A glance at the 12 drivers competing in NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup championship heading into this weekend’s race at Dover, Del. (in order of points):
DRIVER: Tony Stewart
CHASE POINTS: First, 2,094 points
POSITION CHANGE: Plus 1
CAR: No. 14 Mobil 1/Office Depot Chevrolet
TEAM: Stewart-Haas Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Won his second consecutive race by passing Clint Bowyer as Bowyer ran out of gas on the final lap.
CAREER DOVER STARTS: 25
BEST DOVER FINISH: 1st (2000, twice)
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DRIVER: Kevin Harvick
CHASE POINTS: Second, -7 points
POSITION CHANGE: Minus 1
CAR: No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet
TEAM: Richard Childress Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Finished 12th at New Hampshire in part because his Chevrolet didn’t get good fuel mileage.
CAREER DOVER STARTS: 21
BEST DOVER FINISH: 3rd (2006)
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Driver: Brad Keselowski
CHASE POINTS: Third, -11 points
POSITION CHANGE: Plus 4
CAR: No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge
TEAM: Penske Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Finished second at New Hampshire for his second top-five of the Chase.
CAREER DOVER STARTS: 3
BEST DOVER FINISH: 13th (2011)
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DRIVER: Carl Edwards
CHASE POINTS: Fourth, -14 points
POSITION CHANGE: Minus 1
CAR: No. 99 Aflac Ford
TEAM: Roush Fenway Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Had an uneventful eighth-place finish at New Hampshire.
CAREER DOVER STARTS: 14
BEST DOVER FINISH: 1st (2007)
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DRIVER: Jeff Gordon
CHASE POINTS: Fifth, -23 points
POSITION CHANGE: Plus 6
CAR: No. 24 Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet
TEAM: Hendrick Motorsports
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Led three times for a race-high 78 laps, but had to save gas at the end and finished fourth.
CAREER DOVER STARTS: 37
BEST DOVER FINISH: 1st (1995, 1996 twice, 2001)
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DRIVER: Kyle Busch
CHASE POINTS: Sixth, -26 points
POSITION CHANGE: Plus 3
CAR: No. 18 M&Ms Toyota
TEAM: Joe Gibbs Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Finished 11th after losing time on his final pit stop because he drove through his stall.
CAREER DOVER STARTS: 13
BEST DOVER FINISH: 1st (2008, 2010)
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DRIVER: Matt Kenseth
CHASE POINTS: Seventh, -26
POSITION CHANGE: Plus 3
CAR: No. 17 Crown Royal Ford
TEAM: Roush Fenway Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Spun after contact with teammate Edwards, but rallied to finish sixth.
CAREER NEW HAMPSHIRE STARTS: 25
BEST NEW HAMPSHIRE FINISH: 1st (2006, 2011)
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Driver: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
CHASE POINTS: Eighth, -26 points
POSITION CHANGE: Minus 3
CAR: No. 88 AMP Chevrolet
TEAM: Hendrick Motorsports
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Was headed to a top-10 finish until two flat tires dropped him to 17th-place.
CAREER DOVER STARTS: 23
BEST DOVER FINISH: 1st (2001)
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DRIVER: Kurt Busch
CHASE POINTS: Ninth, -28 points
POSITION CHANGE: Minus 5
CAR: No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge
TEAM: Penske Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Day got off to a bad start when NASCAR inspectors did not release his car until minutes before the race. Finished 22nd.
CAREER DOVER STARTS: 22
BEST DOVER FINISH: 4th (2006, 2010)
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DRIVER: Jimmie Johnson
CHASE POINTS: 10th, -29 points
POSITION CHANGE: Minus 2
CAR: No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet
TEAM: Hendrick Motorsports
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Never hit his stride at New Hampshire and finished 18th.
CAREER DOVER STARTS: 19
BEST DOVER FINISH: 1st (2003-twice, 2010)
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DRIVER: Ryan Newman
CHASE POINTS: 11th, -34
POSITION CHANGE: Minus 5
CAR: No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet
TEAM: Stewart-Haas Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Won the pole but finished 25th because of a slow late pit stop and a flat tire.
CAREER DOVER STARTS: 19
BEST DOVER FINISH: 1st (2003-twice, 2004)
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DRIVER: Denny Hamlin
CHASE POINTS: 12th, -66 points
POSITION CHANGE: None
CAR: No. 11 FedEx Toyota
TEAM: Joe Gibbs Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Was poised to finish in top-five until he ran out of gas with three laps to go. Finished 29th.
CAREER DOVER STARTS: 11
BEST DOVER FINISH: Fourth (2007, 2010)