As is well known, in the automotive industry there is a tendency to obtain the most efficient, reliable and compact systems. Because the belt drives used are subject to excessive elongation and wear in most applications, since high performance engines are desired, distribution chains are preferred. The dynamic behavior of a chain drive during operation is directly influenced by its geometry and, implicitly, by the chain contact with the sprocket. Since the application of normal and transverse forces occurring in a chain transmission depends directly on their application point and thus on the point of contact between the chain and the sprocket, the kinematic modeling of the point of contact between the chain bushings and the sprocket is proposed in present paper.