"Good luck, Mark." "Uh ... you, too, Kasey." Credit: Autostock

Nine drivers, eight spots, numerous possibilities

Twenty-five races come down to one.

Emotions will be running high during Saturday night's Chevy Rock & Roll 400 (7 p.m. ET, TNT), but cutoff for the Chase is a numbers game.

FedEx PreviewNBC/TNT's Marty Snider previews the action at Richmond Fantasy ReportMarty and Danielle make their picks for Richmond Richmond PreviewCNN Radio, Benny Parsons preview the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 You're in Good HandsJunior says his team is hitting its stride at the right time Garage PassMark Martin relishes excitement surrounding the Chase NASCAR TodayWith the Chase looming teams head for Richmond NASCAR TodayJeff Burton understands what being on the bubble is like Sign up for TrackPass now BUY THE NEXTEL i836

Most eyes will be upon 11th-place Kasey Kahne, the only driver not in the top 10 still eligible of making the Chase. He trails 10th-place Jeff Burton by 30 points.

But positions 3-10 are as tight as well. STATS LLC have calculated 725,760 different possibilities for the order of the top 11 drivers following Saturday's race at Richmond International Raceway.

• Only 117 points separate positions 3-10 in the current Nextel Cup Series standings.

• Only 147 points separate positions 3-11.

• A driver can gain a maximum of 156 points over another competitor in each event.

• Any driver in positions 3-10 can fall from the top 10 following Saturday's event.

• Kahne,can move as high as third in the standings following Saturday's race.

• The current drivers in positions 3-10 in the standings will clinch a Chase berth with the following finishes Saturday:

3. Kevin Harvick -- 40th
4. Jeff Gordon -- 25th
5. Kyle Busch -- 22nd
6. Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- 16th
7. Denny Hamlin -- 16th
8. Tony Stewart -- 7th
9. Mark Martin -- 4th
10. Jeff Burton -- 4th

A further dissection of the numbers has only 102 points separating positions 4-11 and 45 points separating positions 8-11.

"The positions don't really mean anything to me," Dale Earnhardt Jr. said. "A wreck or a mechanical problem will still knock you out because it's so close.

"We've been lucky to keep our car clean the last few races. We need that luck to continue this weekend. Kasey is doing what he has to do to get in the Chase, and I feel like we're doing all we can, too. It's no time to feel comfortable. We know what can happen. We know better than anybody how fast you can drop, so we're not taking anything for granted."

Despite needing a 25th or better to clinch, Gordon has struggled at Richmond of late, with three consecutive finishes of 30th or worse.

"I compare our Richmond struggles to what we experienced at the intermediate tracks last year," Gordon said. "To me, Richmond is an 'intermediate short track.'

"We struggled at the mile-and-a-half and 2-mile tracks last year, but we turned that program around. We've had our troubles here recently, too, but I'm confident in the way the cars are driving. We are looking at this race as an opportunity to secure a spot in the Chase."

Reigning Cup champion Tony Stewart is taking it all in stride, although his good friend Kahne is only 45 points off his pace.

"To be honest, I've never fallen into pressure," Stewart said. "How you get into the Chase is the same way you win the Chase. You've got to go out there and you've got to be good. You've got to be good in 26 races to get in the Chase, and then you've got to be good for 10 races after that to win the Chase."

Burton isn't feeling the pressure, either. He's having fun.

"This is what racing is about. This is what racing for championships is about," Burton said. "You know what, it will start all over in two weeks. It is how it is and how it should be. I relish the opportunity. I think it is a heck of a lot of fun to be part of it."

Unlike Burton, Mark Martin has been in this situation before. And he's come through. He expects too again this year.

"We plan on going into Richmond and giving it all that we have," Martin said. "We've never backed down from one and we won't this week, either."

But Kahne thinks he has some more wins left in the No. 9 Dodge this season. He only hopes they count toward a championship.

"Our goal all season has been to win races and make the Chase," Kahne said. "Hopefully we do everything right Saturday night and make the Chase. It's going to take another good night like we had at California.

"I'll race just like I always race. If something happens that we don't make it, then we work as hard as we can the last 10 races to be the best team possible and win races."