Dover, Del. • Kurt Busch stormed into contention for a second Cup championship, holding off fellow Chase drivers Jimmie Johnson and Carl Edwards to win Sunday at Dover International Speedway.

Edwards and Kevin Harvick share the points lead in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship standings after three rounds.

Busch pulled away from Johnson after a late restart to win his second race of the season. Johnson, the five-time defending champion, was second and Edwards was third. Busch moved from ninth to fourth in the standings, only nine points out of first.

"To win a Sprint Cup race in the Chase, this is what it's all about," Busch said.

Chase drivers Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch were fifth and sixth. Harvick was 10th. Tony Stewart lost the points lead he built after winning the first two Chase races and finished 25th.

Only 15 points separate the top eight drivers. The 400-mile race only tightened the leaderboard and no driver has emerged as clear-cut favorite.

Johnson's reign was considered by some to be on the ropes after he finished 10th and 18th in the first two Chase races. But his strong finish on a track where he usually dominates moved him only 13 points behind the leaders with seven races remaining.

Round 4 of the Chase is at Kansas Speedway on Sunday. —

Sprint Cup point standings

Pts. Beh.

1. Kevin Harvick 2,122 —

2. Carl Edwards 2,122 —

3. Tony Stewart 2,113 -9

4. Kurt Busch 2,113 -9

5. Jimmie Johnson 2,109 -13

6. Brad Keselowski 2,108 -14

7. Matt Kenseth 2,108 -14

8. Kyle Busch 2,107 -15

9. Jeff Gordon 2,103 -19

10. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2,088 -34

11. Ryan Newman 2,081 -41

12. Denny Hamlin 2,054 -68