Jimmie Johnson’s ability to thrive in playoff pressure is what made him a two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion.
Johnson has more wins during the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup – 13 – than any other driver.
The statistics prove that Johnson and his team are at their best during the Chase.
Thus far, five of the six tracks in the Chase have previously held races in 2008. During the “regular season” at those tracks, Johnson had an average finish of 14.4 and a Driver Rating of 99.1.
During the Chase races at those tracks, Johnson’s average finish is 4.6 and his Driver Rating is 116.4.
Clearly, Johnson is at his best in the biggest spots.
But four races remain in the Chase. That means four chances for Greg Biffle, Jeff Burton and Carl Edwards – all within 200 points of Johnson – to erase a hefty deficit.
Second-place Biffle trails Johnson by 149 points. Since the current points structure was implemented in 1975, the largest comeback with four races remaining is 144 points. In 1992, eventual champion Alan Kulwicki trailed Bill Elliott by that many with four to go.
As daunting as it may seem, a comeback is far from impossible. Three of the next four races are at tracks 1.5-miles in length, a Roush Fenway Racing specialty.
Biffle and Edwards, both in the Roush Fenway stable, are strong over the upcoming stretch.
At the remaining tracks, Edwards has four wins and a Driver Rating of 101.5. Biffle has four wins and a Driver Rating of 99.5.
One problem: Johnson has six wins and a Driver Rating of 109.6.
Greg Biffle (No. 16 Dish Turbo HD Ford)
• Three top fives, six top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 14.8
• Average Running Position of 9.8, second-best
• Driver Rating of 102.3, fifth-best
• Series-high 211 Fastest Laps Run
• Average Green Flag Speed of 175.105 mph, third-fastest
• 1,900 Laps in the Top 15 (83.4%), second-most
• 223 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), third-most
Jeff Burton (No. 31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet)
• Seven top fives, 13 tops 10s
• Average finish of 16.5
• Average Running Position of 11.0, fifth-best
• Driver Rating of 92.8, eighth-best
• 1,843 Laps in the Top 15 (80.9%), fifth-most
• 208 Quality Passes, sixth-most
Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M’s Toyota)
• One win
• Average finish of 19.9
• Average Running Position of 16.4, 13th-best
• Driver Rating of 88.5, 10th-best
• 123 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most
• 1,187 Laps in the Top 15 (52.1%), 12th-most
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 AMP/National Guard Chevrolet)
• One win, eight top fives, 10 top 10s
• Average finish of 11.7
• Average Running Position of 10.8, fourth-best
• Driver Rating of 103.6, third-best
• 191 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
• 438 Green Flag Passes, third-most
• Series-fastest Average Green Flag Speed of 175.227 mph
• 1,690 Laps in the Top 15 (74.2%), seventh-most
• 232 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), second-most
Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford)
• Two wins, four top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 12.9
• Average Running Position of 11.5, sixth-best
• Driver Rating of 102.8, fourth-best
• 197 Fastest Laps Run, second-most
• Average Green Flag Speed of 175.036 mph, fourth-fastest
• 1,879 Laps in the Top 15 (82.4%), fourth-most
• Series-high 233 Quality Passes
Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
• Four wins, 13 top fives, 20 top 10s; two poles
• Average finish of 12.8
• Average Running Position of 11.9, seventh-best
• Driver Rating of 96.6, sixth-best
• 84 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most
• 1,742 Laps in the Top 15 (76.4%), sixth-most
• 219 Quality Passes, fifth-most
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