2. Mark Martin  That last lap at Talladega has to be haunting these guys about now.

3. Jeff Gordon  Clearly the third best team out there, yet clearly a step behind Johnson and Martin.

4. Tony Stewart  He’s been an every-other-weeker for the last month and half. That won't cut it at title time.

5. Denny Hamlin  Forget about his Cup performance this week, I’m looking forward to the Nationwide race! Run for your life, Keselowski.

6. Juan Pablo Montoya  Six runs of eighth or better in the Chase have been countered by three finishes of 19th or worse. Plus, you jut can’t win a title without winning at least once during the playoffs.

7. Kurt Busch  They say a late-season surge is always good for a team’s psyche, but didn’t work for Edwards last year and Busch is losing his crew chief to boot.

8. Clint Bowyer  Five showings of 12th or better in the last six weeks. It’s not stellar, but it’s certainly a step in the right direction.

9. Jeff Burton  JB’s headed that way too, averaging a ninth-place run over the last five races, with the Phoenix runner-up his best showing of the season.

10. Matt Kenseth  A possible darkhorse at Homestead for you fantasy buffs out there.

11. Kyle Busch  Five consecutive top 15s for the 18. I guess that’s a good sign for next year.

12. Kasey Kahne  Good runs follow bad ones — it’s been that way all Chase long for the 9 team.

13. Greg Biffle  It’s been feast or famine at Homestead for Biffle, and he needs a feast to keep his six-year win streak intact.

14. Ryan Newman  US Army re-ups with the 39 team for 15 races next season. That sounds good until you realize the Army was on the car for 23 events this year.

15. Kevin Harvick  A strong top 5 at Homestead would probably do more for Harvick’s team than any other. Well, besides the 88, of course.

Just off the lead pack: Marcos Ambrose, Carl Edwards, Joey Logano, Jamie McMurray, David Reutimann