HOMESTEAD, Fla. --- Jimmie Johnson is 108 points away from clinching a record fourth consecutive championship on Sunday. Car owner Rick Hendrick and sponsor Lowe's started the celebration Friday.
Hours before qualifying for the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Johnson signed a three-year extension to remain with Hendrick and Lowe's through the 2013 season.
Since forming the team in 2002, Johnson has 47 victories and three Sprint Cup Series championships. If he finishes no worse than 25th in the season finale (3:15 p.m., ABC-Ch. 6), he will push his streak to four in a row.
"I'm very proud of what we've done since this team has started in 2002," Johnson said. "We've done a lot of great things. It's hard to believe. In some ways it seems like the eight years have flown by, in other ways it seems longer. But it's been a very, very special eight years."
Mark Martin is the only driver who can catch Johnson in the Chase for the Championship. His mission got tougher Friday when Johnson won the pole at 173.919 mph.
Scott Speed qualified second at 172.695 mph, followed by Marcos Ambrose and Martin.
"I'm just trying to keep my mind on each thing I have to do that day," said Johnson, who will be making his 291st start in the Sprint Cup Series. "We'll focus on the challenges of (Saturday) and think about the race on Sunday."
Reach Don Coble at don.coble@morris.com.
After Friday qualifying; race Sunday
At Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead, Fla.
Lap length: 1.5 miles
(Car number in parentheses)
1. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 173.919.
2. (82) Scott Speed, Toyota, 172.695.
3. (47) Marcos Ambrose, Toyota, 172.678.
4. ( 5) Mark Martin, Chevrolet, 172.353.
5. (14) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 172.243.
6. (29) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 172.144.
7. (39) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 172.035.
8. (16) Greg Biffle, Ford, 172.024.
9. (21) Bill Elliott, Ford, 171.86.
10. (33) Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet, 171.838.
11. (26) Jamie McMurray, Ford, 171.838.
12. ( 2) Kurt Busch, Dodge, 171.794.
13. (44) AJ Allmendinger, Ford, 171.75.
14. ( 1) Martin Truex Jr., Chevrolet, 171.647.
15. (07) Casey Mears, Chevrolet, 171.63.
16. (78) Regan Smith, Chevrolet, 171.576.
17. (02) David Gilliland, Toyota, 171.461.
18. (36) Michael McDowell, Toyota, 171.434.
19. (71) Bobby Labonte, Chevrolet, 171.396.
20. (24) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 171.336.
21. (19) Elliott Sadler, Dodge, 171.331.
22. (00) David Reutimann, Toyota, 171.276.
23. (42) Juan Pablo Montoya, Chevrolet, 171. 162.
24. (99) Carl Edwards, Ford, 170.994.
25. ( 9) Kasey Kahne, Dodge, 170.967.
26. (31) Jeff Burton, Chevrolet, 170.967.
27. (12) Brad Keselowski, Dodge, 170.816.
28. (37) Travis Kvapil, Chevrolet, 170.805.
29. (77) Sam Hornish Jr., Dodge, 170.794.
30. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 170.648.
31. (96) Erik Darnell, Ford, 170.53.
32. (88) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 170. 455.
33. (83) Brian Vickers, Toyota, 170.412.
34. (17) Matt Kenseth, Ford, 170.379.
35. (20) Joey Logano, Toyota, 170.272.
36. (98) Paul Menard, Ford, 170.266.
37. ( 7) Matt Crafton, Toyota, 169.881.
38. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 169.715.
39. (55) Michael Waltrip, Toyota, 169.353.
40. (34) John Andretti, Chevrolet, 169.274.
41. ( 6) David Ragan, Ford, 169.072.
42. (43) Reed Sorenson, Dodge, Owner Points.
43. (08) Terry Labonte, Toyota, Past Champ.
Failed to Qualify
44. (87) Joe Nemechek, Toyota, 170.708.
45. (66) Dave Blaney, Toyota, 168.94.
46. (70) Mike Skinner, Chevrolet, 168.66.
47. (13) Max Papis, Toyota, 168.529.
48. (09) David Stremme, Chevrolet.
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