Star-Telegram.com: Raceweek 2008

Edwards wins, but Johnson earns Cup title

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 23:37 CST

Ford 400

Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway

Why Carl Edwards won

Much like they did two weeks ago at Texas Motor Speedway, Edwards and crew chief Bob Osborne won this one on fuel strategy. Edwards started fourth and had the dominant car for much of the race. He led a race-high 157 laps, and stretched his final fuel load 66 laps to earn his series-high ninth victory of 2008.

Turning point

Carl Edwards had the car to beat Sunday, but he wasn’t leading as the laps counted down. When leader Tony Stewart pitted for a splash of gas with 11 to go, Roush Fenway Racing teammates Matt Kenseth and Edwards were left to battle for the win. However, both drivers were dangerously low on fuel. Edwards’ No. 99 Ford assumed the lead with four laps to go when Kenseth pulled aside because he was out of gas. With more than a 10-second lead over fellow Chaser Kevin Harvick, Edwards easily cruised — very slowly — to the win from there.

The champion

Jimmie Johnson. The now three-time champion started 30th and drove a conservative 400 miles. Johnson led only six laps late in the race. His crew did its part with flawless pit stops and Johnson, who pitted late for fuel, finished 15th to match Cale Yarborough with three consecutive Sprint Cup titles. Johnson’s 69-point winning margin is the second largest since the Chase began in 2004. He won seven races in 2008 and averaged a 5.7 finish in the Chase.

Who rose

Tony Stewart (+3) and Kyle Busch (+1)

When the Ford 400 started on Sunday, neither Stewart nor Busch were in the top 10 in points. After leading laps late and finishing ninth, Stewart climbed into the ninth spot. With his 19th-place finish, Busch ended his Chase to forget in the 10th spot. Unfortunately, they bumped Matt Kenseth (11th) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (12th) out of the top 10. Only the top-10 drivers are invited to make speeches at the season-ending Sprint Cup banquet in New York City next month.

He said it

"It’s hard. These guys are my family. When you’ve been with a group of guys for 10 years and a sponsor [The Home Depot] for 10 years like this — that’s a long time. I know people who haven’t been married that long."

Tony Stewart, on his emotional final race with Joe Gibbs Racing

By the numbers

2Sprint Cup stars who saw lengthy season-winning streaks come to an end. Jeff Gordon had won at least one race every year since 1994; Matt Kenseth went winless for the first time since 2001.

7Past or current Sprint Cup champions in Sunday’s Ford 400 field: Jimmie Johnson (2006-08), Jeff Gordon (1995, ’97, ’98, 2001), Tony Stewart (2002, ’05), Bobby Labonte (2000), Kurt Busch (2004), Matt Kenseth (2003), and Bill Elliott (1988).

Next race

51st Daytona 500

Daytona International Speedway

Johnson poised for his third Sprint Cup title

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 00:07 CST

Who’s hot

This is an easy one. Jimmie Johnson has won three races in the Chase, and all he has to do is finish 36th today to join Cale Yarborough as the only driver to win three consecutive Sprint Cup titles. And while the driver of the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet has never won at Homestead-Miami Speedway, he has five top-10 finishes in seven starts.

Who’s not

The winning streak is likely going to come to an end for Jeff Gordon today. His run of 14 years with at least one victory is in jeopardy at Homestead. Along with Texas Motor Speedway, it’s one of two tracks the driver of the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet has never won at. He does race well there though, with seven top-10s in nine races.

Pit stops

It might be Jimmie Johnson’s title, but it will probably be a Roush Fenway Racing day at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Roush Fenway Racing drivers have won the last four Sprint Cup races at the track and five of the last six. Greg Biffle has been the dominant Roush Fenway driver, winning three of his six starts.

It could be an ugly end to an ugly Chase for Kyle Busch. Of all the Chasers, Busch has the worst average finish at the track (33.0). In his three starts, Busch has one DNF. His 20th-place finish last year was his best. He also has finishes of 38th (2006) and 41st (2005).

While Greg Biffle has the most wins of the Chasers in Florida, second-place Carl Edwards has the best average finish at 7.8. Edwards has never won at the track, but he has three top-10 finishes in his four starts and has also won a pole.

Chasers Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart are among seven drivers who have competed in all nine Sprint Cup events at the Homestead track.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads Kyle Busch for 10th in points. The top 10 drivers are invited to the Sprint Cup award ceremonies in New York. Earnhardt’s lead over Busch is a slim seven points. Tony Stewart, who is in 12th place, trails Earnhardt by just 28 points.

