Leaders Gordon, Johnson chasing first win at Texas (cont'd)

"We've put together back-to-back solid finishes, which is something, it seems like, that we haven't done in a long time. I thought we had a car capable of winning at the end, and we haven't been able to say that in while, because, basically, we haven't been able to get to the end. But, it was another solid performance by our guys and hopefully that can carry over into this weekend," Kenseth said.

"We're taking the same car to Texas that we did in the spring and it's been pretty good for us all year," crew chief Robbie Reiser said. "It last ran at Kansas and was probably a top-five or top-eight car, but we got caught a lap down by the rain and then got caught up in the wreck on the restart afterwards. But, it's been repaired, the damage was minimal and we should be good to go."

In that spring race, Kenseth led 16 laps and was on his way to his second victory of the season before Burton passed him on the final lap.

"Racing Kenseth for the lead is something I will never forget," Burton said. "He's a great racer, a smart racer and a clean racer. Drivers dream about winning a race on the last lap and that was cool -- not only for me, but for the whole team as well."

With only three races to go, time is of the essence for the Chase drivers to make up every point they can on standings leader Gordon. All 12 Chase drivers are still mathematically eligible for the championship, though Gordon and Johnson are setting a devastating pace. The Hendrick Motorsports teammates have won the past four races and have the closest point margin between first and second since the Chase's inception in 2004.

"All we can do right now is put up the best numbers and performance on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the next three events and hope that's enough," Gordon said. "I think we have a team capable of winning the championship."

Outside the Chase: Junior still winless

Drivers outside the Chase are lining up to play the role of spoiler this week at Texas. At the head of the line is Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Earnhardt is suffering through a 59-race winless streak dating back to May 2006 at Richmond, but he should have a good chance of ending the slump this Sunday. Texas is the site of his first win in the Cup Series (April 2, 2000). Earnhardt has won at least once in all of his first seven seasons of competing in the Cup Series making these last three races critical for him if he wants to keep the streak alive.

"We've done so many good things this year as a team and I've been given the most consistently fast cars of my career and the only thing lacking is a victory," Earnhardt said. "Texas is definitely a place where we can resolve that problem. There are so many good memories for all of us at that place -- not just the first win -- but almost every race since then we've been a top-10 car."

Earnhardt has seven top-10 finishes at Texas.

On the bubble: Blaney looks to get back on track

Consecutive top-10 finishes at Talladega and Lowe's Motor Speedway put the No. 22 Toyota comfortably in the top 35 in owner points, but recent struggles at Martinsville and Atlanta have put its guaranteed spot in the field in jeopardy.

The No. 22, owned by Bill Davis and driven by Dave Blaney, has failed to crack the top 30 in each of the past two races and now sits only 82 points ahead of the No. 21 Ford (owned by Glen Wood and driven by Bill Elliott) in the owner standings.

Though Blaney's best finish at Texas was sixth in 2001, he hasn't landed in the top 20 in any of the past five Texas races.

Elliott's best Texas finish was ninth in 2002. His last race there was in 2005, a 32nd-place finish.

Also looking to stay in the top 35 is the No. 45 Dodge owned and driven by Kyle Petty. The No. 45 is 86 points ahead of the cutoff.