AT A GLANCE: Race for the Chase

With six races remaining to qualify for the Chase for the Nextel Cup, NASCAR’s 10-race title run, here’s a look at the contenders. The top 10 and those within 400 points of the leader qualify for the Chase.

1 Jimmie Johnson (leader)

Outlook: It’s championship or bust for the No. 48 Chevrolet, which could use some momentum entering the Chase for a change.

2 Matt Kenseth (97 points behind)

Outlook: Kenseth is trying to shake a minislump (one top 10 in six races) heading into the Brickyard, where he has top fives in three of the past five starts.

3 Jeff Burton (318 behind)

Outlook: Burton is well positioned for his first title, having already finished in the top 10 at six Chase tracks this year.

4 Kyle Busch (357 behind)

Outlook: Busch drove like a contender in July (three consecutive top-three finishes) and has begun talking as one as well, extolling the virtues of consistency.

5 Kevin Harvick (376 behind)

Outlook: The runaway Busch Series points leader is a threat to become the first single-season dual champion in NASCAR history.

6 Mark Martin (382 behind)

Outlook: The 47-year-old could use a boost heading into the Chase. A get-well trip to Watkins Glen should help.

7 Kasey Kahne (424 behind)

Outlook: Kahne will need to maximize points production at Indianapolis, California and Michigan, the types of superspeedways where he has excelled.

8 Denny Hamlin (425 behind)

Outlook: Season sweep of Pocono made headlines but masks a mostly inconsistent season for the 25-year-old trying to become the first rookie in the Chase.

9 Jeff Gordon (427 behind)

Outlook: The four-time champion wants to be solidly in the Chase by Richmond, where he hasn’t finished in the top five in three years.

!0 Tony Stewart (462 behind)

Outlook: If paybacks promised by a growing list of enemies (see Clint Bowyer or Carl Edwards) don’t derail him, the defending champion should be a safe bet to defend his crown.

Others still in the hunt

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (477 behind)

Outlook:If the No. 8 Chevrolet can get over its Brickyard hump (best finish in six Indy starts is 10th) and past Watkins Glen, Earnhardt’s prospects could improve.

Greg Biffle (506 behind)

Outlook: If he can catch the breaks he hasn’t had this season on reliability, pit strategy and staying out of trouble started by others, he should make his second consecutive Chase.

Kurt Busch (628 behind)

Outlook:The 2004 champion is in the midst of his hottest stretch (six top 10s in seven races) of the season and needs to make up 166 points in six weeks to crack the top 10.

Carl Edwards (697 behind)

Outlook: Three finishes outside the top 15 in his past four races have left Edwards on the brink. Chase prospects seem grim.

–USA Today