RICHMOND, Va. — Saturday night's Chevy 400 at Richmond International Raceway could be all about last-minute heroics. The odds are greater, though, that its story will be one of heartbreak.

With nine drivers officially contending for the final eight spots in this year's Chase for the Nextel Cup, it's possible they'll all be in contention toward the end of the 400-lap race, fighting it out with every position and every point taking on grand significance.

But at a track like Richmond, it's more likely that one or more of those trying to make the 10-race title battle will suffer a setback. Any kind of early-race incident involving a contender could shake things up.

In fact, one already has.

Tony Stewart crashed his primary car during practice and then qualified 40th fastest in the backup with a lap at 124.642 mph in Friday's time trials.

That puts Stewart in an even more precarious spot than he was; he was eighth in the standings just 45 points ahead of 11th-place Kasey Kahne.

On the other hand, five drivers who haven't nailed down Chase spots took the top spots in qualifying. They were led by rookie Denny Hamlin, who finished second in at the track in May, with a lap at 127.986 mph. Jeff Burton was second, Jeff Gordon third, Mark Martin fourth and Kevin Harvick fifth.

"It will be interesting to see how the race unfolds for different people in different situations," said Burton, who ran 127.805 mph. "At a track like Richmond, things are going to happen.

"I watched the race from the spring here and there were a lot of people who had trouble who are currently in the top 11 in points. Hopefully it will come down to racing and not to somebody having trouble or getting caught up in somebody else's wreck."