Only two drivers (#11-Denny Hamlin -41, #29-Kevin Harvick -77) are less than 100 points off #48-Jimmie Johnson’s pace, and three more are less than 200 points out (#24-Jeff Gordon -156, #18-Kyle Busch -177, #14-Tony Stewart -177). All could be in contention if the “Big One” catches the three front runners a week from Sunday. Though it will be hard for the rest of the field to hang with Johnson and Hamlin at Martinsville, Talladega remains a big wild card. Martinsville represents Denny Hamlin’s best opportunity to beat Jimmie Johnson for the first time since the Chase opener at New Hampshire. Hamlin has won three of the last four races at M’Ville and beat Johnson for the win in last year’s Chase. Jeff Gordon’s 23rd at Charlotte cost him 71 important points on the lead, and he must pour it on now to get back into serious contention. See more on my Chase Stats after Charlotte page and 2010 Chase Rules, History and News page.(10-21-2010)
