posted September 29, 2006 at 09:18 EST in NASCAR Betting Trends

Can Harvick win here?

Only seven of the 10 drivers in the Chase for the Nextel Cup really still have a chance for the championship, when NASCAR rolls into Kansas Speedway this weekend. After the checkered flag drops, that number could be even lower.

Heading into this weekend’s Banquet 400, Jeff Burton sits atop the Chase standings after winning the Dover 400 last week. That lead is a small one however, over the drivers who occupy the second and third spots in the standings.

Jeff Gordon has finished third in both Chase races so far and is breathing down Burton’s neck in the Chase, trailing him by only six points. Gordon is a big threat to take over the points lead at Kansas considering he’s won twice before at this track in his career.

The third spot in the standings is a dead heat between Matt Kenseth and Denny Hamlin, who are both 18 points back of Burton. Kenseth probably should be the Chase leader, considering he led for 215 laps at Dover last week. Unfortunately for Kenseth, those 215 laps didn’t include the final lap after Burton zipped past him with only six laps to go. The rookie Hamlin continues to hang with the big boys, but whether or not the youngest racer that still has a chance in the Chase can keep it up remains to be seen.

Kevin Harvick won the opening race of the Chase, but fell from first place all the way down to fifth after engine failure cut his race short last week in Dover. Harvick is still only 54 points back and, as long as his vehicle doesn’t betray him the rest of the way, he’s definitely a major contender for the championship.

The veteran Mark Martin sits in sixth, 75 points back of first place, but if he’s going to make up some ground Kansas looks like the place to do it. Martin won the Banquet 400 last year and if he doesn’t finish in the top 10, or more likely the Top 5 this weekend, his Chase could be over.

Speaking of the Chase being over, the remaining drivers all heard that message after last week’s race. The only remaining driver that has even a slim chance at getting back in contention is Dale Earnhardt Jr. The No. 8 car finished well back of the pack in 21^st last week in Dover, and the 102 points he sits behind first place are practically impossible to make up with only eight races to go in the Chase.

The rest of the Chase field, consisting of Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne and Kyle Busch, will have to wait until next year to win a championship. Johnson trails Jeff Burton by 136 points, Kahne is 182 points back, and Busch is an insurmountable 224 points back.