1. Kyle Busch  Kyle was uncharacteristically quiet at Fontana, where he posted a seventh-place run on the heels of a win and two runner-up finishes. That won’t be the case in Richmond.

2. Carl Edwards  He’s finished exactly one spot higher than Kyle Busch in the last three races. If he does so again this week, he gets the top spot.

3. Jimmie Johnson  Don’t you just know Kyle and Carl here the Jaws theme playing menacingly in their heads?

4. Kevin Harvick  Six top-8 finishes in the last seven races ... and the seventh was a 37th at Indy, which is a race that should just be thrown out anyway.

5. Matt Kenseth  Peaking at the right time, Kenseth & Co. have four consecutive runs of 12th or better.

6. Tony Stewart  One of those nights for Tony in Fontana, where he sank two spots in the point standings to eighth.

7. Denny Hamlin  Timely back-to-back third-place runs keep Hamlin in the Chase and heading to Richmond, where he dominated in the spring.

8. Greg Biffle  About to break through? Biffle has runs of fourth, 11th and second in the last three and is up to sixth in points.

9. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.  A respectable 11th in Fontana the most this team has had to show in awhile.

10. David Ragan  Runs of 13th, 10th and third show Ragan just 17 points out of a Chase spot. He’s fast in practice at Richmond.

11. Jeff Burton  Mr. Consistent has been Mr. Consistently Mediocre of late.

12. Clint Bowyer  Signs of life? Boyer notches consecutive top 10s for the first time in four months.

13. Mark Martin  He may just win Richmond. You watch.

14. Jeff Gordon  A 15th in Fontana went a long way toward ensuring a Chase spot for Jeffy.

15. Ryan Newman  A 16th in Fontana eliminates him from Chase contention. Maybe he’ll jump over to Haas now in an attempt to keep the No. 66 car in the top 35.

Just off the lead pack: AJ Allmendinger, Kasey Kahne, Jamie McMurray, Elliot Sadler, Martin Truex, Jr.