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CUP: JJ Warming Up For Record Run
Written by: Tom Jensen   
07/03/2009
Daytona Beach, FL
 
Jimmie Johnson is going for his fourth NASCAR Sprint Cup title and is currently third in points. (PHOTO: LAT Photographic) ยป More Photos

As is the case every year in NASCAR, already there have been plenty of big stories in the first half of the season, everything from the amazing performance of Stewart-Haas Racing to the ongoing Jeremy Mayfield vs. NASCAR battle. But the biggest story of the year may still be to come: Jimmie Johnson’s pursuit of history.

Johnson, of course, is the three-time defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion. And over the sanctioning body’s 61-year history, no one has ever been able to win four in a row. Not Richard Petty, not Dale Earnhardt, not Johnson’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon.

Jimmie Johnson Standings

And although Johnson hasn’t made a lot of headlines this year, he is in very good shape to begin his pursuit of the record. Statistically, Johnson is ahead of where he was a year ago at this time. The El Cajon, Calif., native is third in points, vs. fifth at this time in 2008. More importantly, his Hendrick
Chevrolets have been faster this year than they were early last year, when the team wound up testing 26 times to try and catch up with Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards.

The fact that Johnson is running this well already could spell trouble for Stewart, Gordon and the rest of the front-runners during the Chase for the Sprint Cup, when Johnson has been invincible for the past three seasons.

For better or worse, though, Johnson said this year doesn’t feel like his other championship seasons. “I guess because last year is so fresh in my mind and we were behind with the cars and this year the cars are plenty fast, so it’s definitely different from last year,” he said Thursday at Daytona International Speedway.

“So far each year that I have won a championship they came from all different variety of ways with different cars,” said Johnson. “You know we had a split season, a full-time season, and then last year having to struggle so hard to find the speed and get our cars in order.”


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