Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup: Race 3, Kansas Speedway

THE RACE: Price Chopper 400

WHEN: Sunday, October 4

TV: ABC (1 p.m. ET)

RADIO: MRN, Sirius NASCAR Radio/Channel 128

THE CHASE STANDINGS: Mark Martin 5,400, Jimmie Johnson 5,390, Juan Pablo Montoya 5,335, Kurt Busch 5,325, Tony Stewart 5,294, Denny Hamlin 5,292, Ryan Newman 5,290, Jeff Gordon 5,278, Greg Biffle 5,262, Brian Vickers 5,249, Carl Edwards 5,247, Kasey Kahne 5,211.

DEFENDING NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES CHAMPION: Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)

DEFENDING PRICE CHOPPER 400 RACE CHAMPION: Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)

THE CHASE SCHEDULE (track sizes in parentheses)

Sept. 20—New Hampshire (1.058 miles); Sept. 27—Dover (1 mile); Oct. 4—Kansas (1.5 miles); Oct. 11—Auto Club Speedway (2 miles); Oct. 17—Lowe’s Motor Speedway (1.5 miles); Oct. 25—Martinsville (.526 mile); Nov. 1—Talladega (2.66 miles); Nov. 8—Texas (1.5 miles); Nov. 15—Phoenix (1 mile); Nov. 22—Homestead (1.5 miles).

SOME STORYLINES:
•Martin Vs. Johnson Battle At The Top: Mark Martin, who came out of retirement to join Hendrick Motorsports this season, started the Chase as this year’s top seed on the strength of four victories during the 26-race “regular season.” Martin has never won the NASCAR Sprint Cup title; he has finished as the series runner-up four times. Now, after winning the first Chase race at New Hampshire and finishing second at Dover, he takes a 10-point lead into Kansas over three-time defending series champion Jimmie Johnson, who won at Dover and is seeking an unprecedented fourth-straight title.
•JPM In The Hunt: Juan Pablo Montoya finished fourth at Dover and moved up to third in the series standings, only 65 points behind Martin. The former Indianapolis 500 champion and Formula One star is in the Chase for the first time.
•Gordon Has History At Kansas: Four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon won the series’ first two races ever held at Kansas Speedway, in 2001-02. Gordon needs to turn back the clock; he’s eighth in the Chase standings, 122 behind Martin.

THE CHASE SCHEDULE (track sizes in parentheses)
Sept. 20—New Hampshire (1.058 miles); Sept. 27—Dover (1 mile); Oct. 4—Kansas (1.5 miles); Oct. 11-Auto Club Speedway (2 miles); Oct. 17—Lowe’s Motor Speedway (1.5 miles); Oct. 25—Martinsville (.526 mile); Nov. 1—Talladega (2.66 miles); Nov. 8—Texas (1.5 miles); Nov. 15—Phoenix (1 mile); Nov. 22—Homestead (1.5 miles).