Chevrolet dominate Chase places

However, among the seven Chevrolet drivers, Jeff Gordon is the only driver to have previously won the title (four times), after 2002 and 2005 Nextel Cup champ Tony Stewart fell out of the top ten runners following his 18th place finish at Richmond.

However, Richmond winner Kevin Harvick's Busch form should not be ignored, Harvick currently holding an almost insurmountable lead in that title race.

Stewart not making the Chase is the first time has failed to finish in the top ten in his short but successful Nextel Cup career. Stewart's Joe Gibbs team does have a driver in the chase however - rookie Denny Hamlin!

Leading the points is Roush Racing's 2003 Nextel Cup champion Matt Kenseth, who along with seventh-placed Mark Martin, are Ford's only Chase contenders in 2006. Last year Roush alone had five drivers in the Chase.

This year the best-placed team is Hendrick Motorsports, with Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch and the aforementioned Jeff Gordon giving them three chances at the title. However, they will be hoping for better results than Johnson and Gordon in Richmond, where they finished 23rd and 31st respectively.

Sneaking into the top ten in the final race before the Chase was Evernham Motorsports Kasey Kahne, his third place finish good enough to make the top ten as Stewart fell out. Kahne will be Dodge's only representative.

Of last year's Chase for the Championship contenders, only Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin and Matt Kenseth will feature in this year's Chase.

The Chase for the Cup

Pos  Driver             Points
 1.  Matt Kenseth        5050
 2.  Jimmie Johnson      5045   - 5 
 3.  Kevin Harvick       5040   -10 
 4.  Kyle Busch          5035   -15 
 5.  Denny Hamlin        5030   -20 
 6.  Dale Earnhardt Jr   5025   -25 
 7.  Mark Martin         5020   -30 
 8.  Jeff Burton         5015   -35 
 9.  Jeff Gordon         5010   -40 
10.  Kasey Kahne         5005   -45