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NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
CUP: Top-35 2009 Drivers: No. 1 - Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson became the fourth driver to win four Cup titles, joining Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon...
Lee Montgomery  | http://www.scenedaily.com  |  Posted January 01, 2010   Charlotte, NC
After eight seasons Jimmie Johnson is tied with Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon in championships and trails only seven-time winners Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
Hendrick Motorsports driver Jimmie Johnson set a NASCAR record in 2009, becoming the first driver in history to win four consecutive Cup championships.
Photos: 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champions Week

He did it with another terrific performance in the Chase For The Sprint Cup, winning four of the 10 Chase races and finishing in the top 10 in all but one Chase race.

The 34-year-old from El Cajon, Calif., became the fourth driver in NASCAR to win four titles, joining Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt (seven) and teammate Jeff Gordon (four).

Johnson won $7,339,634 on the season, when he won seven races and four poles.

During the offseason, SceneDaily is taking a look at the top 35 in 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup driver points. Here’s how Johnson’s season unfolded:

By the numbers: Johnson led the Sprint Cup Series with seven victories, 16 top-five finishes, 2,238 laps led and 190 bonus points and was second in top-10s with 24. Johnson won the title by 141 points over teammate Mark Martin.

Season highlights: Johnson was again sensational in the Chase, winning four races and finishing in the top five three times. His win in the fourth Chase race at Auto Club Speedway gave him the points lead, and then he won the following week at Lowe’s Motor Speedway to extend the margin.

Key setbacks: Trouble struck Johnson and the No. 48 team in the fall Texas race, when an early incident sent him to the garage. The team made extensive repairs, but Johnson finished 38th. But he bounced back the next week at Phoenix with a victory to retake control of the Chase.

Newsworthy moment: The only driver before Johnson to win three consecutive titles was Cale Yarborough, but now Johnson has set the standard for all NASCAR competitors.

In his words: “I am just blown away by the things we've been able to accomplish over the last eight years in the sport. Obviously the last four years have been just unbelievable. To love the sport like I do and respect it like I do, and the history, the pioneers of this sport from Bill France Sr., to the Petty family, you go through many eras up to [team owner] Mr. [Rick] Hendrick and what he's done over the last 25, to look at all of that and to have done something that's never been done in the sport before is so, so amazing and something I am so proud of. I've always set my marks high and really wanted to try to set high marks and all those kinds of things, but I had no clue this stuff would happen. Just so honored, so happy, so fortunate.”

SceneDaily.com • DECADE IN REVIEW: NASCAR's Top 10 stories 2000-2009
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Lee Montgomery

SceneDaily.com

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