Let the Chase begin.
The 10-driver field is set for NASCAR's "Chase for the Nextel Cup" to determine this year's champion over the last 10 races of the season. It starts with Sunday's Sylvania 300 at the 1.06-mile New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, N.H.
The Chase also includes stops in Charlotte, N.C.; Talladega, Ala., and Atlanta. The penultimate race is in Phoenix, and the season finale is Nov. 19 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida.
But the reigning champion, Tony Stewart, won't be defending his title. An 18th-place finish at last Saturday's race in Richmond, Va., wasn't enough to keep the Joe Gibbs Racing driver on the final roster.
Most of stock car racing's other big stars are in the hunt, though, along with one rookie.
Here's a look at how they stack up going into the chase, in the order of their standings in the points after the first 26 races:
* Matt Kenseth -- Tough to bet against. Kenseth, 34, won the title in 2003, the last year before the Chase was implemented, and is strong again this year. The Roush Racing driver has driven his No. 17 Ford Fusion to victory circle four times, including consecutive wins last month at Michigan International and Bristol, Tenn., and he has 13 top-five finishes overall.
* Jimmie Johnson -- A model of consistency in his No. 48 Chevrolet and hungry for his first Cup after four years of coming close. The El Cajon driver for Hendrick Motorsports led the points for most of this year, has four wins and eight top-five finishes. Johnson, who celebrates his 31st birthday Sunday, also has one of the smartest crew chiefs in the business, Chad Knaus.
* Kevin Harvick -- The Bakersfield driver is suddenly a leading contender, after posting his third win of the year at Richmond last week for Richard Childress Racing. Harvick, 30, also has 11 top-five finishes in his No. 29 Chevy, and has dominated the Busch series this year. Both he and Johnson finished all 26 Cup races this season.
* Kyle Busch -- Young and fearless, the second-year Las Vegas driver could well snatch the championship if he keeps his emotions in check inside his No. 5 Hendrick Chevy. Busch, 21, has won only once this year, but guess where it was: New Hampshire, in July. Another win there Sunday could give him early momentum in the Chase.
