CUP: The Chase Is Johnson’s Place

Sprint Cup

CUP: The Chase Is Johnson’s Place

It's an all Hendrick affair this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway...

RacinToday.com Staff | http://www.RacinToday.com | Posted November 20, 2009 Homestead, FL

Mark Martin (Left), Jimmie Johnson, (Center) and team owner Rick Hendrick (right) pose with the NASCAR Sprint Cup trophy during the NASCAR Championship Contenders Press Conference at Homestead-Miami Speedway. (Photo:Getty Images)

Article written by Jeff Hood, RacinToday.com

When it comes to excelling during NASCAR’s 10-race Sprint Cup chase, there is no one better than Jimmie Johnson, who will attempt to clinch an unprecedented fourth consecutive title during Sunday’s Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Mark Martin, the lone driver with a mathematical chance to dethrone Johnson on Sunday, said his teammate’s uncanny ability to peak when the Chase rolls around is due to the mechanical wizardry of the No. 48 team.

“It’s something more in the hands of the mechanical side than it is in Jimmie’s hands,” said Martin, who trails Johnson by 108 points. “You know, Jimmie turns it up every time he straps in.

“But I think that the guys build toward that. You know, they build through the season. They build toward having a faster racecar. They do a good job of putting all the pieces together at one time, you know, once the 10 races start.”
—
Jamie McMurray was reunited with former team owner Chip Ganassi on Friday.

McMurray, who drove for Ganassi earlier this decade, will depart Roush Fenway Racing following this weekend’s Ford 400 to take over the driving chores of the No. 1 Chevrolet for Earnhardt Gannasi Racing Chevrolet beginning in 2010.

Because Roush was forced by NASCAR to shrink the number of Sprint Cup teams it fields from five to four, McMurray was left shopping for a ride.

His victory at Talladega on Nov. 1 was a timely boost for his resume.

“Certainly, getting the win at Talladega was good timing for everything in my life,” McMurray said.

“There are a lot of advantages of being with an organization as large as Roush (Fenway Racing). When things are going well things are really good. You have a lot of data, a lot of drivers to learn from.

“The downside to that is when things aren’t going well. It’s a big ship and it takes a long time to get it turned around.”

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