear of the field after the second rain delay, and was thrilled when NASCAR resumed the race. He rallied to finish fifth.

CLINT BOWYER
Richard Childress Racing

Car: No. 07 Jack Daniels Chevrolet
Chase points: Third, -14
Position change: Plus 2
What happened: Bowyer finished second on his home state track, and was confused as to why he wasn’t the winner: He crossed the finish line ahead of Greg Biffle, who slowed his car before the checkered flag, but won because the race was finished under caution.

TONY STEWART
Joe Gibbs Racing

Car: No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet
Chase points: Fourth, -117
Position change: Minus 2
What happened: Stewart put himself in position to win by holding down the lead before the second rain delay. But when the race resumed, he was part of an accident that damaged his fender. His crew decided not to fix it, and the rubbing fender popped his tire to cause him to wreck. He was furious after finishing 39th.

KEVIN HARVICK
Richard Childress Racing

Car: No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet
Chase points: Fifth, -126
Position change: Plus 4
What happened: Harvick quietly finished sixth at Kansas to jump up in the standings. He’s not counting himself out for the title just yet.

KYLE BUSCH
Hendrick Motorsports

Car: No. 5 Kellogg’s Chevrolet
Chase points: Sixth, -136
Position change: Minus 2
What happened: Busch was wrecked 28 laps into the race by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and finished a frustrating 41st.

CARL EDWARDS
Roush Fenway Racing

Car: No. 99 Office Depot Ford
Chase points: Seventh, -142
Position change: Minus 1
What happened: Edwards was a casualty of Tony Stewart’s blown tire: When Stewart wrecked, Edwards got collected and finished 37th.

MARTIN TRUEX JR.
Dale Earnhardt Inc.

Car: No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet
Chase points: Eighth, -158
Position change: Minus 1
What happened: Truex had a rough day and it only got worse when he wrecked with Matt Kenseth right after the race resumed following a second rain delay. He finished 38th.

KURT BUSCH
Penske Racing

Car: No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge
Chase points: Ninth, -177
Position change: Plus 2
What happened: Busch finished 11th, even though he ran into Stewart when his tire blew. The contact damaged his hood, but he still rallied to his finish.

JEFF BURTON
Richard Childress Racing

Car: No. 31 AT&T Chevrolet
Chase points: 10th, -186
Position change: Minus 2
What happened: Burton’s day went awry when NASCAR said he tried to fix his fender during a rain delay and he never recovered. He finished 36th.

MATT KENSETH
Roush Fenway Racing

Car: No. 17 Dewalt Tools Ford
Chase points: 11th, -219
Position change: Minus 1
What happened: Kenseth was in the wreck with Truex right after the restart on the second rain delay and finished 35th.

DENNY HAMLIN
Joe Gibbs Racing

Car: No. 11 Fed Ex Chevrolet
Chase points: 12th, -248
Position change: None
What happened: Hamlin wrecked right after teammate Stewart did and finished 29th.

Associated Press