And Then There Were 12 #nascar

Jeff Gordon took the checkered flag in Sunday's AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway, but four other drivers got the axe in the first Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup elimination race in the history of the sport.

The Chase Challenger round is history. Bring on the Chase Contender round. AJ Allmendinger, 2004 series champion Kurt Busch, Greg Biffle and Aric Almirola missed the cut for the next round of the Chase, as the field was pared from 16 drivers to 12 following the third and final Challenger Round race.

The points for the Contender Drivers have been reset to 3,000.   Any Chase driver who wins at Kansas, Charlotte or Talladega will advance automatically to the Eliminator Round. The Chase field will be reduced from 12 to eight drivers at Talladega.

Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway saw the field
in the Chase For The Sprint Cup narrowed from 16 to 12 contenders.
(Photo: Todd Warshaw/NASCAR via Getty Images)

Analyzing the Hollywood Casino 400

Below is a look at the 12 Contenders:

1 - Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Miller Lite Ford)

• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 105.0

2014 Rundown

• Five wins, 13 top fives, 16 top 10s; five poles
• Average finish of 12.4
• Led 23 races for 1,496 laps

2 - Joey Logano (No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford)

• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 106.5

2014 Rundown

• Four wins, 13 top fives, 18 top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 12.2
• Led 19 races for 794 laps

3 - Kevin Harvick (No. 4 Budweiser Chevrolet)

• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 108.8

2014 Rundown

• Two wins, 10 top fives, 15 top 10s; seven poles
• Average finish of 14.0
• Led 21 races for 1,592 laps

4 - Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet)

• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 100.8

2014 Rundown

• Three wins, 10 top fives, 18 top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 13.4
• Led 15 races for 1,035 laps

5 - Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet)

• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 110.4

2014 Rundown

• Four wins, 11 top fives, 19 top 10s; two poles
• Average finish of 10.0
• Led 20 races for 665 laps

6 - Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M’s Toyota)

• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 90.6

2014 Rundown

• One win, six top fives, 12 top 10s; two poles
• Average finish of 17.1
• Led 13 races for 411 laps

7 - Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet)

• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 97.2

2014 Rundown

• Three wins, 11 top fives, 17 top 10s
• Average finish of 11.0
• Led 12 races for 220 laps

8 - Matt Kenseth (No. 20 Dollar General Toyota)

• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 93.5

2014 Rundown

• 11 top fives, 18 top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 13.8
• Led 17 races for 467 laps

9 - Ryan Newman (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet)

• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 85.1

2014 Rundown

• Two top fives, 11 top 10s
• Average finish of 14.0
• Led 4 races for 24 laps

10 - Carl Edwards (No. 99 Fastenal Ford)

• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 82.5

2014 Rundown

• Two wins, six top fives, 11 top 10s
• Average finish of 14.8
• Led 10 races for 134 laps

11 - Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota)

• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 90.8

2014 Rundown

• One win, six top fives, 12 top 10s; two poles
• Average finish of 15.5
• Led 12 races for 195 laps

12 - Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Farmer’s Insurance Chevrolet)

• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 88.7

2014 Rundown

• One win, three top fives, 10 top 10s
• Average finish of 16.5
• Led 10 races for 204 laps

Next: Kansas Speedway in Kansas City - the Hollywood Casino 400 on Sunday, October 5. Coverage begins on ESPN at 1 p.m. ET and the race is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET.