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LOUDON, N.H. — No driver faces a bigger test this weekend than Kasey Kahne will at Dover.

Kahne's challenge isn't as much the championship — he's last in the Chase after blowing an engine at New Hampshire on Sunday — but giving his organization something positive amid numerous questions at Richard Petty Motorsports.

Coincidence or not, Kahne's blown engine came a few days after the team announced that its director of competition no longer works there. He reportedly argued with owner George Gillett at Richmond and was not at that race where Kahne qualified for the Chase.

Also, Richard Petty Motorsports is working on completing its merger with Yates Racing for next season that likely will cost some RPM employees their jobs. Anxiety will rise until a deal is complete and employees know their fate.

Kahne said Friday he needed a good start to the Chase to "keep the team morale up and keep everyone thinking that we may have a shot at the Sprint Cup."

That didn't happen Sunday. Another poor finish will all but eliminate Kahne from title contention and return the focus for many at RPM on what will happen to them after the season.

* Dale Earnhardt Jr. rarely criticizes a driver as sharply as he did David Reutimann on Sunday. Consider it a sign of how frustrating this season has been for Earnhardt. He seemed headed for a top-10 finish when Reutimann slid into Earnhardt's car and sent it into the wall in the final laps.

"David just ran out of talent," Earnhardt said. "Some people you just can't race side-by-side with."

The heat is on Earnhardt. He's 21st in points. He's never finished outside the top 20 in points. He has shown improvement within the last couple of months, but the consistency is not there.

Despite the finish, Sunday was a good run for him. He and teammate Jimmie Johnson were among the few drivers who moved through the field even though it was difficult to pass. That's a step forward. Next comes finishing races strong.

* Keep an eye on Tony Stewart this weekend at Dover.

He could use a strong finish after problems Sunday. A bolt came loose and forced the team to make an extended pit stop to repair the axle cap. That dropped him from the front of the pack to the rear. He finished 14th but it marked the fifth consecutive race he's placed outside the top 10.

What could be more troubling for Stewart is that although he finished second at Dover in June, he has not qualified well there lately. His average starting spot is 27 in his last six races there. The problem is that it's easy to get collected in a crash on the narrow 1-mile track. Twice in the last six races there, he's been involved in an accident in the first 30 laps.

* Can Kurt Busch win a title with a part-time crew chief? A Penske Racing official confirmed Busch's crew chief, Pat Tryson, is allowed in the race shop only for the Tuesday meetings since he'll leave the team after this season to be a crew chief at Michael Waltrip Racing in 2010.

It's not uncommon for drivers heading to new teams to be barred from certain meetings. Still, it will be worth watching this team to see how the move might impact its title hopes.

* Don't forget about Jimmie Johnson. He had a solid fourth-place finish and the series heads next to Dover where he won in June. Yes, Mark Martin has been one of the fastest cars on the circuit all season but Johnson is always strong in the Chase and to start it off so well, puts him in a good spot to challenge his teammate.

Contact Dustin Long at 373-7062 or dustin.long@news-record.com