Johnson makes winning stand at Phoenix, has fourth title in sight

AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Jimmie Johnson's victory in Sunday's Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 epitomized his Chase for the Championship and a likely fourth consecutive championship.

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Associated Press

After Sunday's win, all Jimmie Johnson has to do in next week's finale is finish 25th or better for the Sprint Cup title.

He dominated the race at the Phoenix International Raceway to squeeze the life out of any hopes of a dramatic finale next Sunday at the Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Like so many other playoff races in the last four years, Johnson's No. 48 was flawless on the one-mile track. He led for more than an hour on two different occasions, quickly ending any doubts following his crash and 38th-place finish a week earlier at Texas.

If there were any questions about his ability to make history with a fourth-consecutive championship, he answered them. And he did it in a typical fashion by overpowering the competition.

"What a great car; what a great race team," Johnson said. "We could have been beaten down, especially what happened last week. To dominate this race says a lot. We saw in Texas what can happen."

A week later everyone saw what can happen, too. Johnson started third, quickly asserted himself as the favorite. He then spent the rest of the race keeping everyone safely behind his rear bumper.

"There was no doubt in my mind he was gong to come this week and make a statement," said third-place Denny Hamlin. "Obviously coming out and leading all the laps and winning the race was a statement. He's not going to be denied this year."

"In the end it could look like that," Johnson said. "We needed to show what we're made of, so I guess it was a statement. The only way to get more points on them was to lead the most laps and win the race. It wasn't easy. There's a lot of pressure on us to do this."

Johnson led 238 of 312 laps, including the final 65. It was his third victory during the Chase this year and his 17th since NASCAR went to the 10-race playoff format for the 2004 season.

"I don't think there's any way you can dismiss his ability," Jeff Burton said after finishing second Sunday. "He's pretty good. He 48 (Johnson) has a way of finding a little bit of speed when he needs to."

Although Mark Martin finished fourth, he lost 35 points to his Hendrick Motorsports teammate. All Johnson has to do next week at the season finale at the Homestead-Miami Speedway is finish no worse than 25th to become the first winner of four championships in a row.

"I'm pretty proud of what we've accomplished this season," Martin said. "That's really all I've got to say about it."

Rick Hendrick, who owns the top-three cars in the Chase, was impressed Johnson bounced back with so much resolve. No matter what happens at Homestead next week, he's guaranteed a championship because only Johnson, Martin and Jeff Gordon are mathematically alive.

"That's exactly what we needed," Hendrick said. "One more to go."

There were two massive crashes on the frontstretch. The first started as a chain reaction during a re-start and involved cars driven by: David Ragan, Robby Gordon, Brad Keselowski, Jamie McMurray, John Andretti, Michael Waltrip, Erik Darnell and David Gilliland.

The second pileup involved 10 cars and had ramification in the Chase. Dale Earnhardt Jr. lost control of his Chevrolet coming off the fourth turn, triggering a crash that also involved: Brian Vickers, Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth, Bobby Labonte, Clint Bowyer, Scott Speed, Joey Logano and Sam Hornish Jr.

Stewart's 25th-place finish eliminated him from title contention. Twelve drivers started the playoffs nine races ago, only three are left Ð and two of them are longshots.

"These guys are the best I've ever seen," Hendrick said of Johnson and Knaus. "When you're one of the best, or the best, that's ever done it, it's hard to beat that combination. I'm just glad I don't have to race against them."

Kurt Busch led the first 52 laps before Johnson passed him. Once Johnson got a feel for the front, he stayed there for all but 22 of the final 260 laps.

Martin settled for fourth place, followed by Martin Truex Jr. in fifth, Kurt Busch in sixth, Clint Bowyer in seventh, Juan Pablo Montoya in eighth, Gordon in ninth and David Reutimann in 10th.

"I'm really proud to show up the way we did," Johnson said. "We wanted to come in here and attack. I was pretty bummed out after last week (at Texas). Chad (Knaus, crew chief) got us focused on the right things."

Reach Don Coble at don.coble@morris.com.