Previewing the Chase

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The Chase is on. NASCAR's championship playoff, the 10-race, season-ending Chase for the Nextel Cup begins this weekend at New Hampshire International Speedway. It's the fourth year the format has been used to decide the title.

Here's a look at how this year's Chase is shaping up.

WHAT'S DIFFERENT

The rules. The field of contenders has been expanded from the top 10 drivers in points after the first 26 races to the top 12. And the contenders start the playoffs seeded according to race wins. Each Chase driver has had his points reset to a base of 5,000, and 10 bonus points were awarded for each race victory. Jimmie Johnson, with six victories, is the new points leader. The winless Clint Bowyer starts the playoffs 12th.

WHO'S THE FAVORITE?

Defending Nextel Cup champion Jimmie Johnson and his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon, a four-time champion and the points leader for much of the regular season, start the Chase as favorites. Johnson, who leads the circuit in victories, also has momentum, having won the past two races. Gordon has been rock solid all season, and steady performances often add up to championships.

WHO'S A SLEEPER?

Kurt Busch, who won the first Chase in 2004, didn't get much attention for the first half of the season, but after hooking up with veteran crew chief Pat Tryson, he's been one of the fastest drivers. He's won twice in the second half of the season and hasn't finished worse than 11th since New Hampshire on July 1.

MISSING INGREDIENT

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is out , missing the cut for the second time in three years. Many in the sport believe that NASCAR expanded the Chase field to make sure all the top drawing cards were in the playoffs. If that's the case, the plan didn't work. Earnhardt Jr., the sport's biggest star, finished 13th.

PREDICTION

Jimmie Johnson will win his second straight Cup championship. His team has all the right ingredients — a talented driver, the most savvy crew chief in the garage and the strongest organization, Hendrick Motorsports. Since he raced full-time in 2002, Johnson has won more races than any other driver in that span. And he's proven to be an excellent points racer as well, finishing in the top-5 all five seasons and in the top two three times. In the past six races, he has five top-5 finishes including two straight wins.

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Article Number: 000127