LOOKING IN ON: MOTOR SPORTS

Brian Hilderbrand, Las Vegas Sun

Thursday, Sept. 13, 2007 | 7:41 a.m.

Jimmie Johnson may be the defending NASCAR Nextel Cup Series champion and Tony Stewart may have won two of the past five titles, but the smart money says Jeff Gordon will earn his fifth NASCAR championship when the 10-race Chase for the Nextel Cup concludes in November in Homestead, Fla. .

Although he has yet to win a title since NASCAR instituted the Chase in 2004, Gordon has put together a dominating season through the first 26 races. His four victories this season is second to Hendrick Motorsports teammate Johnson, but Gordon has finished in the top 10 a remarkable 21 times in 26 races and is primed to win his first series championship since 2001.

As good as Gordon has been this season, the Chase - which begins Sunday at New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon - won't be a one-car show. Johnson, who earned his first championship last season, has rebounded from a mid-season slump and won two consecutive races. Tony Stewart, a two-time Cup champion, has three victories among his 18 top-10 finishes and Kurt Busch, a Las Vegas native and the 2004 champion, won twice and finished 11th or better in the final nine races of the regular season and qualified for the Chase.

Although this may be the most competitive field since the Chase format was introduced in 2004 (NASCAR increased the qualifying drivers from the top 10 in points to the top 12 this season), Gordon will emerge as the class of the field when the checkered flag drops on the 2007 season on Nov. 18.

Here are the drivers in the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series championship, with each driver's points total going into the final 10 races and the Sun's odds to win the title in parentheses:

Jimmie Johnson (5,060 points, 3-1)

His six victories lead the series, but Johnson's failure to finish four races also is most among the 12 Chase participants.

Jeff Gordon (5,040, 3-2)

Experience (four Cup championships) and a series-leading average finish of 8.2 this season make Gordon the Chase favorite.

Tony Stewart (5,030, 4-1)

Three victories and four other top-10 showings in the past eight races make Stewart a serious contender.

Carl Edwards (5,020, 12-1)

Although he has two victories, Edwards' inconsistency will cost him in the Chase.

Kurt Busch (5,020, 6-1)

Busch won the first Chase for the Nextel Cup (2004) and has momentum on his side after racing his way into the Chase in the past two months.

Denny Hamlin (5,010, 8-1)

Has been remarkably consistent this season but the second-year driver is low on experience in this field.

Martin Truex Jr. (5,010, 25-1)

Dale Earnhardt Inc. turmoil, lack of experience should keep Truex - in only his second full-time season - from contending.

Matt Kenseth (5,010, 8-1)

Has been consistent this season with 16 top-10 finishes in 26 races; finished second to Johnson for the championship last season.

Kyle Busch (5,010, 10-1)

Like his older brother, Busch has momentum on his side , but he lacks Kurt's experience.

Jeff Burton (5,010, 20-1)

At 40, Burton is the most experienced driver in the field , but he won't be able to keep up with the Hendrick Motorsports cars of Gordon and Johnson.

Kevin Harvick (5,010, 15-1)

Hasn't won a race since the season-opening Daytona 500 and has the second-highest average finish (15.5) among Chase participants.

Clint Bowyer (5,000, 30-1)

Only driver in Chase without a victory this season - or in his career (a total of 63 races).

Number of drivers who are competing in their first Chase for the Nextel Cup (Martin Truex Jr. and Clint Bowyer).

NASCAR champions among the 12 drivers in this year's Chase for the Nextel Cup (Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, Kurt Busch and Matt Kenseth).

"Really, all of the drivers in the garage have been very friendly and I'm not used to that. I was used to everyone minding their own business and kicking everyone down, so this is a nice change."

Former Formula One driver Jacques Villeneuve, who is making his first foray into NASCAR this season.