Mark Martin, at the crisp age of 50, skips into Dover (Del.) International Speedway this weekend as more than the leader of NASCAR’s old guard; he has more points than anyone in the Sprint Cup series. A look at where he and the other 11 Chase contenders are with nine races remaining:

1. Martin: After scoring his first win at New Hampshire, he gets a track on which he has excelled. Four wins at Dover and counting.

2. Jimmie Johnson (minus-35): Three-time reigning champion finally regained his form at New Hampshire, posting his first top-five finish since the Brickyard 400.

3. Denny Hamlin (minus-35): Dover hasn’t been his best track. He hasn’t finished better than 36th there in the past four races.

4. Juan Pablo Montoya (minus-55): Everyone’s sexy pick to steal this title still doesn’t have a win this season and has only three top-five finishes in 27 races.

5. Kurt Busch (minus-65): Made a nice recovery at New Hampshire after contact with David Ragan on pit road, but this doesn’t feel like a program with momentum.

6. Tony Stewart (minus-74): How can a crew member fail to fasten an axle cap before the race? No wonder the summer’s points leader declined comment after the disappointing New Hampshire race.

7. Ryan Newman (minus-79): Purdue grad must do more than string top-10 finishes together to win this title.

8. Brian Vickers (minus-90): Engine problems. Pit road problems. The Michigan winner is lucky to still be in the hunt after finishing 11th last week.

9. Greg Biffle (minus-92): He won Dover last year. He needs to again, or something close to it.

10. Jeff Gordon (minus-102): Difficult to believe that finishing 15th puts a Chase driver behind the 8-ball, but that’s where the four-time series champion is just one race in.

11. Carl Edwards (minus-113): He got off on the wrong foot (sorry, easy pun) by finishing 17th in opener.

12. Kasey Kahne (minus-161): Blown engine. Thanks for playing.

— Curt Cavin