Only three races into the NASCAR's post-season-style Chase for the Nextel Cup championship format, Kyle Petty says it's possible that only five of the 10 eligible drivers still have a realistic shot at winning the title.

That's why Petty would like to see NASCAR establish a separate points system for the championship-eligible drivers in the final 10 races.

Petty proposes that beginning with the first race of the Chase at New Hampshire International Speedway, the top-finishing Chase driver would receive 20 championship points _ regardless of whether he wins the race or finishes somewhere in the pack.

The second-best Chase finisher would receive 16 points, and lesser points would be awarded on down to four points for the worst-finishing Chase driver.

Under such a system, Petty said one bad finish wouldn't be as damaging to a driver's championship chances.

``Somebody goes to New Hampshire, has a bad race, they're out of the Chase,'' Petty said. ``They're your 10th place in the points, ladies and gentlemen _ Miss Congeniality.''

Petty said a separate points system also would make it even more likely that the championship would be determined in the final race every year.

NASCAR introduced the Chase format after Matt Kenseth clinched the 2003 championship in the second to last race of the season. Under the new format, the last two championships have been decided in the season finale.

But Petty said there's no reason a driver couldn't get hot during the Chase and run away with the title, as Kevin Harvick has done in the Busch Series this year.

``It could have just as easily been a massive blowout like the Busch Series is right now,'' Petty said. ``If somebody like Harvick got hot and just did what he does in the Busch Series, by God, he could ... not have to show up at the last race. That's counterproductive to have a playoff that's over with eight races into it.''