Johnson two victories short

October 26, 2012 Greg Engle 2012 Chase, Main Page, NASCAR News Top Story, Top Stories 0


Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, sits in his car in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Tums Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 26, 2012 in Ridgeway, Virginia. (Photo by Tyler Barrick/Getty Images)
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Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, sits in his car in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Tums Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 26, 2012 in Ridgeway, Virginia. (Photo by Tyler Barrick/Getty Images)

MARTINSVILLE, Va. –Jimmie Johnson wouldn’t want to see a repeat of 2011 — a Cup championship decided by a tiebreaker — unless he can win at least two of the final four races.

The math is working against Johnson right now. If two drivers are tied in points after the 10 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup races, the one with more wins is champion by virtue of the tiebreaker. That’s how Tony Stewart edged Carl Edwards for the title last year.

Johnson, currently second in the standings, has three victories this season, but first-place Brad Keselowski and third-place Denny Hamlin have five each, putting them in control of the tiebreaker for the time being.

That’s one reason why Johnson is so focused on getting to Victory Lane.

“I feel like we’ve been close, and I hate that a few (wins) have slipped away this year, especially in the Chase,” Johnson said Friday at Martinsville. “But that stuff is behind me. I’m looking forward. We’re at a great track.

“I feel like at all four tracks remaining, we’re one of the favorites to win. I feel like you have to win, and you have to win during the Chase to be the champion. It certainly can be won without, but my mind-set right now is win, win, win.”

Greg Engle
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About Greg Engle 7421 Articles
Greg is a published award winning sportswriter who spent 23 years combined active and active reserve military service, much of that in and around the Special Operations community. Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.