Chasers will have to work way through 'Dega field (cont'd)

Biffle was the first of the Chasers out, second overall, and his lap of 186.061 mph was good for 22nd. Biffle, sitting third in points just 30 away from the lead, has a problem finishing races here, averaging 25.3. That's 10th among the 12 Chasers. His best finish is 13th back in 2005 and he has four DNFs in 11 starts.

Jeff Gordon posted a lap of 185.783 mph putting him 26th at the start of Sunday's race. Gordon has won six races at Talladega, the last in this race last season. In 31 starts, Gordon has a pole, six victories, 13 top-five and 16 top-10 finishes. He's also had seven DNFs and his average finish of 15.0 is fifth among the Chase drivers.

Matt Kenseth, another of the Roush Fenway Chasers, put his machine in 31st with a lap of 185.689 mph. Kenseth runs well here, with three top-fives and six top-10s in 17 starts, and just two DNFs. His average finish is 17.5, seventh in the Chase rundown.

Stewart's newly fixed Toyota reeled off a lap of 185.481 mph to start 34th, leading a wad of Chasers near the back of the field. Stewart has the best average finish among Chasers at 13.9, helped immensely by six runner-up finishes in his 19 starts. He has two more top-fives and 11 top-10s in his career here.

Bowyer had to change an engine as well on Friday, so his run of 185.423 mph will put him 35th on all the paper, but he'll join Earnhardt Jr. at the rear of the field. Bowyer has a ninth-place effort as his best in five starts at Talladega, and nearly half those starts have wound up in DNFs. His average finish of 26.0 is 11th among the Chasers.

Denny Hamlin, who is always a threat at the two superspeedways, was 36th at 185.373 mph in his Toyota. Hamlin has a pair of top-five finishes in five starts here, the third-best finishing average among Chasers at 14.2 and no DNFs. He was third here in the spring.

Kyle Busch, who won the spring race here, put his Toyota in 37th with a lap of 185.205 mph. Busch broke a trend of disappointing finishes here with his victory. His previous best run here before the spring race was 11th back in the fall of 2006 and his average finish of 27.3 is worst among Chasers. Four DNFs in seven starts will do that to you.

Kevin Harvick put his Chevrolet in 39th with a lap of 185.008 mph, slowest among the Chasers. Harvick has finished second twice in 15 starts and has seven top-10s to boot. His average finish -- helped by no DNFs -- is 14.3, fourth behind Stewart, Earnhardt Jr. and Hamlin.