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Jimmie Johnson’s Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup performances are unrivaled.
This year, Johnson has three wins, an average finish of 4.7 and a Driver Rating of 118.7 during the Chase.
Unbelievably, those numbers top those of his dominant 2007 championship run. Last season, Johnson won four consecutive races, and through the first nine Chase races had an average finish of 4.8 and a Driver Rating of 115.2.
One statistic in particular may sum up Johnson’s playoff prowess: He has finished in the top 15 in 25 consecutive Chase races. The last time he finished outside the top 15 was at Talladega in 2006 (26th).
Johnson now holds a 141-point advantage over second-place Carl Edwards and needs to finish 36th or better to clinch his third consecutive championship.
In his career, Edwards has never gained 141 points on Johnson in one race.
BUT…
The good news for Edwards lies at Homestead. The most points Edwards has gained on Johnson in one race is 127, at Homestead in 2005. In that race, Johnson finished 40th and Edwards finished fourth. If Edwards had won that race, he would have gained 147 points – six more than the deficit he now faces.
Plus, Edwards’ Roush Fenway Racing team has won the last four Homestead races – and five out of the last six.
At Homestead, Edwards has a Driver Rating of 107.2 and an Average Running Position of 9.1. Johnson has a Driver Rating of 85.0 and an Average Running Position of 16.8.
Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford)
• Three wins
• Average finish of 12.7
• Driver Rating of 111.0, third-best
• Average Running Position of 8.8, third-best
• Series-high 80 Fastest Laps Run
• 171 Green Flag Passes, eighth-most
• Green Flag Speed of 165.716 mph, second-fastest
• Series-high 688 Laps in the Top 15 (85.8%), second-best
• 95 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green) eighth-most
Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford)
• Two top fives, three top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 7.8
• Average Running Position of 9.1, fourth-best
• Driver Rating of 107.2, fourth-best
• 45 Fastest Laps Run, tied for fifth-most
• Average Green Flag Speed of 165.656 mph, third-fastest
• 684 Laps in the Top 15 (85.3%), second-most
• 119 Quality Passes, fourth-most
Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
• Four top fives, seven top 10s
• Average finish of 10.6
• Average Running Position of 13.0, eighth-best
• Driver Rating of 92.8, sixth-best
• 43 Fastest Laps Run, tied for eighth-most
• 199 Green Flag Passes, fifth-most
• Average Green Flag Speed of 165.259 mph, sixth-most
• 521 Laps in the Top 15 (65%), eighth-most
• 124 Quality Passes, tied for third-most
Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet)
• Two top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 10.1
• Average Running Position of 13.3, ninth-best
• Driver Rating of 88.4, ninth-best
• 169 Green Flag Passes, tied for ninth-most
• 505 Laps in the Top 15 (63.0%), ninth-most
• 98 Quality Passes, seventh-most
