NASCAR Sprint Cup: Preview, Predictions and Schedule for Chase Round 4 at Kansas

The elite series of NASCAR heads to one of several intermediate tracks for the fourth race in the 10-week Chase for the title, but Kansas has special character that tempts fate for those who don't drive it just right.

Kansas Speedway is a relatively flat 1.5-mile track with tar-filled seams that make for a slick track. It is a multi-groove track that requires lots of grip because those weather related seams can rock the balance on a car.

The banking that stabilizes a car on many tracks is absent at Kansas Speedway. The driver who finishes well is the one who can find the right line and take it to the edge without a fumble.

The two drivers tied for the points lead are Kevin Harvick, driver of the No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet, and Carl Edwards, driver of the No. 99 Aflac Ford.

Heading to Kansas, the points are also tied with Tony Stewart, who already has two Chase wins, sitting third in points and fourth is Kurt Busch, the winner of last week's race at Dover.

Edwards considers Kansas Speedway his home track and really wants to capture his first win at this track. Of the 19 career wins for this Roush Fenway Racing driver, 17 have come on intermediate tracks.

The top nine drivers in the Chase are separated by a mere 19 points. Jeff Gordon, driver or the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, is in that ninth slot.

Now is the time for Gordon to win or get a top-three finish. It is likely he will be a favorite in the Hollywood Casino 400 being that he has two wins and an 8.1 average at the Kansas track.

Jimmie Johnson looked to be getting back in the mix for his sixth title at Dover. He will be running up front no doubt, but may not find Victory Lane. Johnson jumped from 10th to fifth in points after the Dover race.

Kyle Busch needs to get going in the Chase, but his record at Kansas Speedway shows him with an average finish of 22.4, so this may not be the race for him to make a significant forward move in points.

The older Busch brother has some momentum from his Dover win, but it will be up to his team led by crew chief Steve Addington, to keep adjusting the car for the better to get him to the front.

Consistency has been somewhat problematic with the team on the No. 22 Penske Pennzoil/Shell Dodge. Often they have not improved the car during the race, causing some angry rants from their driver.

Brad Keselowski is the other Penske driver behind the wheel of the Blue Deuce. He won the race at Kansas in June of this year and he could certainly be capable of sweeping both races.

Keselowski won the summer race on gas mileage and, again, the eventual winner at Kansas may well win because of tire strategy and fuel management.

The senior Busch brother led a record 152 laps at Kansas and lost the race to Keselowski when he ran out of fuel in the June race.

Matt Kenseth, driver of the No. 17 Crown Royal Ford, is the sleeper driver in the Chase who is always one to contend with. Kenseth is currently seventh in the points.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is 10th in the point standings, 34 markers out of the lead.

The driver of the No. 88 Amp Energy/National Guard Chevrolet needs a win to make his way back into contention, but that likely isn't in the cards for him at the Hollywood Casino 400.

Ryan Newman and Denny Hamlin are 11th and 12th respectively in the standings and out of contention for the 2011 title, though both drivers are capable of a win.

Once again the non-Chase drivers are in it to win it at all costs. They have nothing to lose and could well be spoilers for some of the Chase drivers.

Look for hard racing, a little "have at it" action and some incidents resulting from the slick, aged track that may result in some surprises with the points.

The broadcast schedule for the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway is as follows:

Practice: 12:30 p.m. ET Friday on ESPN2

Qualifying: 5:00 p.m. ET Friday on ESPN2

Practice: 12:30 p.m. ET Saturday on Speed TV

Practice: 1:50 p.m. ET Saturday on Speed TV

Hollywood Casino 400 race at 2:00 p.m. ET Sunday on ESPN

Enjoy the race!