Steve Waid: It’s still early, but the title seems like Jimmie Johnson’s to lose

By Steve Waid
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Hendrick Motorsports' Jimmie Johnson celebrates with his wife, Chandra, in victory lane after winning Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Dover International Speedway. (David Griffin / NASCAR Scene)

Hendrick Motorsports' Jimmie Johnson celebrates with his wife, Chandra, in victory lane after winning last Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway.

David Griffin
NASCAR Scene

COMMENTARY

With eight races remaining in The Chase For The Sprint Cup, it doesn’t make sense to cede the championship to Jimmie Johnson.
There’s a good ways to go yet.

Even after he won convincingly at Dover, for his 15th career victory in the Chase (in 52 races), to close to within 10 points of leader Mark Martin, Johnson can still suffer an ill turn of fortune over the next eight weeks.

Yeah, maybe, but don’t expect that to happen. Certainly his rivals don’t.

Even Martin, who has won five times this year and at this point is surely on track to win his first career title, admits that Johnson is going
to be hard to beat.

“I’m sure the dude’s Superman,” said Martin, who added that he thinks Johnson and his Hendrick Motorsports team seem to intensify their efforts during the Chase.

Johnson, who is now tied with Bill Elliott for 14th place on NASCAR’s all-time victory list with 44 wins, has been in every Chase since 2004, the year it was introduced.

He finished second to Kurt Busch in ’04 and was fifth in 2005, the year Tony Stewart won his second title.

And, of course, Johnson won the championship the next three years in succession.

A driver who has never finished lower than fifth in the eight-year history of the Chase, and won three titles, seems to have a firm grip on how to race in NASCAR’s playoff.

Johnson has said the biggest reason he’s been the ultimate Chase driver is the schedule. The tracks are very good for his team.

He’s the defending champion for the upcoming race at Kansas, where he’s finished among the top 10 five times in seven races.

At Auto Club Speedway in California, he won the track’s second race the past two seasons. He’s won five times in 16 races at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. He’s won five of the past six races at Martinsville.

The only track in the Chase at which he hasn’t won is Homestead, but by that time, that may not make much of a difference.

But, as said, there are eight races remaining and this is not the time to offer Johnson the title elegantly wrapped with a bow on top.

Hey, let’s reiterate that Martin is leading this thing with an average finish of 1.5 in two Chase races. If he can keep that up, or at least come close to it, well, that’s a championship.

Juan Pablo Montoya, who has put together a string of solid performances, is in third, just 55 points behind Johnson. And Kurt Busch, in
fourth, is 65 points in arrears.

At this point, you can’t really rule out anyone in the top 12 – well, you could, but mathematically they are all still in it.

But for most of them, Johnson – and a few others – are going to have to tank for them to have any chance.

Oh, yes, Johnson could tank. But few, if anyone, think he will.

As for Johnson, he knows the only thing that matters is how he and his team perform. They have control over that and little, if anything, else.

They have already repeatedly shown what masterful control over performance they have in the Chase.

That’s something with which their rivals are very familiar. And it’s why that in the opinion of most of them, right now, the championship is
Johnson’s to lose.
 

Comments

16 responses to "Steve Waid: It’s still early, but the title seems like Jimmie Johnson’s to lose". Post a Comment.
  1. 1
    STP43FAN said:
    Sep 29, 2009 at 9:23 AM

    The designated champion of the sport's biggest team is not going to lose the title. Period.

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  2. 2
    grandmasharon0 said:
    Sep 29, 2009 at 10:34 AM

    Well let's not put the cart before the horse just yet. It is a bit early in the game and the points are not that far apart to be so sure of a champion at this time. There are 11 other drivers just as determined and talented as Jimmie in this thing. Sometimes it takes a while for the cream to separate and come to the top!!!

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  3. 3
    mbsenlick said:
    Sep 29, 2009 at 3:56 PM

    Just make it a 2-man race for the chase. Everyone knows it going to happen. It is going to come down to Mark Martin and Jimmie Johnson. Because those 2 have been the most consistent drivers all year long. Even know Mark has had his problems in the year, but he has rebounded very nicely. Well Jimmie is just being Jimmie. Mark is quick in practice and qualifying every week and is always running in the top 5 top 10 all race. And is always there at the end of the race. It is going to be a nail bitter for Rick until the very end

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  4. 4
    buenperico said:
    Sep 29, 2009 at 3:57 PM

    Thisnthat, how come it can't be decided on the last lap at Homestead? More exciting.

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  5. 5
    mbsenlick said:
    Sep 29, 2009 at 3:58 PM

    But I still say Mark Martin is going to be the champ. Sooner or later Jimmie's reign of champ has to end.

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  6. 6
    buenperico said:
    Sep 29, 2009 at 3:58 PM

    Between 5 and 48 (sorry, STML)

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  7. 7
    zebsdad said:
    Sep 29, 2009 at 4:10 PM

    That's right, just give him the cup. There are 11 others in the chase. Several are contenders.

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  8. 8
    JrsTheMan88 said:
    Sep 29, 2009 at 4:12 PM

    Martin has a 1.5 average finish in the Chase so far. Whats Johnsons? GO JR!!! GO MARTIN!!!

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  9. 9
    HamlinLover said:
    Sep 29, 2009 at 4:48 PM

    Jr isn't even contending, give it a break, he sucks. As for Jimmie winning it again, who knows. it's way too early to even think about it. Mark is still in front and he came in second at Dover. I think he has a better chance at the championship right now, but of course I'm rooting for Denny. It's anybody's to win at this time.

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  10. 10
    SheilaLovesNASCAR said:
    Sep 29, 2009 at 5:25 PM

    I said once, that if the Chase stays with the same tracks every year, Jimmy will win his 7,8,9 Championships in a row. Jimmy knows how to win on those ten tracks. If NASCAR wants good racing, it should get rid of the Chase and give an extra 25 points for the win. And may the driver with the most points win the Championship. Like it was.

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  11. 11
    yojoromo said:
    Sep 29, 2009 at 6:17 PM

    Who blew engine at end of this race? Anyone know?

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  12. 12
    nascarnutsheeler said:
    Sep 29, 2009 at 6:23 PM

    Please dear Lord let anyone but a Hendrick car get the chase.

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  13. 13
    Phere said:
    Sep 29, 2009 at 7:24 PM

    O.K. everybody concedes. He wins. He's Super-Duper-Man, He can go home now and relish in himself, Chad Knauss', and his perfectness. So now, can the rest of us peek our heads out the door, and maybe scoot our broken toys around a little? How about it, Mark, Juan, Kurt, Tony, Denny, Ryan, Jeff, Greg, Carl, Brian, Kasey, You all give up? Should we turn out the light?

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  14. 14
    Rainier said:
    Sep 29, 2009 at 9:58 PM

    I'm a die hard 48 fan and I'm taking nothing for granted. He is far from invincible. They have made plenty of costly mistakes this year on the track and in the pits. It's far from over.

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  15. 15
    Andi said:
    Sep 29, 2009 at 11:23 PM

    I'm totally with you Rainier and yes its far from over. There's 8 more races to go, and there's still Dega.

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  16. 16
    Kadach said:
    Sep 30, 2009 at 4:38 AM

    No offense to JJ, but I hope someone else (maybe MM), wins

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