In a performance not befitting of a champion, Tony Stewart eliminated himself from title contention with a miserable showing at Richmond International Raceway.

The two-time and defending series champion fell apart this weekend, starting with a wreck that destroyed his primary Chevrolet minutes into the first practice and capping it with a lacklustre 18th-place finish in Saturday night's race.

Stewart, who said earlier this season he deserved to be fired if he ever missed NASCAR's Chase for the championship, plummeted from eighth to 11th in the series standings and won't be eligible to race for the Nextel Cup title when the post-season begins next week.

He can now finish no better than 11th in the final standings, guaranteeing him the worst finish of his career. Stewart's previous low was sixth, in 2000 and again in 2004, the first year of the Chase.

Kasey Kahne, who came into the race 11th in the standings, benefited from Stewart's downfall to claim the final Chase position. Kahne finished third in Saturday night's race _ behind winner Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch_ to get NASCAR's leading winner into the Chase.

Kahne has five wins this season, and his possible exclusion from the Chase had ignited a debate over whether NASCAR needed to award more points for victories. Before the race began, NASCAR officials said adding bonus points for wins is under serious consideration for 2007.

But it does no good this year for Stewart, who could have benefited from extra points for his two wins this season. He wound up 16 points out of 10th place.

Even worse, his rookie teammate will go on to race for the title without him.

Denny Hamlin is the surprise of the Chase field, overcoming a faulty engine Saturday night to finish 15th and earn his spot in the playoffs. He's fifth in the standings.