ATLANTA — The field for the Chase for the Sprint Cup is set, and 12 drivers will compete in the final 10 races to determine the champion of NASCAR's elite series.
The Chase features six Chevrolets, three Fords, three Toyotas and no Dodges. Here's a look at the elite group, which has been seeded according to race victories, with each victory worth 10 points. Five drivers are winless heading into the championship contest:
 JOHNNY CRAWFORD/Cox News Service Jeff Gordon's pit crew changes his front right tire during the Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday, March 9. For a larger, high resolution image, click HERE |
Kyle Busch
The surprise star of the 2008 season has cooled recently but still leads the standings heading to New Hampshire.
Carl Edwards (-30 points)
He's at his best on the intermediate, 1.5-mile tracks, and there are five of them in the Chase.
Jimmie Johnson (-40)
The winner of the past two Chases starts this one with the momentum gained from back-to-back race victories.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (-70)
He has been good at grabbing points, and he's with the powerful Hendrick Motorsports team. Both are pluses.
Clint Bowyer (-70)
The surprise performer in last year's Chase (third place) squeaked into the field in the final regular-season race.
Denny Hamlin (-70)
He's getting good at the right time, as evidenced by third-place finishes in the past three races.
Jeff Burton (-70)
He finished seventh in the Chase the past two seasons, but hasn't had a top-five finish in the past 12 races.
Tony Stewart (-80)
He's winless in his lame-duck season at Joe Gibbs Racing, but historically is a late-season star.
Greg Biffle (-80)
No victories this season, a far cry from 2006 when he won six races and finished second in points.
Jeff Gordon (-80)
He's still struggling to adapt to the Car of Tomorrow, the exclusive vehicle of the series this year.
Kevin Harvick (-80)
It usually takes race victories to win the Chase, and he hasn't had one since the 2007 Daytona 500.
Matt Kenseth (-80)
With only two finishes better than fifth this year, he faces long odds.
— Minter's pick: Jimmie Johnson
Rick Minter writes for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. E-mail: rminter AT ajc.com.
