With the Chase for the Nextel Cup field set in just three short weeks, focus has been on the battle for the 12th and final spot between Kurt Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Ryan Newman. But with the new Chase rules this year, there is an equally important battle going on, and it's not at the bottom of the standings -- it's at the top.

For most of the season, it was assumed either Jeff Gordon or Jimmie Johnson would lead when the Chase started at New Hampshire with the losing teammate beginning the Chase in second.

And why wouldn't we think that? After Pocono, the 14th race of the 26-race regular season, Gordon and Johnson each had four wins and were the only ones in the Cup garage with multiple victories on the season.

The new Chase rules implemented state the top-12 drivers who make the Chase will all start with 5,000 points and to put an extra emphasis on winning this year, for each win a driver will earn 10 bonus points. So through 14 weeks, Gordon and Johnson would have a 30-point lead on the rest of the field.

But my how things have changed since.

The Hendrick Motorsports duo has gone winless in the last nine races and Tony Stewart has turned his season around thanks to wins at Chicago, Indianapolis and Watkins Glen. Stewart now finds his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Chevy just 10 points behind Gordon and Johnson when the Chase starts.

The battle for those important 10 bonus points is now officially heating up.

"We are going out there each weekend to get those bonus points," Gordon said. "We really don't care where we finish, unless it's first. I'd rather be ahead by 10 or 20 points than tied.

"Since we're locked into the Chase, it doesn't matter if we're first or fifth in points. We just need to get as many wins as we can in the next few weeks. Anything can happen in the Chase, and bonus points could be the advantage we need to make a run at the championship."

Bonus points could be exactly what Gordon leaves with after Saturday night's running of the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway (7 p.m. ET, ESPN). Gordon is tied with Busch for the most wins among active drivers at the track with five. In 29 races at the 0.533-mile short track, Gordon has 12 top-fives -- including the last two races there, 18 top-10s and an average finish of 11.4.

But this is a new Bristol, as new concrete and an added racing groove was put in after the spring race this season. Gordon though doesn't think too much will change although he knows he will have to relearn the track on the fly.

"We learned a lot about the COT and how it reacts with the track during the last race here, but it's going to be a whole new learning curve this time around," Gordon said. "Hopefully, we'll find the handle on the new surface pretty quickly during practice on Friday, run strong during the event on Saturday and be in contention for the win at the end."

For Gordon's teammate, he's not looking forward to getting to Bristol, he's looking forward to leaving it.

"There's not a lot I look forward to when it comes to racing at Bristol," Johnson said. "It is a track where when you see it in the rear view mirror you are relieved that you got out of there."

Johnson doesn't have the Bristol success that Gordon does. He has yet to pilot his No. 48 Chevy to Victory Lane and has just two top-five finishes on his resume with three finishes of 30th or worse. Johnson isn't thinking about bonus points right now, he's thinking about leaving Tennessee in one piece.

"I love to go watch the races there. I think it is a great place for a spectator," Johnson said. "But when you are in the car you seem to be escaping disaster multiple times each lap. I guess the only other way you would enjoy it is if you had a huge points lead so maybe [Gordon] will have a good time there. For us it is tough.

"It's a rush to drive the track. No doubt about it. But you are in a different mindset when you have something to lose when you go there verses if you are a fan or have a great position in the points."

With a good finish, Johnson could eliminate some drama and clinch a spot in the Chase. The same is true for Stewart, who should clinch his Chase berth this weekend as well. If the spring race is any indication, look for the No. 20 up front early.

Stewart led 257 of the first 289 laps in March, but a fuel pump cable broke forcing his engine to shut down and ruining any chance of a victory. Stewart though isn't concerned about bonus points right now, he just simply wants to win.

"If you win races the points take care of themselves," Stewart said. "Every week when we go to the track we're going to try to win the race, and if we can't win we'll finish as high as we can and get as many points as we can. Once we do that, the points will just have to be what they are."

He can try to ignore the points, but the fact is he's led more laps than anyone at Bristol except for Gordon and yet he has only a 2001 victory to show for it. But Stewart loves this track, and a second trip to Victory Lane would be one of the more special victories in his Cup career.

"The coolest thing about Bristol is that you have 160,000 fans that you can see all day long or all night long," Stewart said. "I can remember races where I passed [Jeff] Gordon for the lead and I could see the people cheering. It's one of the coolest tracks I've ever been to in my life. The grandstands are right on top of you. I mean, when you get out of the car after practice or qualifying, you can see what the fans are eating and what they're drinking. You're that close.

"And as hard as it is to win a race there -- because you've got to have a perfect day to do it -- it really makes you cherish a win there. The one win that I have there is one of the best wins of my career. Anybody who wins at Bristol appreciates it."

And the winner will definitely appreciate the 10 bonus points he receives when the Chase starts.