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Kansas Speedway shakes up NASCAR's Chase as Harvick, Gordon make moves toward top of standings

Associated Press
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Driver Kevin Harvick (29) takes the checkered flag to win a NASCAR Sprint Cup series auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan. (AP Photo/Chris Graythen, Pool) (The Associated Press)

Driver Kevin Harvick celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup series auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner) (The Associated Press)

Considering where Jeff Gordon was after Richmond, left out of the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship in part due to some late-race shenanigans, he couldn't have been happier on Sunday.

Not only is Gordon in the Chase, he's making a charge.

Gordon finished third at Kansas Speedway behind winner Kevin Harvick and runner-up Kurt Busch, his third top-10 finish in four races in NASCAR's playoffs. That's allowed him to climb to fourth in points, 32 behind leader Matt Kenseth with six races left in the season.

Harvick is also making a charge. He won Sunday's wreck-filled race at Kansas to move into third in points. He trails Kenseth by 25 points, and is 22 points back of second-place Jimmie Johnson.