What is it going to take for these teams to win the inaugural Chase?(Driver Reports)

KURT BUSCH

For Busch and his crew, it will be business as usual. "You have to make sure you don't do anything out of the ordinary, like pulling the wrong gear or something, or using a shock that might abuse a tire too harshly," Busch says. "The pace is going to be extreme--bonus points are going to be a key element in the outcome." Busch has led laps at all of the six remaining tracks. He ran a good race in March at Darlington, and he says his best shot at a victory should come at that track. Busch also says the season finale at Homestead will be the key to the Chase. He wrecked early there last year and finished just 147 laps, so the team will use a two-day test to get more familiar with the banking that was added last season. Busch, who tested at Kansas, tested last week at the next two tracks on the schedule--Charlotte and Martinsville.

DALE EARNHARDT JR.

Earnhardt could help his cause by learning to zip his lip. Besides the obvious, he recently accused car chief Tony Eury Jr. of throwing darts at problems "rather than fixing the car." If they continue to disagree, the team could beat itself before a race starts. This team front-loaded its tests for the Chase but retained two dates, Martinsville and Homestead, which should help Earnhardt adapt to those tracks. "It's hard to know what to do," he says. "You take one race at a time, but it's hard to strategize and know what will work, (so) go at it with an open mind" Earnhardt has won at Atlanta and Phoenix, and he finished in the top 10 at Darlington, Charlotte and Martinsville earlier this year. But his best finish at Homestead, where the Chase is certain to be decided, is 13th in four tries, and he placed 24th there last season. And the swearing penalty took away 25 points.

JEFF GORDON

Gordon is counting on consistency. He says "the best team is going to win it all," ...