dewalt tools : The Bump and Grind

The LENOX Industrial Tools 300 (1:30 p.m. EDT on TNT) is the 19th of 36 races on the series' schedule. The first 26 races of the season will determine the drivers involved in the third annual Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup contested over the final 10 races. Drivers who are in the top 10 or within 400 points of the standings' leader after those 26 races will vie for the 2006 series title in the "Chase."



No. 1 – Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet). Team: Hendrick Motorsports. Points: 2,651. Johnson finished sixth at Chicagoland, padding his lead in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup standings from eight to 51 points over No. 2 Matt Kenseth. He is the only driver with 14 top-10 finishes this season. Johnson has been among the top 10 for 87 consecutive races, since March 2004. He has three victories in 2006, second to No. 5 Kasey Kahne (four). Johnson has two victories (both races in 2003) and four top-10 finishes in eight races at New Hampshire for an 8.625 average finish, second to Ryan Newman. He finished 13th in this race a year ago and eighth last September. Johnson has led in three of his races at New Hampshire, and has been running at the finish in all eight starts. Season-to-date Loop Data highlight: Johnson ranks second in Average Running Position (10.769).


No. 2 – Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Power Tools Ford). Team: Roush Racing. Points: 2,600. Kenseth finished 22nd at Chicagoland, his worst finish in his last eight races. He has ranked in the top five since the season's second race, a victory at California. Kenseth has eight top-10 finishes in 12 races at New Hampshire, where he has been running at the finish of every event. He has seven top-10 finishes in his last seven New Hampshire races, and a 10.66 average overall finish. Kenseth finished 10th in this race a year ago and third last September. Season-to-date Loop Data highlight: Kenseth is top ranked in Driver Rating (105.5).


No. 3 – Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet). Team: Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Points: 2,394. Earnhardt finished fifth at Chicagoland to retain his spot in the standings. He ranked 13th at this point last season. Earnhardt has six top-10 finishes in 13 starts at New Hampshire, where he has a 17.0 average finish. He has led in five of his 12 starts, and has been running at the finish in all but two races there. Earnhardt finished ninth in this race a year ago and fifth last September. Season-to-date Loop Data highlight: Earnhardt is ranked fifth in Driver Rating (106.3).

No. 4 – Jeff Burton (No. 31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet). Team: Richard Childress Racing. Points: 2,327. Burton finished second at Chicagoland to climb three spots in the standings. He has 11 top-10 finishes this season. Burton has a series-best four victories (the most recent in 2000) and nine top-10 finishes at New Hampshire for a 13.722 average finish. He placed 14th in this race a year ago and ninth last September. Despite his stellar New Hampshire record, Burton has not led in his last five starts. Season-to-date Loop Data highlight: Burton is ranked fourth in Average Running Position (11.884).


No. 5 – Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge). Team: Evernham Motorsports. Points: 2,303. Kahne finished 23rd at Chicagoland, dropping one spot in the standings. He has a series-leading four victories this season (Atlanta, Texas, Lowe's Motor Speedway and Michigan), as well as 10 top-10 finishes. Kahne ranked 21st in the standings at this point in 2005. He has competed in four races at New Hampshire, finishing sixth in this race a year ago and 38th last September, his first DNF at the New England track. Kahne has a 14.0 average New Hampshire finish. Season-to-date Loop Data highlight: Kahne is ranked eighth in Driver Rating (93.0).


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