Jimmie Johnson’s victory helped Chevrolet clinch its sixth consecutive manufacturer’s championship. Chevys have won 11 races this year.

— Anthony Andro

He said it

"The No. 99 [Carl Edwards] put up a great fight in Phoenix and has shown true championship character throughout the whole year. Those guys really make us work hard for it and I know as long as something doesn’t go crazy for us down in Homestead, we’re going to be able to join Cale [Yarborough], and tie history and I can’t wait to start celebrating."

Jimmie Johnson on his approach to today’s race

How they fared

Here’s how the Chase drivers fared at the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway Nov. 18, 2007.

Matt Kenseth	1
Denny Hamlin	3
Jeff Gordon	4
Carl Edwards	5
Jimmie Johnson	7
Jeff Burton	8
Greg Biffle	13
Kevin Harvick	19
Kyle Busch	20
Tony Stewart	30
Dale Earnhardt Jr.	36
Clint Bowyer	39

Standings

1. Jimmie Johnson	6,561
2. Carl Edwards	6,420
3. Greg Biffle	6,358
4. Jeff Burton	6,292
5. Kevin Harvick	6,233
6. Clint Bowyer	6,226
7. Jeff Gordon	6,151
8. Matt Kenseth	6,091
9. Denny Hamlin	6,090
10. Dale Earnhardt Jr.	6,087
11. Kyle Busch	6,080
12. Tony Stewart	6,059

Chase recap

Date	Race	Winner
Sept. 14	Sylvania 300	Greg Biffle
Sept. 21	Camping World RV 400	Greg Biffle
Sept. 28	Camping World RV 400	Jimmie Johnson
Oct. 5	Amp Energy 500	Tony Stewart
Oct. 11	Bank of America 500	Jeff Burton
Oct. 19	TUMS QuikPak 500	Jimmie Johnson
Oct. 26	Pep Boys Auto 500	Carl Edwards
Nov. 2	Dickies 500	Carl Edwards
Nov. 9	Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500	Jimmie Johnson

Jimmie Johnson unbeatable under any points scenario

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 00:02 CST

By ANTHONY ANDRO

So you want to try to Jimmie-proof the Sprint Cup Chase for the Championship?

Good luck.

Jimmie Johnson has to do little more than drive around for a couple of hours during today’s Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway to secure his third consecutive championship.

And while Johnson’s dominance in the Sprint Cup Series has called for changes to the way the champ is determined, it really wouldn’t have made much of a difference this year.

Whether it was the Mulligan plan lobbied for by owner Jack Roush, the old points system or a radical playoff idea thrown out by Texas Motor Speedway director of media relations Mike Zizzo, new ways of determining the champ wouldn’t have changed the outcome — the driver of the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet would have been the man to beat.

In fact, the most competitive Chase of all would have been not to have one. In the old points system, Johnson’s lead heading into the season finale would have been 57 points over Carl Edwards.

Under the new way of doing things, Johnson leads by 141 points and has to finish 36th or better to clinch the title regardless of what Edwards does.

Here’s a look at how the race for the title would have looked going into the final race under five different systems.

The Chase

This system was put in place in 2004 and has been tweaked since. After the 26th race, the top 12 drivers are seeded based on the number of wins during the first 26 events, and their point totals are adjusted for the final 10 races.

1. Jimmie Johnson	6,561
2. Carl Edwards	6,420
3. Greg Biffle	6,358
4. Jeff Burton	6,292
5. Kevin Harvick	6,233
6. Clint Bowyer	6,226

The simple plan

43 points for first, 42 for second, etc.; 1 point for leading lap, 1 point for most laps, 1 point for pole

1. Jimmie Johnson	368
2. Greg Biffle	340
3. Carl Edwards	324
4. Jeff Burton	316
5. Kevin Harvick	309

The No Talladega Plan

Keep the points system the same, but take out Talladega and make it a nine-race Chase.

1. Jimmie Johnson	6,418
2. Carl Edwards	6,339
3. Greg Biffle	6,262
4. Jeff Burton	6,127
5. Kevin Harvick	6,125

The Mulligan Plan

Once the Chase ends, a driver gets to pull his lowest Chase finish and use the points from the other nine races.

