With three races left in the 2007 Chase for the Nextel Cup, all 12 drivers still are alive, although the status of each ranges from thriving to critical. #24-Jeff Gordon has a nine-point lead over his teammate and defending Cup champion #48-Jimmie Johnson. Johnson could win this year’s championship without even winning one of the final three races. The following scenarios take into account how each driver could overtake Gordon in the final three races and include those drivers winning each race and leading the most laps, unless otherwise specified.(ESPN.com’s Terry Blount) Chase Chances 1) Jeff Gordon Chase leader 2) Jimmie Johnson (-9 points) Could take lead by finishing as few as two spots ahead of Gordon or by winning race 3) Clint Bowyer (-111) Needs Gordon to average a sixth-place finish or worse 4) Carl Edwards (-261) Needs Gordon to average a 20th-place finish or worse 5) Tony Stewart (-322) Needs Gordon to average a 27th-place finish or worse 6) Kyle Busch (-328) Needs Gordon to average a 28th-place finish or worse 7) Kevin Harvick (-392) Needs Gordon to average a 35th-place finish or worse 8) Jeff Burton (-400) Needs Gordon to average a 36th-place finish or worse 9) Kurt Busch (-419) Needs Gordon to average a 38th-place finish or worse 10) Denny Hamlin (-424) Needs Gordon to average a 39th-place finish or worse 11) Matt Kenseth (-448) Needs Gordon to average a 41st-place finish or worse 12) Martin Truex Jr. (-513) Needs Gordon to not start a race and finish 43rd without leading a lap in the other two races (ESPN.com’s Terry Blount)(11-3-2007)
