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LifeLock 400 - Kansas Speedway - Kansas City, KS

For those who survived the "Monster Mile" it's on to the Kansas Speedway for race No.3 in the 10-race "Chase for the Nextel Cup." Last Sunday's "War of Attrition" saw Carl Edwards emerge as the big winner, climbing five positions after his win. At the other end of the spectrum were Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch and Denny Hamlin who all had problems and find themselves more than 100 points behind front-runner Jeff Gordon.

The good news for those who have fallen back is that 2006 Nextel Cup champion Jimmie Johnson gave them a blueprint for their comeback in last year's "Chase." The No.48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet driver began his 2006 Chase by finishing 39th at New Hampshire, 13th at Dover, 14th at Kansas and 24th at Talladega before going "crazy" and winning the title.

It won't be easy for the bottom four drivers, but it is still possible.

While Gordon is the points leader, he was really nowhere in Dover. He didn't lead any laps and finished one lap down to the leaders. But he also avoided both mechanical problems and all the on-track accidents to finish 11th. It's that kind of driving that helps win championships - when you aren't really competitive, but pull out a decent finish.

The No.24 DuPont Chevrolet has done well in Kansas, winning the first two events held at the track and collecting a total of four top-10s in six starts. His average finish on the 1.5-mile oval is 11.5. Gordon will need a great outing to maintain the championship lead. Just behind him are five drivers within 18 points.

Two-time Nextel Cup champion Tony Stewart is second overall just two points back.

"If there was one place I was worried about, it was here," said Stewart of Sunday's race on the team's website. "There were a lot of good cars that are in the Chase that had a bad day today, and not having a bad day is what you've got to do."

And Stewart has a better record at Kansas than Gordon with one win, five top-10s and an average finish of 6.5. That number is the best of the 12 "Chase" drivers.

Off his dramatic win at Dover, Carl Edwards is just three points behind Gordon and in line to make history. He leads the Busch Series by a whopping 754 points and can become the first driver in NASCAR history to win both the Busch and Nextel Cup Series in the same year.

Edwards survived multiple restarts at Dover to hold off his Roush Fenway Racing teammate Greg Biffle for the win.

"That was a lot of fun, but those red flags were killing me," said Edwards.

Some of the fun might have disappeared after the race when the No.99 Ford failed post-race inspection. NASCAR will have to make a decision about any penalties or fines, but at worst expect a 25-point penalty which will still keep him in the middle of the "Chase" battle.

"We'll go back to Daytona," said NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston. "We always like to have the opportunity to have a couple days' separation. We'll discuss it there and announce it, probably in the middle of next week."

Johnson started on the pole at Dover, but a blown tire left him two laps down to the leaders before he rebounded to finish 14th. After coming into the event as the points leader, he somehow survived and will start the Kansas race in fourth place, but just four points behind his teammate and co-owner Gordon.

Kyle Busch has been one of the quite ones so far, but a fourth at Loudon and a fifth at Dover has him in the middle of the championship fight. He is 10 points behind Gordon.

After earning his first Nextel Cup victory in the "Chase" opener at Loudon, Bowyer finished 12th at Dover and finds himself in sixth place just 18 points back.

Last year's race, won by Stewart, was decided by fuel mileage. The No.20 Home Depot Chevrolet was coasting as it crossed the finish line, out of fuel, but more than 12 seconds ahead of Casey Mears, who was also out of fuel.

It should be another interesting day on Sunday.

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