NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
  • Peg It on GarageMonkey
CUP: Foes Facing ‘Smarter, Better’ 48 Team
Jimmie Johnson has advantage as Chase moves into final three weeks…
Mike Hembree  |  Posted October 28, 2012   Martinsville, VA
Jimmie Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet, races to the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Tums Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway. (Photo: Getty Images)
What’s the toughest battle facing drivers chasing Jimmie Johnson in the race for the Sprint Cup championship?

“We’re getting smarter and better,” Johnson said Sunday.

That’s not a good sign for Brad Keselowski, Clint Bowyer and others who might have visions of taking home the big trophy in three weeks.

With three races to go in the battle for the championship, Johnson has a two-point lead over Keselowski and a 26-point edge over Clint Bowyer. Kasey Kahne is fourth, 29 back. And fifth-place Denny Hamlin essentially saw his championship hopes end Sunday with a 33rd-place run.

Johnson left Martinsville all smiles, having won the Tums Fast Relief 500 and ascended to first place in points – past Keselowski, all in one workday.

The winning 48 team showed patience and precision and looked like championship timber. Every time Johnson pitted with a group of cars, he returned to the track first. And the team’s move to pit for tires late in the race while Keselowski stayed on the track made the difference in the win.

“We had to work really hard on our race car today,” crew chief Chad Knaus said. “I have to put a lot of compliments towards our pit crew because they did a really good job. We made some significant changes to the race car. The stops they had were awesome. Even on the stops we were making big adjustments, they didn't falter at all. They did a really good job. That kept up our track position.

“Obviously, Jimmie did a remarkable job of searching and moving around. When the sun came out, the track got tight, we fell back a little bit. He kept his head in the game. We made some big swings to the chassis again, finally got closer there toward the end of the race.”

Johnson, with four top-three finishes in the past seven races (and his third point lead of the season), must be considered the championship favorite with three races left. He has been there and done that, winning the title five times, while Keselowski, his chief threat, is seeking his first.

“We need every point we can get,” Johnson said. “We got almost every one this weekend, so that's cool. We just race hard. Texas (next week’s race) is a total opposite from a setup standpoint than what we have here, demands on the car, the way you drive. We'll take whatever mental momentum and confidence that today's race brings us, but we have to go to work again next week, and it's a whole new battle.

“We'll do more of the same. We have to be the best to be the champions. I think we're showing we're in form and ready to do that.”

Part of the team’s progress has been shown by the relatively young pit crew.

“Our young over-the-wall guys, they’re standing the test of time,” Johnson said. “They’re dealing with a lot of pressure on pit road. They’ve been executing very well. I’m proud of where the entire team is.”

Mike Hembree is NASCAR Editor for SPEED.com and has been covering motorsports for 30 years. He is a six-time winner of the National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year Award.
mike.hembree's avatar

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mike Hembree

MORE BY THIS AUTHOR
Advertising | Jobs | Feedback | FAQ | Terms of Use | NEW Privacy Policy | Ad Choices | Site Map
Fox Sports | FUEL TV | FX Network | National Geographic | IGN | AskMen
The Motor Sports Authority, SPEED and associated logos are registered trademarks of Speed Channel Inc.
All Rights Reserved © Speed Channel, Inc. 2013

All external links will open in a new browser window. SPEED.com does not endorse external sites.