Change is a good word to describe the first half of the 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup. The face of this year's intense battle for the NASCAR championship has changed dramatically over the past five races.

Carl Edwards stretched his lead in the point standings at Charlotte last weekend while his Roush teammate Matt Kenseth earned his first Chase victory.

One of the biggest stories of Chase came in the late stages of Saturday night's Bank of America 500 when Jimmie Johnson wrecked hard into the outside wall and ended his night in 34th. The five time champion, who had climbed to third, spiraled to eighth in a few short seconds.

With five races remaining before the new champion is crowned, anything can happen.

"He could go on a tear and be leading the points in three or four weeks, that can happen too, so I don't ever count him out," Edwards said of Johnson.

It's a good bet we'll see more change at Talladega this weekend.

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