Dale Earnhardt Jr: This is my best NASCAR title shot yet

The Hendrick Motorsports driver has enjoyed his most consistent 'regular' season in his Cup career.

He heads into the final 10 races of the season seventh in the standings, having scored the second-most points of any driver during the first 26 races, beaten only by Greg Biffle.

In four previous appearances in the Chase, Earnhardt's best result came in 2004 while he was driving for his late father's Dale Earnhardt Inc outfit. Back then he won six races, including two during the play-off, and finished fifth in the championship.

Earnhardt believes he now has a more complete team and is confident that his regular-season consistency can put him in position to win his maiden Cup title.

"I think this is the best chance I've ever had, I think even more than 2004," said Earnhardt. "Looking back on that year I didn't realise how close we could've come or how good that chance was. We really were a strong team, one of the two strongest teams in the series that year.

"I think we're a more complete team now, we've run good at all racetracks or the majority of the racetracks with this group that we've got today.

"I feel here there's no dominant figure in the team that stands out and that really builds our confidence that [the title] is there for the taking.

"If we can put together consistent races, week in, week out, and win a couple of races, we can be the champion, no question about it."

Earnhardt is one of four Hendrick drivers who will be fighting for this year's Cup title.

Click here to read AUTOSPORT's analysis of the Chase contenders