A glance at the 12 drivers competing in NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup championship heading into this weekend’s race at Texas (in order of points):
DRIVER: Carl Edwards
CHASE POINTS: First, 2,273 points
POSITION CHANGE: None
CAR: No. 99 Aflac Ford
TEAM: Roush Fenway Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Twice dropped a lap down but battled back and finished a surprising ninth.
CAREER TEXAS STARTS: 13
BEST TEXAS FINISH: 1st (2005, 2008-twice)
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DRIVER: Tony Stewart
CHASE POINTS: Second, -8
POSITION CHANGE: Plus 2
CAR: No. 14 Mobil 1/Office Depot Chevrolet
TEAM: Stewart-Haas Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Used a powerful pass of Jimmie Johnson in the closing laps to win his third race of the Chase.
CAREER TEXAS STARTS: 19
BEST TEXAS FINISH: 1st (2006)
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DRIVER: Kevin Harvick
CHASE POINTS: Third, -21
POSITION CHANGE: Plus 2
CAR: No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet
TEAM: Richard Childress Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Finished fourth, but failed to gain much ground on Edwards – Harvick sliced just five points off his deficit.
CAREER TEXAS STARTS: 17
BEST TEXAS FINISH: 3rd (2006)
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DRIVER: Brad Keselowski
CHASE POINTS: Fourth, -27
POSITION CHANGE: Minus 1
CAR: No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge
TEAM: Penske Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Was headed to a top-five finish until late contact caused him to spin and finish 17th.
CAREER TEXAS STARTS: 6
BEST TEXAS FINISH: 18 (2011)
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DRIVER: Matt Kenseth
CHASE POINTS: Fifth, -36
POSITION CHANGE: Minus 3
CAR: No. 17 Crown Royal Ford
TEAM: Roush Fenway Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Was running in top 10 when contact with Kyle Busch sent him to garage. Was later wrecked by Vickers and finished 31st.
CAREER TEXAS STARTS: 18
BEST TEXAS FINISH: 1st (2002, 2011)
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DRIVER: Jimmie Johnson
CHASE POINTS: Sixth, -43
POSITION CHANGE: Plus 1
CAR: No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet
TEAM: Hendrick Motorsports
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Was going to win the race until the final caution set up a three-lap shootout, which Johnson lost to Stewart.
CAREER TEXAS STARTS: 16
BEST TEXAS FINISH: 1st (2007)
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DRIVER: Kyle Busch
CHASE POINTS: Seventh, -57
POSITION CHANGE: Minus 1
CAR: No. 18 M&Ms Toyota
TEAM: Joe Gibbs Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Led a race-high 126 laps, but was in the incident with Kenseth and finished 27th.
CAREER TEXAS STARTS: 13
BEST TEXAS FINISH: 3rd (2008, 2010)
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DRIVER: Kurt Busch
CHASE POINTS: Eighth, -58
POSITION CHANGE: None
CAR: No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge
TEAM: Penske Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Was spun early but rallied to finish 14th.
CAREER TEXAS STARTS: 17
BEST TEXAS FINISH: 1st (2009)
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DRIVER: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
CHASE POINTS: Ninth, -73
POSITION CHANGE: None
CAR: No. 88 AMP Chevrolet
TEAM: Hendrick Motorsports
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Notched only his second top-10 of the Chase with a seventh-place finish.
CAREER TEXAS STARTS: 18
BEST TEXAS FINISH: 1st (2000)
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DRIVER: Jeff Gordon
CHASE POINTS: 10th, -76
POSITION CHANGE: None
CAR: No. 24 Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet
TEAM: Hendrick Motorsports
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Led 113 laps and finished third.
CAREER TEXAS STARTS: 21
BEST TEXAS FINISH: 1st (2009)
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DRIVER: Denny Hamlin
CHASE POINTS: 11th, -80
POSITION CHANGE: None
CAR: No. 11 FedEx Toyota
TEAM: Joe Gibbs Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Didn’t contend for the win at his home track, but finished fifth.
CAREER TEXAS STARTS: 12
BEST TEXAS FINISH: 1st (2010-twice)
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DRIVER: Ryan Newman
CHASE POINTS: 12th, -89
POSITION CHANGE: None
CAR: No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet
TEAM: Stewart-Haas Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Grabbed his third top-10 of the Chase with a 10th-place finish.
CAREER TEXAS STARTS: 16
BEST TEXAS FINISH: 1st (2003)