Johnson leads Chase for Nextel Cup

Under the new Chase format implemented this season, each of the twelve drivers in the top 12 in the points after the first 26 races get 5000 points, plus 10 bonus for every win. This gives them their points' total to start the Chase.

Johnson, with wins at Las Vegas, Atlanta, Martinsville, Richmond (two) and California, will lead the standings with 5060 points, while his teammate Jeff Gordon will be second with 5040, twenty less than the current Nextel Cup champion.

"It's a great feeling to be able to go into the Chase leading the points," said Johnson. "That's something you obviously want to do, not only from the points standpoint but from a psychological standpoint it's a benefit for sure.

"This is going to be the most competitive Chase we've seen. Last year's experience of how far you can really be down and out and come back, I don't think you're going to have to dominate all ten races. It's going to be great and if someone does, that's obviously the way you want to do it."

Gordon had a 317 points gap to Tony Stewart and was leading the championship before last weekend's race at Richmond. However, his advantage has evaporated due to his lower number of wins relative to Johnson.

Stewart is now only 10 points behind Gordon in third place in the standings with 5030 due to his three victories, while Roush Fenway's Carl Edwards will be fourth with 5020 as well as Kurt Busch who will be fifth in the points heading into next weekend's race at Loudon.

Denny Hamlin, who was third in the standings based on his points total, has dropped down to sixth, having only won once thus far. He will start the Chase with 5010 points, the same amount as Martin Truex Jr, Matt Kenseth, Kyle Busch, Jeff Burton and Kevin Harvick, each with one victory apiece so far.

While all three Richard Childress Racing drivers made the Chase, one of them did so without winning a race. Therefore, Clint Bowyer will start the battle for the championship with 5000 points and in 12th place in the standings.

From the coming race onwards and until the final at Homestead, the points will be added in a normal basis without any bonus for victories, putting a premium on consistency once again.

Nextel Cup Standings after round 26 - Chase for the Nextel Cup:

Pos  Driver            Points   Wins
 1.  Jimmie Johnson     5060      6
 2.  Jeff Gordon        5040      4
 3.  Tony Stewart       5030      3
 4.  Carl Edwards       5020      2
 5.  Kurt Busch         5020      2
 6.  Denny Hamlin       5010      1
 7.  Martin Truex Jr    5010      1
 8.  Matt Kenseth       5010      1
 9.  Kyle Busch         5010      1
10.  Jeff Burton        5010      1
11.  Kevin Harvick      5010      1
12.  Clint Bowyer       5000      0