11.   And given the wackiness of college football, at least one of them will be in the national championship race.

12.   As always, when Earnhardt is in the championship race, the residual effect is felt all over NASCAR, especially at the ticket booth.

13.   As NBC television cameras zoomed in, Fox summed up her first Olympic championship race with words of ecstasy.

14.   Both teams are used to playing games that have significance in the national championship race.

15.   A California millionaire who raced powerboats for fun was killed Sunday afternoon when his boat overturned in the Pamlico River during the Formula One championship race.

16.   A championship race is the highlight.

17.   After four average seasons, he re-emerged as a contender last season and finished second in the championship race.

18.   After four so-so years in which most wrote him off, Earnhardt emerged as a contender last season and finished second to Bobby Labonte in the championship race.

19.   Afterward, Cooper conceded the Buckeyes were out of the national championship race and acknowledged he had a more daunting task ahead.

20.   All three played in games important to the national championship race.