CHASE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP 12 for the title

JIMMIE JOHNSON

Chase points: first, 6,297

Car: No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet

Team: Hendrick Motorsports

Position change: None

Last week: Johnson’s charmed run through the Chase came to an abrupt end when he got tangled up with Sam Hornish Jr. three laps in at Texas, missed over 100 laps and then drove a car apparently built by somebody’s shop class to a 38th-place finish. Still has a firm grip on fourth straight title.

MARK MARTIN

Chase points: second, -73

Car: No. 5 Carquest/Kellogg’s Chevrolet

Team: Hendrick Motorsports

Position change: None

Last week: Got the break he needed when Johnson found trouble and took advantage with a strong fourth-place finish at Texas. His hopes are flickering, but he’s heading back to a track where he won in the spring.

JEFF GORDON

Chase points: third, -112

Car: No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet

Team: Hendrick Motorsports

Position change: None

Last week: Squeezed out a 13th-place finish at Texas, but knows he probably needed a top-five to have any realistic shot at catching Johnson.

KURT BUSCH

Chase points: fourth, -171

Car: No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge

Team: Penske Racing

Position change: Plus 2

Last week: Stalked younger brother Kyle for much of the day at Texas before stretching his fuel enough to capture his second win of the season and give departing crew chief Pat Tryson a nice parting gift.

TONY STEWART

Chase points: fifth, -178

Car: No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet

Team: Stewart/Haas Racing

Position change: None

Last week: Smoke picked up his 23rd top-10 finish of the year with a sixth-place finish at Texas

JUAN PABLO MONTOYA

Chase points: sixth, -236

Car: No. 42 Target Chevrolet

Team: Earnhardt Ganassi Racing

Position change: Minus 2

Last week: Had a chance to make a push at Texas only to lose it on lap 174 and collect fellow Chaser Carl Edwards in a crash that sent both to the garage. He finished 37th and gained just three points on Johnson.

GREG BIFFLE

Chase points: seventh, -247

Car: No. 16 3M Scotch Brand Ford

Team: Roush Fenway Racing

Position change: None

Last week: Put together a quiet eighth-place finish at Texas for his fourth top-10 of the Chase.

DENNY HAMLIN

Chase points: eighth, -322

Car: No. 11 FedEx Toyota

Team: Joe Gibbs Racing

Position change: Plus 3

Last week: Bounced back from a horrible week at Talladega to finish second at Texas thanks to a little fuel-sipping at the end.

RYAN NEWMAN

Chase points: ninth, -324

Car: No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet

Team: Stewart/Haas Racing

Position change: Minus 1

Last week: The good news? He didn’t have to be extracted from his car after a 12th-place finish at Texas. The bad news? His ill-handling car didn’t make him a factor.

KASEY KAHNE

Chase points: 10th, -399

Car: No. 9 Budweiser Dodge

Team: Richard Petty Motorsports

Position change: Minus 1

Last week: Looked good early at Texas before his car developed engine trouble late in the race and he faded to 33rd.

CARL EDWARDS

Chase points: 11th, -440

Car: No. 99 Aflac Ford

Team: Roush Fenway Racing

Position change: Minus 1

Last week: Is the season over yet? Edwards got mixed up with Montoya to extend his winless season.

BRIAN VICKERS

Chase points: 12th, -520

Car: No. 83 Red Bull Toyota

Team: Red Bull Racing

Position change: None

Last week: Vickers struggled most of the day at Texas and actually spent most of the day running behind teammate Scott Speed before finishing 26th.