FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) -- Mathematically, Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon still have a chance to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup title.
The reality with three races left? Gordon says there's still a "great battle going for second in points."
Jimmie Johnson, going for an unprecedented fourth consecutive title, takes a 184-point lead over Martin into Texas on Sunday. Gordon is eight points behind Martin.
After an airborne crash with two laps to go at Talladega last week, Martin dropped 66 points further behind Johnson.
Martin, a four-time season runner-up, says there is "no heartbreak whatsoever" but he'd "rather go down fighting than flipping."