Updated

Jeff Gordon says most of his answers will be similar when asked about his Sprint Cup championship chances.

They will usually be along the lines of wait and see what happens.

The four-time Cup champion is just happy to be in the conversation with three races left in the season. And it's better than the questions he was getting earlier this season about retiring or what changes were needed for his team.

Since getting an unprecedented 13th spot in the Chase, he has moved up to a season-high third in points going into Sunday's race at Texas. He won last weekend at Martinsville.

Gordon is within 27 points of co-leaders Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson.