CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Drivers have been fretting about the second round of NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup championship for weeks.

The three-race stretch that begins Sunday at Kansas Speedway ends on Oct. 19 at Talladega Superspeedway, where four drivers will be booted from the field.

“I think that bracket will break some hearts,” Brad Keselowski said three days before winning the Chase opener at Chicagoland Speedway last month.

He hasn’t changed his mind. The field has been trimmed from 16 to 12 drivers, and although they are all even as they head into Kansas, the margin of error will be small. Drivers will be desperate to run well.