The 10 drivers competing in NASCAR’s Chase for the Nextel Cup championship, in order of points standings:
Tony Stewart
CAR: No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet
CHASE POINTS: First, 5,230
POSITION CHANGE: None
WHAT HAPPENED: Stewart maintained his hold on top of the standings by finishing second in New Hampshire, losing a battle with Ryan Newman over the final few laps.
Greg Biffle
CAR: No. 16 National Guard/Subway Ford
CHASE POINTS: Second, 5,210
POSITION CHANGE: None
WHAT HAPPENED: Biffle picked the perfect time for one of his best career runs at New Hampshire, finishing fourth. It showed just how far his team has come in a year – last season Biffle was 28th and 35th at New Hampshire.
Ryan Newman
CAR: No. 12 ALLTEL Dodge
CHASE POINTS: Third (tied), 5,190
POSITION CHANGE: Plus 7
WHAT HAPPENED: Newman used his first victory of the season to rocket seven spots in the standings.
Rusty Wallace
CAR: No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge
CHASE POINTS: Third (tied), 5,190
POSITION CHANGE: Minus 1
WHAT HAPPENED: Wallace was penalized one lap midway through the race because his crew serviced his car outside the pit box. He then had to battle for a sixth-place finishing, winning a late race against Mark Martin to claim the spot.
Matt Kenseth
CAR: No. 17 DeWalt Tools Ford
CHASE POINTS: Fifth, 5,180
POSITION CHANGE: Plus 4
WHAT HAPPENED: Kenseth had a scare in New Hampshire when a lug nut got jammed in his right front wheel. He managed to nurse the car back to pit road to remove it without causing too much damage, and ended up finishing third. It was Kenseth’s sixth finish of seventh or better in the past seven events. Kenseth made his Cup debut at Dover in 1998, and has seven top-10 finishes in 13 starts.
Jimmie Johnson
CAR: No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet
CHASE POINTS: Sixth, 5,177
POSITION CHANGE: Minus 2
WHAT HAPPENED: Johnson finished eighth in the first race of the Chase, and is still searching for the dominance his team has the capability of showing. He has two career wins at Dover, sweeping both events at the track in 2002.
Mark Martin
CAR: No. 6 Viagra Ford
CHASE POINTS: Seventh, 5,176
POSITION CHANGE: Minus 1
WHAT HAPPENED: Martin lost a spot in the standings by finishing seventh at New Hampshire. Dover is one of Martin’s favorite tracks, and he has four career victories there.
Jeremy Mayfield
CAR: No. 19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge
CHASE POINTS: Eighth, 5,135
POSITION CHANGE: Minus 1
WHAT HAPPENED: Mayfield lost a spot in the standings when his pit strategy failed at New Hampshire and he finished 16th. Mayfield won the pole for both Dover races last season, but has only finished in the top five there four times in 23 starts.
Carl Edwards
CAR: No. 99 Office Depot Ford
CHASE POINTS: Ninth, 5,121
POSITION CHANGE: Minus 1
WHAT HAPPENED: Edwards never was a factor in New Hampshire and finished 19th. Edwards has only two career starts at Dover, and has yet to crack the top 10 there.
Kurt Busch
CAR: No. 97 Irwin Industrial Tools/Sharpie Ford
CHASE POINTS: Tenth, 5,088
POSITION CHANGE: Minus 5
WHAT HAPPENED: The reigning Nextel Cup champion was in an early accident with Scott Riggs that forced Busch’s car to the garage for repairs. He ended up 35th and plummeted five spots in the standings. Busch has three top-10 finishes in 10 career starts at Dover.
