Title hunt could be down to two heading to Dover

1. Who is the leading Cup Series championship contender right now: Jimmie Johnson or Denny Hamlin?

David Caraviello: OK, last week was the first time I looked at Hamlin and thought: holy mackerel, he can actually do this. And I think he can. He's absolutely fearless right now. But ... you sell that 48 team short at your own peril. Jimmie's still the favorite until someone buries him in the Chase.

Bill Kimm: Does it have to be one of those two? What about Kevin Harvick, who has a triple-digit points lead? What about Jeff Gordon, who has the best car week in and week out? What about Kyle Busch?

Joe Menzer: Last time I looked, Kevin Harvick was leading in the points. Jimmie was second, but then it was Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth before we got to Hamlin. Granted, Hamlin is hot. But this is far from a two-man race at this point!

Bill Kimm: I'd never have thought these words would ever come out of my mouth -- but Joe-baby is right!

Joe Menzer: Aw, now Bill ... you know you mutter that I'm right every night before you go to sleep. You just don't want everyone to know it.

David Caraviello: Sorry guys, but right now it's unquestionably a two-man race. Right now Johnson and Hamlin are tied atop the only standings that count: the Chase standings, where they lead everybody else by 20 points. The standings now mean zip. Nada. And you've got to win races in bunches to win the title, and at the moment only two guys seem capable of that.

Joe Menzer: Caraviello, you are right about one thing. Once you get to the Chase, these standings mean squat. But I gotta believe that Jeff Gordon is going to win some races. He has come too close. I'm less convinced about Kenseth -- not because of him, but because something seems a little off with the Roush Fenway Fords. But Gordon and Kyle Busch definitely can -- and should -- win some races.

Bill Kimm: Shhh, Joe. Our secret. David, there is plenty of racing left for others to get to three wins. Johnson has lost whatever early season magic he had, and yes, Denny is on fire right now -- but NASCAR is fickle, he will cool off.

Joe Menzer: This will come as no surprise, but I do disagree with Bill-baby on at least one thing. Hamlin's current streak is no fluke. Among other things, the Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas have been consistently strong all year (Kyle Busch and Joey Logano have run well, too). And Hamlin is fiercely determined, smarter and more mature about his whole approach than he ever has been. It's like the knee thing has made his focus on the track razor-sharp.

David Caraviello: You guys do realize that the driver in the lead after 26 races has gone on to win the championship only once in the Chase era? That's why Hamlin's standing in points right now means nothing. Anyone who doesn't think he and Johnson are the clear-cut frontrunners hasn't been watching the same racing series I have.

Joe Menzer: I'll throw one more name into the possible championship contender mix: Kurt Busch. He has one win and two more top-10 finishes than Hamlin at the moment, is sitting at eighth in the points, and has shown he can run up front at multiple-style tracks this season. He might get back up there, but yes, he will have to win a couple more races to do so.

Bill Kimm: Yes, winning is important the entire season, but I'm telling you guys -- this is Jeff Gordon's year. Something is different about this 24 team and they are going to win multiple times -- and I'll call my shot now, be sitting at the championship table in Las Vegas. I did get an interesting email from a reader named Will, who pointed out some head-scratching facts. A driver 35-or-younger has now won the past 18 races and the past nine championships. So Gordon will have to buck some trends to get there, but I think he will.

Ready to lead

Bill Kimm and Mark Spoor debate who looks more ready to dethrone Jimmie Johnson from the Cup throne.

• Complete story
• Hamlin mind-set improved
• Menzer: More questions
• Caraviello: Message sent
• Video: Hamlin opens up

David Caraviello: When did you guys become so detached from reality? Seriously, how many more names are you going to throw out there? David Reutimann? Reed Sorenson? Fonty Flock? Wake up, boys. Gordon is overdue, yes. Kurt Busch and Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick are all more than capable drivers. But Johnson and Hamlin are on a completely different level right now, and anyone who doesn't see that has been watching too much baseball.

Joe Menzer: Well, I have been watching the Cincinnati Reds a lot lately. They're like the hottest team in baseball. But I know for a fact you've been wasting way too much of your life watching the Braves, Mr. Caraviello, so that theory doesn't fly.

Bill Kimm: DC -- have you missed Jimmie's two DNFs in the past three races? So who's watching what exactly?

David Caraviello: Oh, you mean the crapshoot that is Talladega? And getting taken out by another driver who's lost his brakes? Want to tell me how either one of those are an indictment against the No. 48 team? And by the way, nice of you guys to both avoid answering the original question. How about we give that a try?

Bill Kimm: Fine -- if I had to choose between either Johnson or Hamlin, I'll go with Johnson. I just don't see Hamlin being able to maintain this all season. He has shown he has flashes of brilliance, but never been able to maintain an entire season.

Joe Menzer: I'm going to say that I think Hamlin maybe has emerged as the favorite between those two, and maybe even overall. I just think that after all he's been through, he's only going to keep getting better. He and crew chief Mike Ford have really clicked recently. I'm just not ready to concede it's a two-man race just yet. (Continued)