NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
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CUP: One To Go, Three To Battle
Denny Hamlin leads Jimmie Johnson by 15 points and Kevin Harvick by 46...
Tom Jensen  |  Posted November 14, 2010   Avondale, AZ
Denny Hamlin (Pictured) is now just 15 points ahead of Jimmie Johnson in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
The NASCAR Sprint Cup points battle will go down to the wire at Homestead-Miami Speedway, with Denny Hamlin's margin a razor-thin 15 points over Jimmie Johnson and 46 over Kevin Harvick.

Hamlin led the most laps in the Kobalt Tools 500 at Phoenix International Raceway Sunday, but had to make a late-race fuel stop which dropped him from second place to 12th at the finish, and greatly tighten up the top of the Chase field.

Here’s how the top 12 spots shape up heading into next Sunday’s season-ending Ford 400:

1. DENNY HAMLIN, Joe Gibbs Racing, 12th place in the race — Just when it seemed certain that Hamlin would be the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion, a fuel-mileage race broke out and he was the big loser. He’s 15 points ahead heading into Homestead-Miami Speedway.6,462 points.

2. JIMMIE JOHNSON, Hendrick Motorsports, 5th — Slower than Hamlin all race long, Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus kept the team’s dream of a fifth-consecutive championship alive by milking fuel mileage until the bitter end. Now, the pressure is squarely on Hamlin.6,447 points.

3. KEVIN HARVICK, Richard Childress Racing, 6th — A mixture of both lucky and good, Harvick had to make a second final pit stop to replace a loose lugnut. But that allowed him to top off with fuel and go on to stay in title contention. 6,416 points.

4. CARL EDWARDS, Roush Fenway Racing, 1st — Perfection personified, Edwards qualified on the pole, led all three practice sessions and broke a 70-race winless streak, plus he won Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race. Can’t do any better than Edwards did this weekend. 6,198 points.
Jeff Gordon struggled at Phoenix International Raceway with a new pit crew. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

5. MATT KENSETH, Roush Fenway Racing, 7th — The 2003 Sprint Cup champion had a solid, if unspectacular run at Phoenix, scoring his third top 10 in the last five races and has a good chance to finish fifth in points.6,151 points.

6. JEFF GORDON, Hendrick Motorsports, 11th — Why did Jimmie Johnson switch pit crews with Jeff Gordon last week at Texas? Gordon knows now, as his crew did him no favors on pit road at Phoenix. 6,124 points.


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