The hunt continues!

Six drivers are within less than a hundred points with seven races remaining in the championship. Mark Martin, the former, seems irresistible this season as shown by his six consecutive top 10s, current series. In Kansas, during a “without” race, he finished seventh and retained the lead in the general classification.

But facing the 50-year-old veteran, Jimmie Johnson (-18 points) and Tony Stewart (-67) also have experience of the end of the season, of money-time. Johnson, triple reigning champion with eleven top 5s since the start of the year, and Stewart, 20 top 10s in 29 starts are the most consistent.

A little further, Kurt Busch and Denny Hamlin will need victories to take a step forward and dream of a title in Miami at the end of November.

As for Juan Pablo Montoya, he remains the attraction at the end of the season. Without victory, the Colombian (the only foreigner in the chase) relies on consistency, a virtue that few knew about him. Currently third in the ranking, 42 is perfectly placed.

Behind this top 6, Jeff Gordon no longer has much room for error. Deprived of victory since May 5, the five-time World Champion is already relegated to 103 points despite a second place in Kansas.

Further on, only Greg Biffle can still believe in his chances. Too irregular, Ryan Newman, Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne and Brian Vickers already have the equivalent of a victory behind.

The Fontana race will begin on Sunday afternoon at 14:30 p.m. local time.