1. Jimmie Johnson	6,443
2. Carl Edwards	6,356
3. Greg Biffle	6,262
4. Jeff Burton	6,183
5. Kevin Harvick	6,125

The Old Plan

Points are not reset and all 43 drivers are in the hunt for the title. The 10 bonus points Chase drivers received for winning races would also be eliminated.

1. Jimmie Johnson	5,097
2. Carl Edwards	5,041
3. Kyle Busch	4,878
4. Jeff Burton	4,666
5. Greg Biffle	4,638

The Zizzo Plan

A playoff with 16 cars cut to 12 after three races, then to six after six races, and four heading into Homestead. The points reset after each cut, with five points being awarded for seeding and five points for victories during previous round.

NASCAR halts tests for 2009

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 00:22 CST

NASCAR has suspended testing for the 2009 season for its top three series in an effort to help teams save money.

The move — which will affect the Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series — means teams will not be able to test at any NASCAR sanctioned tracks, including those on the lower-tier Camping World East and West series.

"This is a significant move during an unusual time for all of us," NASCAR president Mike Helton said in a statement. "NASCAR has routinely adjusted its test policy over the years to reflect current conditions. This is another example of that."

The testing ban might force teams to scramble for test sessions at other tracks. Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage thinks there could be a problem with gray areas in the new rule.

"If what we accomplish through this is truly zero testing, then I can’t argue with it, considering the current economic climate," Gossage said. "But if that means we’ve pushed teams to tracks that don’t have the same safety standards, all we’re doing is forcing them to the dark alleys or racetracks on the lower level to test. The unintended consequences are very bad."

Gossage said that allowing more practice time at the tracks during race weekends would help the cause.

While some drivers welcome the time off and the money saved, others aren’t so sure about the move.

"The teams need a chance to work on their cars to improve their programs, to put on a better show," Jimmie Johnson said in his media news conference Friday in Homestead, Fla.

"If we had this rule the start of this year with all the development work that needed to be done with the car, not only for the No. 48 team but the whole series, I don’t think we’d be where we are today. I do understand and recognize that we need to cut expenses."

— Anthony Andro

Briefly

Sprint Cup: Carl Edwards, who is facing a 141-point deficit heading into Sunday’s Ford 400, qualified fourth Friday at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway. Edwards trailed only first-time pole winner David Reutimann, Scott Speed and Matt Kenseth. Points leaders Jimmie Johnson, who needs to finish 36th or better Sunday to wrap up his third consecutive Cup title, will start 30th.

Craftsman Truck Series: A two-tire stop and a late decision to stay on track during a caution period were just enough to give Johnny Benson the series title by seven points over Ron Hornaday Jr. on Friday night in a race that ended in a green-white-checker finish. Todd Bodine won the Ford 200 at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway. Benson finished seventh, one position ahead of Hornaday.

NHRA: Melanie Troxel had a 4.105-second pass in hot conditions to take the provisional Funny Car pole in the Auto Club NHRA Finals at Pomona, Calif., the sixth and final race in the Countdown to 1 playoffs. J.R. Todd (Top Fuel), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also topped their divisions in the season finale.

IndyCar: A federal judge in Miami has rejected requests to delay the tax evasion trial for Helio Castroneves, scheduled to start March 2.

Today on TV NASCAR Nationwide qualifying, 10:30 a.m., Speed

NASCAR Sprint Cup practice, 12:30 p.m., Speed

NASCAR Sprint Cup final practice, 2 p.m., ESPN2

NASCAR Nationwide Ford 300, 3:30 p.m., ESPN2

NHRA Auto Club Finals qualifying (taped), 10 p.m., ESPN2

Kyle Busch won a lot, but Jimmie Johnson is Driver of the Year

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:48 CST

ANTHONY ANDRO

Maybe I’m missing something.

Last week in Phoenix, one of the questions asked of the Sprint Cup drivers was who would be their choice for Driver of the Year.

It seemed like a simple enough question to me, until some of them answered.

"Kyle Busch would be my choice," Jeff Burton said.

"I would think you’ve got to look at Jimmie [Johnson], but Kyle [Busch] put up a good argument there, too, the first three-quarters of the season winning all the races he won," Dale Earnhardt Jr. said.

Huh?

Did you ever have a test question where the right answer looked too obvious? Well, the obvious answer is Jimmie Johnson, hands down.

