Johnson big in Dover

DOVER, Del. (AP) -- Jimmie Johnson says winning a Chase race gives his No. 48 team direction. If the last three seasons are his map, all roads lead toward another Sprint Cup championship.

Johnson has the Chase for the championship victory. All he needs now is that points lead.

Johnson thumped the competition in the second Chase for the championship race, sweeping the season races at Dover International Speedway to accelerate his bid for an unprecedented fourth straight championship.

"I certainly hope that our performance today scares some people and affects them in a way that benefits us," Johnson said.

Johnson sliced Mark Martin's points lead with the victory - his fourth of the year and 44th overall - in the second of 10 races in the Chase. Martin holds a 10-point lead over Johnson heading into Week 3 at Kansas Speedway.

"We're going to race our guts out no matter where we wind up, and no matter how they are," Martin said. "That dude still is Superman in my book. Looked like it today."

Johnson was pretty super on the concrete in the No. 48 Chevrolet. Johnson, who tire-tested in August at Dover, won from the pole. He led 298 laps when he won at Dover in May and added another 271 on the 1-mile concrete track Sunday. Johnson won for the fifth time at Dover.

"That's right boys, maximum points! Thank you!" Johnson said over the radio.

No winner of the second Dover race has ever gone on to win the Cup championship. If any driver can reverse that trend, it's Johnson. Much as he did in May, Johnson's No. 48 Chevrolet was out in front for the majority of the 400-mile race.

Chase drivers took nine of the first 11 spots. Martin followed last week's win at New Hampshire with a second-place finish. Juan Pablo Montoya was fourth and Kurt Busch fifth.

Matt Kenseth was the highest non-Chase driver at third.

Other Chase driver results saw Jeff Gordon finish sixth, Kasey Kahne was eighth, Tony Stewart ninth and Ryan Newman 10th. Carl Edwards was 11th, Greg Biffle 13th, Brian Vickers 18th and Denny Hamlin 22nd.

"It's just two races," Martin said. "I still say that there's 12 in and 12 can win. It might be a challenge for a couple of the ones toward the end of the back."

Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus also won their 15th Chase race. No one is better down the stretch and it's the main reason why the No. 48 team is going for its record fourth straight title.

"Our team is pretty easily motivated," Knaus said.

Easy to see why. Cale Yarborough is the only other driver to win three straight championships and Johnson can move past him with more winning performances like this one over the final eight races.

Johnson was so far in front, he had no idea Joe Gibbs Racing driver Joey Logano was involved in an early accident that saw his No. 20 barrel-roll eight times down the concrete and result in the race being red-flagged. It looked scary, but the teenage Logano walked away and was fine.

"It just goes to show how safe these cars are," Logano said.

Johnson, who won for the first time since July at Indianapolis, crushed Kenseth and the rest of the contenders off the double-file restarts and was never seriously challenged.

He's in great position, but he's still not in first. Even with the 10 bonus points for winning, Martin still holds a slim lead.

"It's only been two races," Martin said.

The 50-year-old Martin is the sentimental favorite for his first Cup championship and he's in no rush to yield his spot atop the standings. His 1-2 finish in the first two Chase races proved he'll be a major factor in his No. 5 car.

"I'm happy with the result," Martin said. "We just missed it a little bit."

It's way too early in the Chase to rule out any driver as a contender, but the Hendrick powerhouse sure looks like it fields the teams to beat.

"They're strong everywhere," Hamlin said. "There's no weakness to their race team at all."

That's just what owner Rick Hendrick's Chase drivers - Johnson, Martin and Gordon - want to hear.

"I think a lot of people thought that Hendrick could be the team to beat," Gordon said. "Right now, they certainly are."

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Denny Hamlin Wins for Pocono and Kids

Denny is one of those guys that you don't hear too many negative stories or rumors about. His seems to be well liked by his competitors, crew, media and most importantly fans. I spent some time reading comments about his win and I read a lot of comments about drivers that seem to move the needle. Stewart, Edwards, JJ, Jr, Martin... and they comments were posted on a story about Hamlin's win. It seems Hamlin is an enigma in a sports world wear polarizing personalities seem to be the norm and not the exception. Guess it sells more tee shirts and scale model cars.

Denny lost his grandmother just before this race and you could see the inspiration behind his racing. I am happy for him and his team's win. I am also happy for his foundation. The Denny Hamlin Foundation (http://www.dennyhamlinfoundation.org/) is a foundation dedicated to supporting kids fight against disease including cystic fibrosis and pediatric cancers. I say thank you to Denny and all of the rich and famous who donate money and support such causes. Could you imagine if they didn't. Hopefully a few more people will talk about and spread the word about his foundation. This way we all win.

No Tire Problems at Brickyard - We Hope

Goodyear's altered tire compound passed its first major test at the Brickyard after the debacle that was last year's race. If you don't recall, and if you don't you can't be a Nascar fan, the race was stopped over 10-12 laps to change tires to keep the drivers safe. Fans demanded refunds and vowed to never comeback. Which it should have. Nascar needs to address many issues and racing at the Brickyard is one of them!

We will see what happens on Sunday, if mother nature allows. Nascar needs to get this right for both Nascar and the fans. We want some close / fast racing action this weekend with a great run for the finish line.

The drivers had some things to say:
"I think the tires are a non-issue. I think we need to actually move on to a whole new subject. It's done," four-time Brickyard winner Jeff Gordon said. "They have created a great tire. If anyone has an issue with tires, it's not because they're wearing out. They've done a great job, they've backed it up with testing, and they've now proven it here at the race track in what I think is the most crucial practice that we have. I could have probably run all day long on one set of tires if I needed to."

Goodyear likes the tire so much that the same compound will be used on Nationwide cars and Camping World Trucks at Bristol, an abrasive concrete track. They will also try it at Dover in an upcoming tire test there. But Indianapolis comes first.

We will see what happens.

Weather the Story in Indy

Mother nation has put the hold on Nascar qualifying at the Brickyard for the Allstate 400. Mother nature has been causing havoc all over the country for sporting events this year. The Canadian Open, the US Open, The British Open... A ton of baseball games in the northeast. I don't know if the people of Boston have seen the sun but 5 days in the last few months.

But I digress. Lets hope mother nature will not be the story the rest of the weekend and the new Goodyear stickier tires are.

Is Dale Earnhardt Jr. Relevant Anymore?

Well is he? I need some proof. He isn't winning. His team keeps on making excuses. I think the latest maybe a dropped lug nut... He just isn't his Dad and that is obvious. He never will be. Those shoes will never be filled again. Dale Jr. is just a mid grade racer with a great name.

From a marketing stand point he is still money. His face and name are so recognizable, even outside of the Nascar world that he can ride his fame to the bank for at least as long as he keeps racing and wins one here and there.

It is time that we stop talking about him as a contender. He is currently in 21st position and is behind drivers with the names, Marcos Ambrose and Joey Logano. Ask who those names are outside of the Nascar world and you will get, "Second baseman for the KC Royals and actor on "How I met your mother"...

If anyone has had the path of opportunity to win paved with every available tool, expert and option it has been Jrs.

Don't get me wrong, I like the guy and would love to see him win, but really. Results tell us everything and he just doesn't get it done consistently enough for today's Nascar.

Who Believes Jeremy Mayfield?

Another victim of Meth... Meth is just plan nasty. It fries your brain and creates a huge level of paranoia. Mayfield's comments about his mother being out to get him just fits right in with the normal path of denial and paranoia.

Check out this picture of a meth mouth:



YUCK! Keep it up Jeremy and you will look like this winner.

I don't believe him. Do you?