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NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
JENSEN: The Cape Is On
Last October at Atlanta Motor Speedway Jimmie Johnson got the word from his crew chief Chad Knaus: “Put your cape on.”
Tom Jensen  |  Posted October 12, 2009   Fontana, CA
SPEED.com's Editor-in-Chief Tom Jensen. (Image: SPEED)

Last October at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Jimmie Johnson was in 11th place with eight laps to go, when he got the word from his crew chief Chad Knaus, who gave him a simple instruction: “Put your cape on.”

And in the closing laps, Johnson did indeed drive like Superman, passing nine cars to finish second and virtually clinch his third consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup championship.

This time around as NASCAR’s long season heads down the home stretch, Johnson needs no such admonition. He already has his cape on, no doubt about it.

And once again, 11 other drivers in the Chase for the Sprint Cup are wondering where the heck they can find a chunk of kryptonite to slip into Johnson’s uniform, which might the only way he doesn’t win it all again this year.

Sunday at Auto Club Speedway, Johnson won his third consecutive Pepsi 500. It was the second time in the last three Chase events that Johnson both won the race and led the most laps, and his fifth victory in the last 12 Chase races.

He’s now back atop the standings, 12 points ahead of Mark Martin and 58 up on Juan Pablo Montoya, two guys who are averaging identical finishes of 3.5 in this Chase, yet they’re behind Johnson.

If he can keep it up and win his fourth consecutive championship, Johnson really will be Superman, for he will have accomplished something no one has done in the 62-year history of NASCAR. Richard Petty didn’t earn four consecutive championships, nor did the late Dale Earnhardt or even Johnson’s teammate, Jeff Gordon.

Yet Johnson stands on the threshold of history in what arguably is the deepest Chase field ever.

“You have to go out there and earn it every week,” Johnson said after Sunday’s victory. “It's the same thing for this championship. Just because we've done well the last three years doesn't mean that we're a shoe‑in for the fourth. So I've just got to stay focused on my job. Go out and earn it each lap and see where things fall into place.”



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