A glance at the 12 drivers competing in NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup championship heading into this weekend’s race at Kansas (in order of points):
DRIVER: Kevin Harvick
CHASE POINTS: First, 2,122 points
POSITION CHANGE: Plus 1
CAR: No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet
TEAM: Richard Childress Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Briefly led and finished 10th at Dover to claim the points lead.
CAREER KANSAS STARTS: 11
BEST KANSAS FINISH: 3rd (2010)
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DRIVER: Carl Edwards
CHASE POINTS: Second, (Tied with Harvick, but loses on tiebreaker)
POSITION CHANGE: Plus 2
CAR: No. 99 Aflac Ford
TEAM: Roush Fenway Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Had a strong car and might have won if not for a penalty for speeding on pit road. Came back from two laps down to finish third.
CAREER KANSAS STARTS: 8
BEST KANSAS FINISH: 2nd (2008)
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DRIVER: Tony Stewart
CHASE POINTS: Third, -9
POSITION CHANGE: Minus 2
CAR: No. 14 Mobil 1/Office Depot Chevrolet
TEAM: Stewart-Haas Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Struggled the entire weekend at Dover and finished 25th.
CAREER KANSAS STARTS: 11
BEST KANSAS FINISH: 1st (2006, 2009)
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DRIVER: Kurt Busch
CHASE POINTS: Fourth, -9 points
POSITION CHANGE: Plus 5
CAR: No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge
TEAM: Penske Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Won a battle with admitted “arch nemesis” Jimmie Johnson to win at Dover.
CAREER KANSAS STARTS: 11
BEST KANSAS FINISH: 6th (2004)
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DRIVER: Jimmie Johnson
CHASE POINTS: Fifth, -13 points
POSITION CHANGE: Plus 5
CAR: No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet
TEAM: Hendrick Motorsports
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Proved it was far too early to write him off in this Chase by finishing second to Busch.
CAREER KANSAS STARTS: 10
BEST KANSAS FINISH: 1st (2008)
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DRIVER: Brad Keselowski
CHASE POINTS: Sixth, -14 points
POSITION CHANGE: Minus 3
CAR: No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge
TEAM: Penske Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Lost his power steering and had to work hard to finish 20th.
CAREER KANSAS STARTS: 3
BEST KANSAS FINISH: 1st (2011)
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DRIVER: Matt Kenseth
CHASE POINTS: Seventh, -14
POSITION CHANGE: None
CAR: No. 17 Crown Royal Ford
TEAM: Roush Fenway Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Came on strong at the end of the race to finish fifth.
CAREER KANSAS STARTS: 11
BEST KANSAS FINISH: 5th (2005, 2008)
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DRIVER: Kyle Busch
CHASE POINTS: Eighth, -15 points
POSITION CHANGE: Minus 2
CAR: No. 18 M&Ms Toyota
TEAM: Joe Gibbs Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Finished 6th despite a rough start in which he ran over Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s broken sway bar.
CAREER KANSAS STARTS: 8th
BEST KANSAS FINISH: 7th (2006)
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DRIVER: Jeff Gordon
CHASE POINTS: Ninth, -19 points
POSITION CHANGE: Minus 4
CAR: No. 24 Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet
TEAM: Hendrick Motorsports
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Gordon struggled on restarts and finished 12th.
CAREER KANSAS STARTS: 11
BEST KANSAS FINISH: 1st (2001, 2002)
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DRIVER: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
CHASE POINTS: 10th, -34 points
POSITION CHANGE: Minus 2
CAR: No. 88 AMP Chevrolet
TEAM: Hendrick Motorsports
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Suffered through a broken sway bar and a loose wheel to finish 24th.
CAREER KANSAS STARTS: 11
BEST KANSAS FINISH: 2 (2011)
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DRIVER: Ryan Newman
CHASE POINTS: 11th, -41
POSITION CHANGE: None
CAR: No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet
TEAM: Stewart-Haas Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Struggled like teammate Stewart, ended up 23rd.
CAREER KANSAS STARTS: 11
BEST KANSAS FINISH: 1st (2003)
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DRIVER: Denny Hamlin
CHASE POINTS: 12th, -68 points
POSITION CHANGE: None
CAR: No. 11 FedEx Toyota
TEAM: Joe Gibbs Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Was in an early accident with AJ Allmendinger and finished 18th
CAREER KANSAS STARTS: 7
BEST KANSAS FINISH: 3rd (2011)