Kasey Kahne entered Saturday night's Chevy Rock & Roll 400 leading the NASCAR Nextel Cup series with five victories but without a spot in the 10-race playoff.
His situation energized debate about whether victories should bring bonus points and whether a system that rewards consistency above all else is the way to go.
Without Kahne's five wins and victories by Greg Biffle and Kurt Busch, the top 10 in the standings account for 18 of the 25 race wins heading into Richmond. Only No. 9 Mark Martin and No. 10 Jeff Burton are winless.
Kevin Harvick, who started the night third in points and with two victories, said he believes in the long-standing policy that rewards consistency.
``If you can't put a whole season together, you don't deserve to be in the Chase, as far as I am concerned, unless you do what you can every week,'' he said.
But Dale Earnhardt Jr., who missed the Chase last season but started sixth in the standings Saturday, said he thinks Kahne's wins should have counted for more.
``I think the system awards consistency, and it always should,'' he said, adding he supports awarding more points for winning races before the Chase, as well as for winning poles.
``A lot of work goes into qualifying for really nothing more than picking a pit box,'' he said, suggesting the pole-winner get five or 10 additional points.
Kahne started the night in 11th place, 489 behind leader Matt Kenseth and 30 behind 10th-place Burton.
There was more than one scenario that would put him in the Chase: Beat one of the top 10 drivers and overtake him in points or hope Kenseth and No. 2 Jimmie Johnson had miserable nights, allowing Kahne to get within 400 points and into the field. Under NASCAR rules, any driver within 400 points of the lead automatically is included.
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ROCK & ROLL: In keeping with the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 theme, the Barenaked Ladies performed a concert before the race.
The band feigned surprise during a news conference that the concert would be before a crowd of up to 107,000 people, and Kevin Harvick didn't help.
``I've heard them boo, so don't screw up,'' he said.
Band member Steven Page said spending time walking among the fans at the track proved counterproductive.
``When you get nervous, they say imagine the audience in their underwear, but after walking around the tent area, I'm not sure I want to do that,'' he said.
In previous years, Hootie and the Blowfish, Nickelback and Sugar Ray also performed free concerts before the race, which awards the winner a specially-designed trophy featuring an upright guitar shrouded in metal flames.
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PIT STOPS: Morgan Shepherd started 43rd. It marked the first time in 22 attempts since last July in New Hampshire that he successfully qualified for a race. ... NASCAR chairman Brian France became a father this week _ twice over. His wife, Meghan, gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl, on Tuesday in California. ... Kyle Petty started 38th in his 775th career start, the sixth-highest total in NASCAR history.
