In the four remaining weeks of 2006, the series will be at Atlanta for the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500, then begin November at Texas for the Dickies 500. After that, it's on to Phoenix, then the drama will reach its climax at Homestead for Ford Championship Weekend.
As they stand today, Matt Kenseth is the new points leader by 36 over Kevin Harvick. Harvick is going for the Busch-Cup double, and you can't count him out.
Burton, meanwhile, didn't fade all that far. He's in fifth, but sitting only 48 back and 12 out of second. After he suffered a 42nd-place finish at Michigan in August, he rebounded to finish five of the next six races inside the top 10, including his win at Dover.
Get the picture? There's more.
Jimmie Johnson was one of many who felt woe for his championship plans in the early stages of the Chase. Thanks to his win in Martinsville, hope has sprung eternal once again. He's in third, only 41 behind Kenseth.
Denny Hamlin is six behind Johnson, and only one point - one measly position - ahead of Burton.
Fading back just a little, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is 94 off the lead, Mark Martin (the man who makes Eeyore from the Winnine the Pooh cartoons seem sunny) is 96 back and Kasey Kahne is 99 down.
For all his struggles, Kahne can be considered among the favorites over the next two weeks. He won at both Atlanta and Texas - two fast 1 1/2-mile ovals - earlier in the year. Should he repeat those efforts, look for the standings to get even tighter.
Jeff Gordon is the last of the 10 drivers in range of the lead in ninth, 141 back. With the maximum number of points to be gained at 156, a good run will propel him into the mix as well.
There's plenty of good racing still left in 2006. Guessing who will win the title at Homestead is another matter altogether.
Don't even think about a winner until then, because we just don't know. Chase III is turning out to be just as dramatic as what we saw in 2004, if not better.
The NFL can wait.