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(AP) -- NASCAR has inspected the cars the three
championship contenders plan to race in next week's season finale.

 NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston says the cars for Jimmie Johnson,
Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick were inspected in the North Carolina
research and development center this week.

 The cars were measured to make sure they fit the templates ahead
of the Nov. 21 finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

 NASCAR says it was a precautionary measure during the tightest
Chase for the Sprint Cup championship since the format was
introduced in 2004.

 Points leader Hamlin goes into Sunday's race at Phoenix with a
33-point lead over Johnson. Harvick is 59 points out.

 There are two races remaining in the Chase.

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