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Johnson not counting Stewart out of Chase
Thursday, July 20, 2006
NASCAR Nextel Cup Series points leader Jimmie Johnson isn't counting out defending champion Tony Stewart just because Stewart fell into 11th in the standings following the race last Sunday at New Hampshire.
Stewart still has seven more races to get back into the top 10 before the Chase begins and sits only nine points behind Jeff Gordon and Greg Biffle, who are tied for ninth. Denny Hamlin is 18 points from the Chase cutoff, while Carl Edwards is 146 points back, Kurt Busch is 206 behind and Casey Mears is 251 back.
"Whoever the 10 are, they are all going to be very, very strong competitors for the championship," Johnson said during a teleconference this week. "If you look down around 15th, they are all great teams and great drivers, and they are all capable of winning this thing in a 10-race format.
"So, I don't breathe any easier in seeing where Tony is. Tony is going to be huge threat either way. But there are also guys just sitting there outside the top 10 that are huge threats as well."
Right now, there are three drivers in the top 10 who have never been in the Chase, while among those lurking outside two (Hamlin and Mears) also have not made the final 10.
"Everybody is a threat," Johnson said. "But I'm very happy that I've been in this position a few times and can understand the pressures that are going to be coming and the emotions and different things that you're faced with during the Chase.
"I do think guys who have been in the Chase have an upper hand, and definitely guys that have won a championship before - they are much more calm and cool and relaxed. I think we all saw that last year with Tony versus his first championship."
Mentioned Drivers: Carl Edwards
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