RICHMOND, Va. -- When it comes to racing for the win in Saturday's Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway, four drivers could have a distinct advantage.

Among those, the fastest during Happy Hour on Friday -- the final practice before Saturday's race -- was none other than three-time defending Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, a three-time winner at the Richmond track.

Johnson enters the race as one of four drivers who already are mathematically locked into the Chase. The others are points leader Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon and Denny Hamlin.

“

This is going to be one of the biggest NASCAR weekend's of the year because of the fact that there are 10 guys who are still trying to bid for eight spots in the Chase.

”

-- TONY STEWART

"Being locked in, and the fact that so many others we will be racing against still need to make sure they get into the Chase, I think maybe that will give us an edge," said Hamlin, who was sixth-fastest in Happy Hour with a top lap of 123.802 mph (making the .75-mile track circuit in 21.809 seconds). "We may be able to take some chances on double-file restarts or something that the others can't afford to take."

Johnson's top Happy Hour lap (124.390 mph, 21.706) was bettered only by the top lap turned in by Juan Montoya (124.412 mph, 21.702). Rounding out the top 10 were Mark Martin (124.218 mph, 21.736), Gordon (124.743 mph, 21.743), Kasey Kahne (123.836 mph, 21.803), Hamlin, David Reutimann (123.774 mph, 21.814), David Stremme (123.694 mph, 21.814), Martin Truex Jr. (123.677 mph, 21.831) and David Ragan (123.677 mph, 21.838).

Of those 10, the top six -- Montoya, Johnson, Martin, Gordon, Kahne and Hamlin -- are currently among the top 12 in the points standings. Gordon is second, Johnson third, Hamlin fourth, Kahne sixth, Montoya eighth and Martin 10th. Of the rest, Reutimann at 15th is the closest to the top 12 cutoff line.

Johnson made it clear that he will be going for the win Saturday. He wants to garner the 10 bonus points that come with it.

Johnson enters Saturday with three race victories this season, one fewer than both Martin and Kyle Busch. Points for the Chase are reset after the Richmond race, but drivers will receive 10 bonus points for each win in the seeding system after the rest of their slates are wiped clean.

"I'd like to even things up with Mark [Martin]," Johnson said. "I feel like he'll be in the Chase and I'd like to start up there in that top seed and go for a fourth championship. So we're excited about it and looking forward to it."

No doubt so would Stewart, who also owns three race wins this season but was only 11th-fastest in Friday's final practice (123.621 mph, 21.841). Then again, the final practice was concluded in bright sunlight at 3:30 p.m. ET on Friday. Top speeds then could translate into very little by the time Saturday's race begins at 7:30 p.m.

Stewart contended that no matter what, fans in attendance and watching on television aren't likely to be as focused on who's running up front as they normally might.

"This is going to be one of the biggest NASCAR weekend's of the year because of the fact that there are 10 guys who are still trying to bid for eight spots in the Chase," Stewart said. "I don't think the focus is going to be on who's leading the race for sure. It is definitely going to be on those guys trying to get in.

"The good thing is I don't have to worry about getting locked in. We are there. So it gives us the flexibility to worry about just trying to get those extra 10 bonus points and going for the win."