The love for Kyle Busch is somewhat understandable, given that he won eight races and dominated the first 26 races of the season. But the season is 36 races long.

Baseball doesn’t crown its Most Valuable Players after the All-Star break and Busch’s slide during the Chase has been very Texas Rangers-like.

Burton and Earnhardt also said you have to consider what Busch has done in the other series when you consider Driver of the Year. No, you don’t.

Busch has 10 victories in the Nationwide Series and three more in the Craftsman Truck Series. That’s fine, but it shouldn’t count.

Using another baseball analogy, let’s call the Truck Series Double A and the Nationwide Series Triple A. Aren’t you supposed to hit well in the minors if you’re a major league star? And when you get promoted to the majors, your stats don’t carry over.

And don’t say the other series aren’t minor leagues. People don’t race in the Sprint Cup Series to try and catch a ride on the Nationwide Series. They’re not trying to secure a Trucks ride, either.

What Busch has done with his free time is great, but Johnson’s focus has been on winning a Sprint Cup championship, which he’ll do for the third consecutive year this weekend in Florida.

Johnson has one less victory in the Sprint Cup Series than Busch, but in a sport where consistency matters, Johnson has more top-10 finishes.

He’s also been the dominant driver when it matters most. I don’t want to say Busch has choked in the Chase, but the numbers say otherwise.

Busch started the Chase in first place and will limp to the season finale in 11th. He’s stuck on the same eight victories he had when the Chase started.

Johnson has three victories in the playoffs and has just about lapped the field, with the exception of Carl Edwards.

And as the ultimate compliment, people are talking about trying to Jimmie-proof the Chase.

No one is saying that about Busch.

Fort Worth, speedway strike deal on natural gas revenues

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:35 CST

By MIKE LEE

FORT WORTH — City officials have reached a tentative agreement to split the estimated $40 million to $50 million to be gained from natural gas drilling beneath Texas Motor Speedway.

Under the deal, the city-owned Fort Worth Sports Authority would use the bonuses and royalties to pay off an estimated $15.5 million that the city owes Speedway Motorsports Inc. for building the track. Once the debt is paid off, Speedway Motorsports would get 75 percent of the royalties and Fort Worth would get 25 percent. Fort Worth would be able to keep $350,000 a year that it had been paying from a special tax district toward its debt.

Speedway Motorsports would be required to spend its share on public improvements at the track, including improvements to adjacent roads.

The deal breaks a deadlock over who will benefit from drilling at the track.

"If it had continued at an impasse, everyone we talked to . . . said no one was going to take a lease if they knew they were buying into a lawsuit from Texas Motor Speedway," said Allan Howeth, an attorney who serves on the board of the sports authority.

The arrangement would last until the bonuses and royalties total $50 million, at which point the sports authority would turn over the mineral rights to the speedway.

City Councilman Carter Burdette, who also serves on the sports authority board, said it is unlikely the revenue will get that high. Gas prices have dropped almost 50 percent since the middle of the summer. And the bonuses paid to landowners, which were running as high as $25,000 an acre, have dried up.

With bonuses now running from $5,000 to $10,000 for large tracts, the sports authority missed out on more than $10 million in potential bonus payments because of the delay.

"If we don’t make an agreement and we go to litigation, we’d be waiting another two or three years," while the case was decided in court, Burdette said.

The speedway was built in the mid-1990s, before it was feasible to drill for gas in the Barnett Shale, a geological formation that lies underneath North Texas. Speedway Motorsports originally bought the land and built the track, but turned it over to the quasi-governmental sports authority.

The deal allowed Speedway Motorsports to avoid an estimated $3 million in annual property taxes. But it gave the sports authority the mineral rights to the land. When the dispute over the drilling rights arose, Speedway Motorsports officials said they had a claim to the revenue because the company has an option to buy the track after 30 years.

The sports authority board is scheduled to approve the deal in about two weeks, Burdette said.

"I don’t know that once we get this put together, the sports authority will even go out and seek a lease," Burdette said. "It might be better just to sit back and wait."

DEI, Ganassi to combine teams

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:00 CST

By JENNA FRYER

Teresa Earnhardt and Chip Ganassi will combine their sponsorship-strapped race teams next season, an effort to stabilize their organizations in a tough economic time.

The combined team will be called Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates and will field cars for Martin Truex, Aric Almirola, Juan Pablo Montoya and a driver yet to be named.

