RICHMOND, Va. - When the Chase for the championship field is finally locked up, Mark Martin might not be in it.

His title hopes are held together by a slim 32-point margin. If Martin falters, it could mean the veteran driver will never win that elusive championship.

Tony Stewart, who wrecked his primary car during Friday’s practice at Richmond International Speedway, must now depend on his backup for just the fourth time in his career. If that car is junk, the two-time series champion might not get a chance to defend his Nextel Cup title.

And Jeff Burton, in the midst of a career resurgence that has also returned Richard Childress Racing to prominence, could see his comeback season spoiled with a bad run Saturday night.

Yes, the final Chase qualifier lacks the panache of the previous two years. But as Kasey Kahne tries to race his way into the Chase, a handful of “bubble” drivers still have plenty to lose.

“This is the heat — I can’t imagine there being more interest in any particular race,” Martin said. “Unfortunately one is going to be shut out and it’s going to be a little sad because all 11 really almost deserve to be in there.”

Denny Hamlin, seventh in the Chase standings, won the pole for Saturday night’s race. Burton was second and was followed by four-time series champion Jeff Gordon, who is fourth in the standings.

Martin was fourth and was followed by Kevin Harvick as Chase contenders took the first five spots.

Stewart, who needed almost the entire qualifying session to get his backup car through inspection, was the last car to attempt his lap and ended up a disappointing 40th.

Only points leader Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson are locked into the Chase, a 10-race pursuit of the Nextel Cup title. Kevin Harvick can get in by finishing 40th or better, but every position behind him is up for grabs.

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Kahne, the only driver mathematically eligible to race his way in, sits 30 points out of contention. A five-time winner this season, he finds himself locked into a debate over whether victories should receive bonuses that in his case would have him in the Chase.

“I don’t know of too many situations you’d be in with five wins on the outside looking in,” Kahne said. “As good as we’ve been all year, we’ve had six or seven races we did not run well in. We’ve had some engine problems. We’ve had three or four we just didn’t run good in and I’ve wrecked in a couple.

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“You add up all those, and that’s a lot of points.”

So Kahne needs to be flawless to get in, but making it will come at the expense of someone else.

It could be Stewart, who sits in eighth-place with only a 45-point cushion over Kahne. His weekend got off to a rocky start just minutes into the first practice Friday, when he spun between the first and second turns and wrecked his No. 20 Chevrolet.

Stewart, who must drive his backup car to a seventh-place finish or better to lock himself in, won’t budge from his usual strategy.

“I’m not worried about it,” he said. “I’m not counting points. I’m worried about going out and trying to win the race right now. It’s a pretty easy philosophy to figure out and it’s what’s led (me) to about six or seven national championships. So I’m not going to stray off that path.”

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Burton, who has been as high as third in the points this season, isn’t safe after a subpar run last week in California dropped him to 10th in the standings. Now he’s fighting for his season, which has been a breakthrough after several dismal years. With teammate Harvick almost in, Burton doesn’t want to fall apart now and spoil this special season.

“I think the key for some people will be staying out of a trouble, for other people it will be running really well,” Burton said. “So it will be interesting to see how the race unfolds. But there’s no question on a short track like Richmond, stuff’s going to happen. So I hope the thing comes down to racing, I hope it doesn’t come down to somebody having trouble or getting caught up in somebody’s wreck.”

And then there’s Martin, who sits ninth in the points in what is supposed to be his final full-time season. He’s vowed not to be back in Roush Racing ride next year, but hasn’t shut the door an all Cup competition. He denied a report that he’s set to replace Dale Jarrett at Robert Yates Racing, then moments later said a deal to drive the No. 88 could happen.

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But he stressed his first choice is to drive no more than 12 races next season, which would make him ineligible for the championship.

So if Martin misses the Chase, he’ll end his 20-year Cup career without a title.

“I’m fine with the championship thing,” he said. “I won’t be fine with missing the Chase and I’ll never forget it. But I’m going to have some those last 10 races no matter what, Chase or not.”