A glance at the 12 drivers competing in NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup championship heading into this weekend’s race at New Hampshire (in order of points):
DRIVER: Kevin Harvick
CHASE POINTS: First, 2,054 points
POSITION CHANGE: Plus 1
CAR: No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet
TEAM: Richard Childress Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Stretched fuel to the checkered flag and finished second.
CAREER NEW HAMPSHIRE STARTS: 21
BEST NEW HAMPSHIRE FINISH: 1st (2006)
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DRIVER: Tony Stewart
CHASE POINTS: Second, -7 points
POSITION CHANGE: Plus 7
CAR: No. 14 Mobil 1/Office Depot Chevrolet
TEAM: Stewart-Haas Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Snapped a 32-race winless streak with first victory of season.
CAREER NEW HAMPSHIRE STARTS: 25
BEST NEW HAMPSHIRE FINISH: 1st (2000, 2005)
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DRIVER: Carl Edwards
CHASE POINTS: Third, -10
POSITION CHANGE: Plus 2
CAR: No. 99 Aflac Ford
TEAM: Roush Fenway Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Finished fourth after running in top-10 all race.
CAREER NEW HAMPSHIRE STARTS: 14
BEST NEW HAMPSHIRE FINISH: 2nd (2006)
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DRIVER: Kurt Busch
CHASE POINTS: Fourth, -11
POSITION CHANGE: Plus 3
CAR: No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge
TEAM: Penske Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Had an uneventful sixth-place run.
CAREER NEW HAMPSHIRE STARTS: 21
BEST NEW HAMPSHIRE FINISH: 1st (2004-twice, 2008)
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Driver: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
CHASE POINTS: Fifth, -13 points
POSITION CHANGE: Plus 5
CAR: No. 88 AMP Chevrolet
TEAM: Hendrick Motorsports
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Worked to get inside top-10 and finished 3rd after others ran out of gas.
CAREER NEW HAMPSHIRE STARTS: 24
BEST NEW HAMPSHIRE FINISH: 3rd (2004)
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DRIVER: Ryan Newman
CHASE POINTS: Sixth, -14 points
POSITION CHANGE: Plus 2
CAR: No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet
TEAM: Stewart-Haas Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Had an uneventful eighth-place run.
CAREER NEW HAMPSHIRE STARTS: 19
BEST NEW HAMPSHIRE FINISH: 1st (2002, 2005, 2011)
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Driver: Brad Keselowski
CHASE POINTS: Seventh, -14 points
POSITION CHANGE: Plus 4
CAR: No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge
TEAM: Penske Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Fell back in the field early, but ended day with fifth-place finish.
CAREER NEW HAMPSHIRE STARTS: Four
BEST NEW HAMPSHIRE FINISH: 6th (2009)
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DRIVER: Jimmie Johnson
CHASE POINTS: Eighth, -16
POSITION CHANGE: Minus 2
CAR: No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet
TEAM: Hendrick Motorsports
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Ran out of gas on final lap and finished 10th.
CAREER NEW HAMPSHIRE STARTS: 19
BEST NEW HAMPSHIRE FINISH: 1st (2003-twice, 2010)
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DRIVER: Kyle Busch
CHASE POINTS: Ninth, -19
POSITION CHANGE: Minus 8
CAR: No. 18 M&Ms Toyota
TEAM: Joe Gibbs Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Ran out of gas on final lap and finished 22nd.
CAREER NEW HAMPSHIRE STARTS: 13
BEST NEW HAMPSHIRE FINISH: 1st (2006)
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DRIVER: Matt Kenseth
CHASE POINTS: 10th, -24
POSITION CHANGE: Minus 6
CAR: No. 17 Crown Royal Ford
TEAM: Roush Fenway Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Ran out of gas on last lap then penalized because JJ Yeley pushed him across the finish line. Dropped to 21st in the final running order.
CAREER NEW HAMPSHIRE STARTS: 23
BEST NEW HAMPSHIRE FINISH: 2nd (2004)
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DRIVER: Jeff Gordon
CHASE POINTS: 11th, -25
POSITION CHANGE: Minus 8
CAR: No. 24 Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet
TEAM: Hendrick Motorsports
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Came back from a flat tire to crack top-10, but ran out of gas on final lap and finished 24th.
CAREER NEW HAMPSHIRE STARTS: 33
BEST NEW HAMPSHIRE FINISH: 1st (1995, 1997, 1998)
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DRIVER: Denny Hamlin
CHASE POINTS: 12th, -41 points
POSITION CHANGE: None
CAR: No. 11 FedEx Toyota
TEAM: Joe Gibbs Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Finished 31st because of a loose wheel and a flat tire
CAREER NEW HAMPSHIRE STARTS: 11
BEST NEW HAMPSHIRE FINISH: 1st (2007)