NASCAR Sprint Cup: Chase Strategy, Surprises and Stats from New Hampshire

The Chase drivers did their best to rebound from the fuel mileage problems at Chicagoland, but while some made up valuable points, others met with unpleasant surprises.

Kurt Busch was fourth in the point standings prior to the race, but as the pre-race ceremonies got underway, the driver of the No. 22 did not have a car to stand by.

The Penske Dodge driven by Busch failed inspection because the rear end housing was out 1/32nd making the body offset a bit too much.

Though he was able to start fifth when the field took the green, Busch was hardly a contender during the race. The unsettling circumstances with inspection was not their only problem as he ran mid-pack or worse throughout the race.

Ryan Newman started on the pole and was the winner of the July race at Loudon. He looked strong in the beginning, but despite many thinking he was the one to beat he really never contended for a win.

Jimmie Johnson failed to look like he was a championship contender and ran mostly around 16th position. Radio communication showed some stress between the driver and his crew chief, Chad Knaus.

Sounding like an old married couple, Johnson snapped at Knaus during the final third of the race. He said over his radio, I'm going to drive my ass off. Let me go out and do my thing."

Dale Earnhardt Jr. had a top-10 car all day, but with 71 laps to go he had a right front tire go down which was a setback after the good day they were having.

Junior then had a flat tire in the final laps. He was able to finish in 17th position despite all the problems. He attributed the flat tires to too much camber.

Non-Chase drivers ran up front a good part of the race showing they have the potential to spoil some top finishes for the Chase contenders. Five non-Chase drivers finished in the top 10.

Denny Hamlin looked to be in deep trouble with points and badly needed a good finish. Mike Ford, crew chief for the FedEx No. 11 rolled the dice with gas mileage to garner a decent finish.

With three laps to go, Hamlin ran out of gas and now he absolutely is in big trouble with points.

Jeff Gordon was dominant in the second half of the race, but to his surprise he was told to conserve gas in the final laps because of fueling problems with the last pit stop.

Tony Stewart was expected to do well and sure enough the momentum from Chicagoland carried over as he took his No. 14 Mobil 1/Office Depot Chevrolet across the finish line for a second win in the second race of the Chase.

Clint Bowyer looked to be the winner when he ran out of gas which was an odd twist from last year when Bowyer won and Stewart ran out gas at the New Hampshire track.

Fuel mileage looks to be a huge factor in the Chase and the eventual winner of the title may well be the one who is best a managing it.

Brad Keselowski could be the sleeper in the Chase with his second place finish and he advanced to third in the point standings.

Chase drama continues with shakeups as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to the "Monster Mile" at Dover.

It's going to be a fun ride to the finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway and the championship likely won't be decided until that race is history.

The top five in the Sylvania 300 were Stewart, Keselowski, Greg Biffle, Jeff Gordon and Brian Vickers.

Unofficial Point Standings after Loudon:

1. Tony Stewart

2. Kevin Harvick -7

3. Brad Keselowski -11

4. Carl Edwards -14

5. Jeff Gordon -23

6. Kyle Busch -26

7. Matt Kenseth -26

8. Dale Earnhardt Jr. -26

9.  Kurt Busch -28

10. Jimmie Johnson -29

11. Ryan Newman -34

12. Denny Hamlin -66