Carl Edwards keeps chipping away at leader Jimmie Johnson’s point lead.
The deficit is now 106 points. An Edwards comeback with two races remaining would be the largest since the current points system was implemented in 1975.
But it’s not far off, which should keep Edwards optimistic. In 1992, Alan Kulwicki overcame an 85-point deficit over Bill Elliott with two races remaining to win the championship.
Edwards has beaten Johnson by 106 points in consecutive races five times this year.
One instance was over the two races at Lowe’s Motor Speedway and Dover (Race Nos. 12 and 13). Edwards beat Johnson by 111 points over those two races.
What makes that particular two-race span intriguing is that it occurred at tracks with identical distances as Phoenix and Homestead. Dover and Phoenix are one mile in length (though Phoenix is much flatter). Homestead and LMS are 1.5 miles.
Still, the remaining schedule sets up favorably for both Edwards and Johnson.
At Homestead and Phoenix, Johnson has two wins, seven top fives, 13 top 10s and an average finish of 9.1 in 17 races. Since the inception of Loop Data in 2005, he has a Driver Rating of 108.1 and an Average Running Position of 8.9 at those two tracks.
Edwards has no wins, five top fives, eight top 10s and an average finish of 12.3 in 12 races at the remaining tracks. Since 2005, he has a Driver Rating of 104.5 and an Average Running Position of 11.9.
Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M/Red Cross Ford)
• Two top fives, three top 10s
• Average finish of 16.4
• Average Running Position of 14.5, 13th-best
• Driver Rating of 102.4, fifth-best
• Series-high 244 Fastest Laps Run
• Average Green Flag Speed of 123.418 mph, fourth-fastest
• 1,388 (63.6%) Laps in the Top 15, eighth-most
Jeff Burton (No. 31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet)
• Two wins, five top fives, 10 tops 10s
• Average finish of 11.1
• Average Running Position of 14.9, 14th-best
• Driver Rating of 85.2, 15th-best
• Series-high 332 Green Flag Passes
• 1,378 (63.1%) Laps in the Top 15, ninth-most
• 171 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), fifth-most
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