There is good news and bad news as the Chase heads to Lowe's Motor Speedway for the final Saturday night race of the season, the NASCAR Banking 500 (7 p.m. ET, ABC).
The good news is this is the third-closest point battle in Chase history as Mark Martin trails Jimmie Johnson by 12 points after four races. In 2006, Jeff Burton led Matt Kenseth by six points after four races and in 2007, Johnson trailed Jeff Gordon by just nine points. Aside from those two years, the deficit between first and second place after four races were 29 in 2004, 75 in 2005 and 72 in 2008.
More good news, twice in Chase history the points leader after four races hasn't won the championship -- meaning just because Johnson currently leads heading to Charlotte, the Chase is far from over.
The bad news -- only one driver has not been the points leader after four races and won the championship ... Jimmie Johnson, in 2006 and 2007.
Johnson made up 156 points in six races back in '06. Six drivers are within that point frame right now -- Martin (-12), Juan Montoya (-58), Tony Stewart (-84), Gordon (-105) and Kurt Busch (-121). Can one of them join Johnson in overcoming a deficit in the final six races? Or will Johnson make history with his fourth consecutive title?
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posted by ADMIN @ 10/15/2009
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