"In this ultra-competitive era of NASCAR, it is necessary to build and sustain the strongest team possible, and our combining with the people and equipment at Dale Earnhardt Inc. will help create a strong four-car program for years to come," Ganassi said Wednesday in a statement. "This is a win-win for both organizations as well as all of our partners."

Both organizations have struggled to secure sponsorship this season, forcing the teams to pool resources. Although neither team was in imminent danger of collapse, both were searching for additional funds to shore up competition and stability.

Ganassi shuttered his No. 40 team in July when he couldn't find sponsorship for former Indy Racing League champion Dario Franchitti, who has since returned to that series.

That move forced Ganassi to lay off 71 people, and he was hopeful he could avoid more cutbacks after joining forces with Earnhardt. DEI, however, was expected to reduce its staff with the new venture.

Both teams said details of the new organization will be announced later.

Among the remaining issues is what manufacturer the team will use. DEI has a contract with General Motors, and Ganassi uses Dodges. The new team is expected to use Chevrolets.

If that happens, engine supply details must be ironed out. Ganassi has his own engine shop, but DEI has an engine partnership with Richard Childress Racing.

Founded by the late Dale Earnhardt, DEI has been reeling since Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s departure at the end of last season. DEI swallowed cash-strapped Ginn Racing in July 2007 to acquire shop space and owner points that would push Paul Menard's car into the top 35.

It started this season as a solid four-car operation - only rookie Regan Smith's car lacked full sponsorship - but has quickly crumbled. Mark Martin is moving to Hendrick Motorsports next season, and the U.S. Army is moving its sponsorship to Tony Stewart's new team.

Then Menard said he was leaving and taking sponsorship from his father's hardware store with him to Yates Racing.

It left DEI with sponsorship next year only for Truex, who recently signed a one-year extension through 2009. DEI has been committed to Almirola, but there's no indication Smith is part of long-term plans.

Ganassi has half of next season sponsored by Wrigley's for Montoya, and full sponsorship from Target on his No. 41 car. That's the only car inside the top 35 with full funding that has an open seat.

"Having a partner like Chip who is heavily involved on the competition side of the business is an ideal situation for DEI," Teresa Earnhardt said in a statement. "He has a long history of managing championship teams in the IndyCar and Rolex Grand-Am Series, and I share his passion and goals of winning races and ultimately championships in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

"I think this is a case where we are stronger together than we are apart."

NASCAR's France not pleased with ABC bumping race

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:31 CST

NASCAR chairman Brian France is unhappy with ABC's decision to bump the final laps of last weekend's race in Phoenix to a cable station in favor of "America's Funniest Home Videos."

France said Tuesday he thinks NASCAR and its fans got "the short end" when the race's last 34 laps were moved to ABC-owned ESPN2. Fans who didn't make the switch missed Sprint Cup points leader Jimmie Johnson wrap up his seventh victory of the season and move closer to his third consecutive points title.

France, however, says the interests of NASCAR and its television partners are "in line" and that a rare early afternoon storm that forced the race to be red flagged twice couldn't be helped.

Jimmie Johnson closes in on record-tying 3rd title with Phoenix win

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 01:11 CST

By JENNA FRYER

They popped the champagne in Victory Lane and celebrated as if Jimmie Johnson just won another championship.

Almost. But not quite there.

Johnson moved inches closer to his record-tying third straight NASCAR title Sunday, trouncing the field at Phoenix International Raceway to deliver a knockout punch to Carl Edwards' championship hopes.

Johnson needs to finish only 36th or better next week in the finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway to join Cale Yarborough (1976-78) as the only drivers in NASCAR history to win three straight titles.

"He's doing something pretty special," said 2004 champion Kurt Busch, who finished second. "It's just tough to beat."

Impossible, actually.

Johnson came into Phoenix on the ropes - reeling, almost - after a sub-par 15th-place finish last week at Texas allowed Edwards to take a sizable bite out of the points lead. Johnson rebounded to win the pole at Phoenix, but struggled through Saturday's final practice to send his stress-level through the roof.

As Chad Knaus worked late into the night on a new setup and strategy, Johnson harassed him with phone calls that didn't stop until the crew chief ordered the driver to leave him alone.

"The first thing, the garage opens at 8:01, and he calls me right away," Knaus said. "I was like, 'Dude, leave me alone. I need to go to work.' I told him to go back to sleep, you're bothering me.'"

