A glance at the 12 drivers competing in NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup championship heading into this weekend’s race at Charlotte (in order of points):
DRIVER: Carl Edwards
CHASE POINTS: First, 2161 points
POSITION CHANGE: Plus 1
CAR: No. 99 Aflac Ford
TEAM: Roush Fenway Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Realized he had the wrong setup at the first turn at Kansas, dropped two laps down, but rallied to finish fifth.
CAREER CHARLOTTE STARTS: 13
BEST CHARLOTTE FINISH: 3rd (2005, 2006)
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DRIVER: Kevin Harvick
CHASE POINTS: Second, -1 point
POSITION CHANGE: Minus 1
CAR: No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet
TEAM: Richard Childress Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Started 14th and had periods where he was audibly unhappy with his car. Still finished sixth.
CAREER CHARLOTTE STARTS: 21
BEST CHARLOTTE FINISH: 1st (2011)
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DRIVER: Jimmie Johnson
CHASE POINTS: Third, -4 points
POSITION CHANGE: Plus 2
CAR: No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet
TEAM: Hendrick Motorsports
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Continued his climb from 10th in points two weeks ago by leading 197 laps for his first victory of this Chase.
CAREER CHARLOTTE STARTS: 20
BEST CHARLOTTE FINISH: 1st (2003, 2004-twice, 2005-twice, 2009)
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DRIVER: Brad Keselowski
CHASE POINTS: Fourth, -11 points
POSITION CHANGE: Plus 2
CAR: No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge
TEAM: Penske Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Remained in title contention by finishing third a day after winning the Nationwide Series race.
CAREER CHARLOTTE STARTS: 4
BEST CHARLOTTE FINISH: 12th (2009)
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DRIVER: Matt Kenseth
CHASE POINTS: Fifth, -12 points
POSITION CHANGE: Plus 2
CAR: No. 17 Crown Royal Ford
TEAM: Roush Fenway Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Led two times for 26 laps and finished fourth to move up in the Chase standings.
CAREER CHARLOTTE STARTS: 24
BEST CHARLOTTE FINISH: 1st (2000)
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DRIVER: Kurt Busch
CHASE POINTS: Sixth, -16 points
POSITION CHANGE: Minus 2
CAR: No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge
TEAM: Penske Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Went a lap down but was aided by a late caution and finished 13th.
CAREER CHARLOTTE STARTS: 22
BEST CHARLOTTE FINISH: 1st (2010)
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DRIVER: Tony Stewart
CHASE POINTS: Seventh, -19 points
POSITION CHANGE: Minus 4
CAR: No. 14 Mobil 1/Office Depot Chevrolet
TEAM: Stewart-Haas Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Had a strong car but spun his tires on a restart and slid through his pit box on his last stop. Finished 15th.
CAREER CHARLOTTE STARTS: 25
BEST CHARLOTTE FINISH: 1st (2003)
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DRIVER: Kyle Busch
CHASE POINTS: Eighth, -20 points
POSITION CHANGE: None
CAR: No. 18 M&Ms Toyota
TEAM: Joe Gibbs Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Led eight laps and finished 11th at a track that’s never been particularly good for him.
CAREER CHARLOTTE STARTS: 15
BEST CHARLOTTE FINISH: 2nd (2010)
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DRIVER: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
CHASE POINTS: Ninth, -43 points
POSITION CHANGE: Plus 1
CAR: No. 88 AMP Chevrolet
TEAM: Hendrick Motorsports
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Not a lot – he started 18th and finished 14th, never making much of a peep.
CAREER CHARLOTTE STARTS: 24
BEST CHARLOTTE FINISH: 3rd (2004)
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DRIVER: Jeff Gordon
CHASE POINTS: 10th, -47 points
POSITION CHANGE: Minus 1
CAR: No. 24 Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet
TEAM: Hendrick Motorsports
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Was OK until his engine blew in the waning laps, leading to a 34th-place finish.
CAREER CHARLOTTE STARTS: 37
BEST CHARLOTTE FINISH: 1st (1994, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2007)
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DRIVER: Ryan Newman
CHASE POINTS: 11th, -54
POSITION CHANGE: None
CAR: No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet
TEAM: Stewart-Haas Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Started 11th but didn’t have much and finished 18th.
CAREER CHARLOTTE STARTS: 21
BEST CHARLOTTE FINISH: 2nd (2003, 2009)
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DRIVER: Denny Hamlin
CHASE POINTS: 12th, -79 points
POSITION CHANGE: None
CAR: No. 11 FedEx Toyota
TEAM: Joe Gibbs Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Used pit strategy to get near the front, but couldn’t maintain it and finished 16th.
CAREER CHARLOTTE STARTS: 12
BEST CHARLOTTE FINISH: 4th (2010)