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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.
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.
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. Auto Racing Daily
Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series top 12 going into the 10th and final race of the 2009 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup – the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov. 22.
1 - Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)
* Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 112.1
2009 Rundown
* Johnson can clinch an unprecedented fourth consecutive championship if he finishes 25th or better, or 27th and at least one lap led, or 28th and the most laps led – regardless of how second-place Mark Martin finishes.
* Seven wins, 15 top fives, 23 top 10s; three poles
* Average finish of 11.3
* Led 28 races for 2,210 laps
Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
* Two top fives, five top 10s; one pole
* Average finish of 13.6 in eight races
* Average Running Position of 15.7, 13th-best
* Driver Rating of 87.2, 13th-best
* 238 Green Flag Passes, ninth-most
* 723 Laps in the Top 15 (67.6%), sixth-most
2 - Mark Martin (No. 5 Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevrolet)
* Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 100.5
2009 Rundown
* Five wins, 14 top fives, 21 top 10s; seven poles
* Average finish of 13.7
* Led 23 races for 805 laps
Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
* Four top fives, five top 10s
* Average finish of 12.0 in nine races
* Average Running Position of 12.5, seventh-best
* Driver Rating of 91.6, eighth-best
* 24 Fastest Laps Run, 13th-most
* Average Green Flag Speed of 163.600 mph, seventh-fastest
3 - Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
* Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 101.7
2009 Rundown
* One win, 16 top fives, 24 top 10s; one pole
* Average finish of 10.3
* Led 19 races for 827 laps
Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
* Five top fives, eight top 10s
* Average finish of 9.9 in 10 races
* Average Running Position of 13.6, 11th-best
* Driver Rating of 92.6, seventh-best
* 51 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most
* 287 Green Flag Passes, second-most
* 669 Laps in the Top 15 (62.6%), seventh-most
* 173 Quality Passes, second-most
4 - Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)
* Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 100.6
2009 Rundown
* Two wins, nine top fives, 20 top 10s
* Average finish of 13.1
* Led 21 races for 695 laps
Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
* One win, three top fives, three top 10s; two poles
* Average finish of 21.5 in eight races
* Average Running Position of 29.0, 36th-best
* Driver Rating of 63.4, 29th-best
* 45 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most
5 - Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet)
* Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 99.7
2009 Rundown
* Four wins, 15 top fives, 23 top 10s
* Average finish of 10.1
* Led 18 races for 371 laps
Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
* Two wins, three top fives, five top 10s
* Average finish of 11.9 in 10 races
* Average Running Position of 13.4, 10th-best
* Driver Rating of 88.1, 10th-best
* 45 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most
* 779 Laps in the Top 15 (72.9%), third-most
* 155 Quality Passes, fourth-most
6 - Juan Pablo Montoya (No. 42 Target Chevrolet)
* Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 93.6
2009 Rundown
* Seven top fives, 18 top 10s; two poles
* Average finish of 13.6
* Led 11 races for 388 laps
Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
* Average finish of 22.0 in three races
* Average Running Position of 16.5, 17th-best
* Driver Rating of 76.2, 20th-best
* 128 Quality Passes, ninth-most
7 - Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford)
* Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 88.5
2009 Rundown
* 10 top fives, 16 top 10s
* Average finish of 14.0
* Led 13 races for 551 laps
Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
* Three wins, three top fives, three top 10s
* Average finish of 13.4 in seven races
* Average Running Position of 12.3, sixth-best
* Driver Rating of 103.0, fourth-best
* 88 Fastest Laps Run, second-most
* 232 Green Flag Passes, 13th-most
* Average Green Flag Speed of 164.060 mph, third-fastest
* 746 Laps in the Top 15 (69.8%), fifth-most
