Gordon ponders the Chase

            RICHMOND, Va. - For the fifth year, NASCAR's top series doesn't have just a season. It has a regular season and a post-season; race-offs, if you will. That means Sunday's Chevy Rock & Roll 400 isn't just a race; it's a race within a race.

            Why can't things be simple anymore? The race has already been rained out and rescheduled. The Chase on Saturday was being pursued by a tropical storm.

            Barring disaster - Jeff Gordon's Chevy not starting, for instance, or Denny Hamlin's Toyota blowing an engine on the 18^th lap - eligibility for the Chase for the Sprint Cup, which begins next week, is down to three drivers - Clint Bowyer, David Ragan and Kasey Kahne - trying to claim the final spot.

            There are sidelights, of course. For instance, some drivers might actually put a priority on winning the 26^th race of the season. Richmond International Raceway is an entertaining place for the regular season to end.

            "This race is important," said Gordon. "A lot of us have been thinking about this race for a long time. Those of us who aren't ‘locked in' (to the Chase) yet are vitally concerned about doing well here.

            "This place still has a lot of story lines."

            The dominant drivers of the season so far, Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards, have no reason to do anything but race each other hard again. One or the other has won all but three of the past 10 races.

            Gordon has won four championships. Provided neither he nor Busch win today, he will trail Busch by 80 points - one for each of Busch's victories - at the beginning of the Chase.

            "It's not impossible," Gordon said. "It just takes it tougher. Let's say we go into the Chase. We're capable of being consistent in the Chase. Based on what we've shown so far, we haven't shown we're capable of winning a lot of races. We've got to step it up to a whole new level that we haven't shown all year long."

            Gordon, in fact, has seen this from two perspectives. Twice he would've won championships had there been no Chase. Under the format, he still has a shot at it this year even though he enters the season's 26^th race 681 points behind Kyle Busch.

            "It's harder to win it now," he said, "but more people have the opportunity."

            You can reach Monte Dutton at mdutton@gastongazette.com.