Closest Three-Way Chase In History

It doesn’t get much closer than this.
Just 38 points span the top three contenders as the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup moves to Texas Motor Speedway for Sunday’s AAA Texas 500.
The previous closest top three after seven of 10 Chase races was 65 points in 2006. Many expected last weekend’s Talladega Superspeedway ―wild card‖ race to work for or against Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet), Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Office Toy-ota) and Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chev-rolet).
Instead, all three enjoyed solid days. Harvick fin-ished second to teammate Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet) to nearly halve a 61-point, pre-race deficit. Hamlin remains 14 points behind Johnson as the pair finished seventh and ninth, respectively.
How close is close?
Hamlin, by winning in Texas and leading the most laps, could take the top spot – even if Johnson fin-ishes second. Harvick could do the same with a victory and his rivals finish toward the rear of the top 10.
―It’s what I asked for,‖ said Hamlin. ―Let us settle it on the race track where our cars and our teams can make a difference and our drivers can make a difference. We’ve got a tight one and I’m looking forward to the last three races.‖
In Harvick’s view, this year’s champion will have to stay at the highest possible level. Consistency is good but isn’t likely to get the job done.
―I really think it's one of the three guys that is going to finish in the top five overall over the last three races. If you're not able to do that and be in contention to lead laps, you're probably not going to win the championship,‖ said Harvick, after missing a Talladega Superspeedway season sweep by inches when the caution flag ended his duel with Bowyer prematurely on the final lap of the AMP Energy Juice 500.
―You can't be conservative. You can't go … hop-ing for a top 10 because, as you've seen over the past few years, top fives, leading the laps is what it's going to take over the next three weeks. I just believe it's one of three cars that is going to do that and hopefully we can keep pace.‖
Johnson, who entered the past two seasons’ final three races with leads of 183 and 184, respectively, agrees.
―It's really the same mentality. We need maximum points,‖ he said. ―Of course, it's a little bit more forgiv-ing or easy on your team and yourself with a big points lead. But we don't have that this year. We're going to have to race, and we're ready for it.‖

Fast Facts
The Race: AAA Texas 500 The Place: Texas Motor Speedway;Fort Worth, TX (1.5-mile oval)
The Date: Sunday, Nov. 7 The Time: 3 p.m. ET
Race Distance: 501 miles / 334 laps
TV: ESPN, 2 p.m. ET  Radio: PRN/Sirius NASCAR Radio,Channel 128.

2009 Polesitter: Jeff Gordon
2009 Winner: Kurt Busch