What to Watch For: Chicagoland Speedway

CONCORD, N.C. -- The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup kicks off Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway, and with all four Hendrick Motorsports drivers in the hunt for the championship, there are plenty of notes to keep an eye on.

THIS WEEK'S PAINT SCHEMES: All four cars have been outfitted with special yellow Chase-related decals to allow them to stand out from drivers not part of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Kasey Kahne will drive the No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet SS, Jeff Gordon will drive the No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet SS, Jimmie Johnson will drive the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet SS and Dale Earnhardt Jr. will drive the No. 88 National Guard Chevrolet SS.

WIN AND ADVANCE: A win by any driver would mark Hendrick Motorsports' 229th all-time and would also automatically put that driver into the Contender Round of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup

APPROACHING 200: This weekend, Hendrick Motorsports could reach yet another milestone. With one more Sprint Cup Series pole position, the organization will have earned 200 in its 30-year history. Currently, Hendrick Motorsports sits at 199 poles, with Gordon and Jimmie Johnson combining for three so far in the 2014 season.

HENDRICK AT CHICAGOLAND: In 13 races (54 Cup starts) at Chicagoland, Hendrick Motorsports has two wins, 19 top-five finishes and 27 top-10s. Gordon earned Hendrick Motorsports’ first Cup win at the racetrack in 2006.

VALUED SEAT TIME AT CHICAGOLAND IN 2014: In July, Kahne spent his last Sprint Cup Series off-weekend of the 2014 season driving the No. 5 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports. He started fifth and finished fourth. In 10 Sprint Cup Series starts at Chicagoland, Kahne has two top-five finishes and three top-10s. He has an average finish of 7.2 in the last five Cup events at Chicagoland, including third-place finishes in 2009 and 2012. 

LOOKING FOR A WIN FOR KNAUS: In 12 starts at Chicago, Johnson has recorded seven top-five finishes and 10 top-10s. He has an average start of 7.7 and an average finish of 8.9. Johnson has led 577 laps around the 1.5-mile track. But he has yet to find Victory Lane. With crew chief Chad Knaus hailing from nearby Rockford, Illinois, Johnson said he wants to earn a win for him at his hometown track.

GORDON AT CHICAGOLAND: Gordon has one win (2006), one pole position (2004), six top-five finishes and eight top-10s in 13 Cup starts at the Illinois track.

EARNHARDT AT CHICAGOLAND: In 13 NASCAR Sprint Cup starts at Chicago, Earnhardt has one win, three top-five finishes and five top-10s. He has an average start there of 17.1 and an average finish of 15.8. He has completed 97 percent of all the laps he's attempted (3,369 of 3,474 total) and has led 123 laps at the track.