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Jimmie Johnson is on the verge of capturing his record-setting fourth straight Sprint Cup Series championship after winning Sunday’s Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 in convincing style at Phoenix International Raceway.
One week after crashing in the opening laps and finishing a season-worst 38th at Texas Motor Speedway, Johnson rebounded by leading 238 of 312 laps for his fourth victory in the last five races at Phoenix. He has won the last three fall events here.
“That’s a great position to be in,” said Johnson, who claimed his series- leading seventh victory of the season and the 47th of his career. “We finished 38th last week, so I can’t put my card down. Anything and everything that could go wrong last week did, and going into next week, we just need to show up and race smart and do our thing.” MiamiHerald.com
Johnson can win the championship with a finish of 25th or better in Florida, regardless of how the others finish.
“We just can’t coast,” Johnson said. “We can’t chill out. We have to stay focused and keep our heads down.”
His victory in the Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 gave Johnson a series-high seven wins this season, and the El Cajon native now has a record four wins at Phoenix International.
Jeff Burton finished second, Denny Hamlin was third and Martin fourth. Gordon finished ninth.
“We gave it everything we had today,” said Martin, 50, who appears poised to be the bridesmaid in the title chase for the fifth time in his career. “I’m really proud of what we’ve done this season. That’s really all I’ve got to say about it.” Los Angeles Times
Martin, however, is refusing to concede to Johnson and said he won’t let up next week in Homestead as he tries to at least stave off Gordon for second in the final standings. But should Johnson coast to the win, Martin will be fine.
“We’ve still got to go to Homestead and run like this again, because we still have heat behind us, Jeff Gordon, especially,” Martin said. “I definitely have been beat by the best — Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt. It wouldn’t embarrass me if it was Jimmie Johnson as well.
Kurt Busch, winner last week at Texas, finished sixth. Clint Bowyer was seventh and followed by Juan Pablo Montoya, Gordon, and David Reutimann.
Nobody was surprised to see Johnson in Victory Lane, particularly since he’d had such a rare race the week before. The Associated Press
