Where The Chase Drivers Stand: After Kansas

Drivers came into Kansas thinking of it as a wildcard race. The race definitely had some twist and turns but the points race remained nearly the same as one top contender made the best of a bad situation. Here are where the Chase drivers stand after Kansas:

Oct 21, 2012; Kansas City, KS, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers race across the starting line to begin the Hollywood Casino 400 at the Kansas Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-US PRESSWIRE

Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Dale Earnhardt Jr. took himself out of the championship hunt last week when he stepped out of the car to heal from his second concussion in two months. Regan Smith finished seventh subbing for Earnhardt this week at Kansas.

Greg Biffle: Biffle eliminated any chance of getting back in the hunt for the championship when he pancaked the wall during the race at Kansas. Greg Biffle finished the day with a 27th place finish.

Kevin Harvick: This Chase has been a quite one for Harvick. He hasn’t made any real noise since the Chase started. Kevin finished eleventh on Sunday and sits tenth in points. He is 59 points behind Brad Keselowski.

Matt Kenseth: Despite a second win in the Chase at Kansas, Kenseth is all but mathematically eliminated from winning his second championship. Kenseth is certainty proving that he is not just riding out his last races at Roush Fenway Racing by winning his second race in three weeks.

Jeff Gordon: After a 19th place finish as Charlotte Gordon eliminated any realistic chance of being in the hunt come Homestead. Gordon finished tenth at Kansas and sits 51 points behind the points leader.

Tony Stewart: Stewart had an exciting day. It started with tapping Jeff Burton into the wall and later saving the car from a spin on the back stretch. Tony Stewart would come back to finish fifth at Kansas. He sits seventh in points and 47 points behind Keselowski.

Martin Truex Jr.: He came away with a second place finish Sunday but never challenged for the win. Truex ran solidly all day. Martin leaves Kansas sixth in points and 43 points behind first place in the Chase.

Kasey Kahne: Kasey Kahne came home with a fourth place finish at Kansas. It was another solid finish despite some adversity. Kahne still has a real shot at a championship with four races remaining in the Chase. He only trails by 30 points with four guys between him and a championship.

Clint Bowyer: Bowyer made a return to his home track Sunday. He led laps and ran near the front all day. He eventually finished sixth at Kansas. Bowyer heads to Martinsville where he challenged for the win but tangled with the leaders on the last restart earlier this year. Bowyer sits 25 points behind Keselowski.

Denny Hamlin: Hamlin got caught up in fuel milage but came away with a top 15 finish. He crossed the finish line 13th at Kansas. Hamlin sits 20 points behind in the points and remains in the hunt for the championship.

Jimmie Johnson: The 48 team defined what a championship team looks like today. Johnson got into the wall and damaged the rear end during the race. The team immediately went to work and repaired the car. Crew chief, Chad Knaus, led the team in repairs with lots of bear bond and led the team to a top 10 finish. With great effort, Jimmie Johnson leaves kansas still seven points behind Keselowski and 2nd in points.

Brad Keselowski: When it’s your year everything goes your way. Brad Keselowski nearly missed multiple wrecks Sunday and came away with a eighth place finish. Brad Keselowski now has four races between him and his first championship.