Kahne's Chase hopes got a much-need boost of confidence. (LAT photo)

Five of the 10 playoff drivers now are 120 points or more out of the lead, and two are a full race worth of points (190) away from the top spot.

Jeff Gordon is 120 behind, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. 123. Gordon fell out after 238 laps with what was suspected to be a faulty fuel pump. Earnhardt actually gained points with a 10th-place finish.

Johnson, meanwhile, is 165 out of the lead, with Kyle Busch 233 and Kasey Kahne 273.

Bright spot: Dale Jarrett, in need of a lift while playing out the string at Robert Yates Racing, earned fourth place Sunday, his best of the season. His only prior top 10s had been 10th at the Daytona 500 and ninth at Atlanta.

Jarrett and Michael Waltrip Racing announced two months ago that Jarrett would drive one of Waltrip's Toyotas next year and would take sponsor UPS with him. That was a crippling blow to Yates, but Jarrett and the team continue to live up to their obligations.

"It obviously wasn't a winning car but we were much more competitive than we'd been," said Jarrett, who managed the good finish by saving fuel. "When you do that, you get in position for those kinds of things to happen.

"That's good for Robert and Doug [Yates] and for the morale of the team and hopefully for them to land a sponsor and make things continue to go well."

There is talk in the garage about the possibility of car number sales, or at least swaps within teams, so as to accommodate as many drivers as possible in the first five races of next season. Several new teams, including the Toyota fleet, will join the battle next year with no guarantee of a starting spot at Daytona.

Through the first five races of each year, the top 35 in owner points from the previous year are assured starting positions. After five races, the assurance reverts to same-year points. Next year, there certainly will be more than 35 well-sponsored teams.

Some think Robert Yates might profit by selling or loaning one of his car numbers. The 88 and the 38 both are safely in the top 35 as of now. Others consider that unlikely, as the gain for Yates would be negligible and the cost for a buyer likely too high.

Meanwhile, some wonder about the future and purpose of the ownership group assembled by former Yates gm Eddie d'Hondt, which two months ago announced its launch but with no word on manufacturer, driver or sponsor. Some believe d'Hondt and group could make themselves available if one of the multi-car teams needs to shed one of its groups to stay within NASCAR rules.

Geoff Smith, president of Roush Racing, says discussion of sale of up to 50pct of Roush Racing to Fenway Sports Group is still ongoing, but that there is nothing new to report. FSG is controlled by Boston Red Sox owner John Henry, who is looking for non-baseball revenue possibilities.

Smith also said he understands that NASCAR will require a four-team limit per owner by 2010, and adds that Roush is working toward four teams in 2008. He was not ready to say how Roush would fold his current five teams into four.

With most drivers and teams still very dubious, NASCAR will take its "car of tomorrow" to Talladega for a one-day test with 14 teams the Monday after next week's race.

The car, apparently designed to reduce dependence on aerodynamics and for safety modifications, has not been well received, and even NASCAR admits it needs work.

The car will be run next year at tracks of a mile or less, plus Darlington, the two road courses, and Talladega in the fall, a total of 16 events.