Whatever changes they made worked, as Johnson led a race-high 217 of the 313 laps to stretch his lead in the standings from 106 points to an almost insurmountable 141.

"This is what I've worked my whole life for," Johnson said. "We've got a great points lead. We'll go down to Homestead and try to wrap this baby up."

The win was his third straight at Phoenix, and had Edwards on the edge of conceding after his own fourth-place finish.

"If he would have some terrible luck in Homestead, we still have a chance," Edwards said. "We did the best we could, but it's too big of a spread right now. It's possible. Not probable, but possible."

No, it's not. Not with the way Johnson is running.

Johnson has made a mockery of Chase for the championship format, reeling off 14 wins in the 49 races since NASCAR adopted the format in 2004. He contended for the title in 2004 and 2005, only to come up just short both seasons.

He's on the verge of joining Yarborough, David Pearson, Lee Petty and Darrel Waltrip as a three-time champion. Jeff Gordon, his Hendrick Motorsports teammate, has four titles and Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty won a NASCAR-record seven.

Johnson has done it in dominating fashion. He has finished in the top 10 in seven Chase races and his lowest finish was the 15th last week at Texas.

But he still had a sizable lead over Edwards, and could have clinched Sunday. So his throng of friends of hometown El Cajon, Calif., made the trip to Phoenix and crowded his pit box to watch him tick off the laps. When he passed Jamie McMurray on a late restart, his friends - which included professional baseball players Brian and Marcus Giles - pumped their fists in celebration.

Johnson started from the pole but gave way to McMurray on the first lap. He didn't take the lead until Lap 81, but was never challenged from there.

McMurray briefly moved out front again after a round of late pit stops, but Johnson blew past him in Turn 2 of a restart and was hardly challenged again. Kurt Busch made a brief run at him in the closing laps, but graciously settled for second and praised Johnson for his skillful late pass.

Jimmie Johnson dominates to nearly clinch title

Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:15 CST

Checker O’Reilly

Auto Parts 500

Phoenix International

Raceway, Avondale, Ariz.

Why Jimmie Johnson won

Johnson started on the pole Sunday and drove a flawless race. He led a race-high 217 of 313 laps and never ran outside the top three. Johnson had no problem keeping the lead on several late restarts and a green-white-checker finish, always getting a great jump on second-place Kurt Busch and third-place Jamie McMurray.

Turning point

When Jimmie Johnson salvaged a 15th-place finish at Texas Motor Speedway last week — his worst finish in this Chase — it served as a sufficient wake-up call for his Hendrick Motorsports team. Johnson was fast all weekend at Phoenix International Raceway and never gave red-hot Carl Edwards a chance to narrow the points gap.

The leader

Jimmie Johnson. The two-time defending Sprint Cup champion used his third win of the Chase and seventh of 2008 to earn a 141-point cushion going into the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway next Sunday. Johnson has to finish 36th or better to become only the second driver in Cup history to win three consecutive titles.

Who rose

Denny Hamlin (+3) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (+1) Both are miles out of the title hunt, but Hamlin and Earnhardt pulled themselves into the top 10 in points to tentatively earn an invite to the Sprint Cup awards banquet in New York City next month. Twelve drivers make the Chase, but only 10 make speeches at the season-ending celebration. Hamlin finished fifth Sunday to jump into the ninth spot in the standings. Earnhardt finished sixth to grab the 10th spot. However, 11th-place Kyle Busch is only 11 points behind eighth-place Matt Kenseth, so there is plenty of room for movement.

Who fell

Carl Edwards (-35 points) Edwards, who is the only official challenger left in this Chase, started the day 106 points back of points leader Jimmie Johnson. Edwards started 15th Sunday and eased his way up to fourth at the finish. Unfortunately, he didn’t lead a lap and Johnson gained an extra 10 points for leading the most laps.

He said it

"We just got beat, and we got beat by something special. He’s doing something pretty special. It’s really a privilege to finish second to him today."

Kurt Busch, on Jimmie Johnson’s win and run for three consecutive titles

By the numbers

3Consecutive wins at Phoenix International Raceway for Jimmie Johnson. He is the only driver to win three Sprint Cup races at the 1-mile oval in its 20 years hosting NASCAR events.

4.7Jimmie Johnson’s average finish in nine Chase races this season. His average finish in last season’s Chase was 5.0 and 10.2 in 2006.