• Under the previous point system instituted in 1975, no driver has been outside the NASCAR Top 10 with 10 races remaining, then come back to capture the series championship 

• Kurt Busch would have been in contention for the 2002 championship, if the "Chase for the Nextel Cup" format had been in place. Busch was 12th in the standings with 10 races remaining, but would have made the "chase" because he was 365 points behind the leader. He finished third in the standings after winning three of the final five races 

• Fifth-to-first is the furthest back a champion has come in the standings during the last 10 races, a feat accomplished by Tony Stewart in 2002 

• The second-best position comeback by a champion was by Alan Kulwicki in 1992. Kulwicki was fourth in the standings with 10 races remaining 

• The third-best position comeback by a champion was by Darrell Waltrip in 1982. Waltrip was third in the standings with 10 races remaining