Horsepower Rankings

<!--break--><!--break--><p><!--break--><em>by Matt Taliaferro</em><br />
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<strong>1.&ensp;Denny Hamlin</strong>&nbsp; Held onto that top spot in the standings despite a move that burned him at Phoenix. This title is truly his to lose now.<br />
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<strong>2.&ensp;Jimmie Johnson</strong>&nbsp; Of course, Jimmie is still keeping pace, 15 points behind Hamlin and still very much alive.

Phlipping for Phuel in Phoenix

<!--break--><!--break--><!--break--><!--break--><p><em>by Matt Taliaferro</em><br />
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Denny Hamlin said the strategy was to keep the points leader in his sights through the first half of the Chase and then turn it on in the second &mdash; and he&rsquo;s done just that, having won two of the previous three heading into the Kobalt Tools 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.<br />
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And Hamlin was within 50 laps of making it three-for-four when the plan hit a snag.

Three-Man Shootout

<!--break--><!--break--><!--break--><!--break--><!--break--><!--break--><!--break--><p><em>by Vito Pugliese</em><br />
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The 2010 Chase for the Sprint Cup has been under fire this season &mdash; perhaps more than any other &mdash; for drawing more of a casual fan demographic (and the NFL audience) with its playoff-themed format, resulting in declining ratings, waning attendance and an overwhelming desire to see someone other than Jimmie Johnson thanking the employee-owners of Lowe&r

Fightin&#039;, Fingers and the Chase

<!--break--><p><!--break--><!--break--><!--break--><!--break--></p><p>It seems each season there is one Chase event that throws us numerous curveballs, whether it&rsquo;s points implications, controversial finishes, paybacks or penalties (Talladega and Kansas come to mind).

Phoenix International Raceway

<!--break--><!--break--><!--break--><!--break--><!--break--><p><strong>Location: </strong>Avondale, Ariz.<br />
<strong>Distance:</strong> 1-mile oval<br />
<strong>Banking/Turns: </strong>9 and 11 degrees; Banking/Frontstretch: 3 degrees; Banking/Backstretch: 9 degrees<br />
<strong>Race Dates: </strong>April 10 (Ryan Newman) and November 14<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: 14px;">From the Spotter&rsquo;

Horsepower Rankings

<!--break--><!--break--><!--break--><!--break--><!--break--><!--break--><!--break--><p><em>by Matt Taliaferro</em><br />
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<strong>1.&ensp;Denny Hamlin</strong><br />
The new points leader is looking pretty stout with eight finishes of ninth or better (three wins) in the last nine races.

Wild Wild West

<!--break--><!--break--><!--break--><!--break--><!--break--><p><!--break--><em>by Matt Taliaferro</em><br />
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There were monkeys selling programs, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, a fistfight, a virtual firing of an entire team and, at the end of the day, a new No. 1. It may sound like a mid-1980s version of Saturday Night Roller Derby that would make Ralphie Valladares and the L.A.

Who Will Carry On?

<!--break--><!--break--><!--break--><!--break--><!--break--><p><em>by Tom Bowles</em><br />
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The life and times of Jim Hunter were celebrated wonderfully this week with a visitation followed by a wonderful service Wednesday at Darlington Presbyterian Church.

Horsepower Rankings

<!--break--><!--break--><!--break--><p><em>by Matt Taliaferro</em><br />
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<strong>1.&ensp;Jimmie Johnson</strong>&nbsp; He&rsquo;s won the Chase every way imaginable, so why doubt he can outduel Hamlin and Harvick in a dogfight down the stretch?<br />
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<strong>2.&ensp;Kevin Harvick</strong>&nbsp; How do you differentiate between Hamlin and Harvick here? Take whichever driver finished better in the last race.

Texas Motor Speedway

<!--break--><!--break--><!--break--><!--break--><p><strong>Location:</strong> Ft.