Tie at the top of the Chase

Jeff Gordon regained a share of the lead in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series standings after the race at New Hampshire International Speedway, the first race in the Chase.
Gordon is tied with his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson with 5,210 points. Johnson entered the first race of the Chase with a 20-point lead over Gordon. But Johnson finished sixrth in the opening race of the 10-race playoff. Gordon was second.
"Really today was a race for second spot," said Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. "But still to leave here with a sixth-place finish we are real happy about that. Last year we left here 39th or something like that, so we are off to a much better start than the last time."
Gordon said he was happy to finish second in the New Hampshire race and get off to a good start in the Chase.
"To me, you have to capitalize on the tracks you run good at," said Gordon, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. "This is a good track for us and I was just glad to do that and stay out of trouble. Wherever the points fall right now, it is what you do over 10 races, not what you do in one race. We did what we needed to do today; hopefully we can carry that next week to Dover and try to pull off another top-five."
Clint Bowyer, who won the race at New Hampshire, made the biggest leap in the standings, from 12th to fourth. He entered the Chase as the only driver without a win.
"Well, even without the win, I definitely believe we earned a spot in this Chase and we belonged here," Bowyer said. "We did the things it took to be in the Chase. Once you get in the Chase, you've got to go for broke. Last week, I come up broke. But finally, we did what we were supposed to do and didn't make any mistakes. I didn't make any in the car."
Kurt Busch had the biggest drop, from fifth to 12th.
Here is a look at the Chase standings after Race 1.

1. Jimmie Johnson (5,210 points)

2. Jeff Gordon (5,210 points, -0)

3. Tony Stewart (5,200 points, -10)

4. Clint Bowyer (5,195 points, -15) +8

5. Kyle Busch (5,175 points, -35) +4

6. Martin Truex, Jr. (5,170 points, -40) +1

7. Matt Kenseth (5,156 points, -54) +1

8. Carl Edwards (5,147 points, -63) -4

9. Denny Hamlin (5,128 points, -82) -3

10. Kevin Harvick (5,122 points, -88) +1

11. Jeff Burton (5,119 points, -91) -1

12. Kurt Busch (5,108 points, -102) -7