DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The third week of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup could present Jeff Gordon with his first solid opportunity to start a championship charge.

Sunday’s Price Chopper 400 presented by Kraft Foods will be held at Kansas Speedway, where Gordon has won twice in his storied career.

After Dover, six of the top 12 Chase contenders changed position in the points standings with Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet) moving up the most spots (two) from 10th to eighth. Only 189 points separate first from 12th this week.

Unlike his two Hendrick Motorsports teammates, Mark Martin (No. 5 Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevrolet) and Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet) who sit one-two in the standings, Gordon is looking to rebound from a slow start in the Chase. Martin is 122 points ahead of Gordon, but this weekend could prove to be a spring board for Gordon’s drive for a fifth championship.

Gordon won the first two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas (2001-02). That 2001 victory more-or-less ensured he would win his fourth title. Gordon leads the series in top fives (five) and top 10s (six) at the 1.5-mile track.

This season Gordon has posted one win, 12 top fives and 19 top 10s in the first 28 races.

NASCAR Pre-Race Loop Data supports the notion Gordon could turn it around at Kansas. He is ranked third in three important Pre-Race Loop Data categories: Driver Rating (103.0); Average Running Position (10.093); and Laps In The Top 15 (85.2%).