Johnson has been flat-out good at one-mile tracks

AVONDALE, Ariz. -- There are two relatively low-banked, 1-mile race tracks on the NASCAR Winston Cup schedule: New Hampshire International Speedway and Phoenix International Raceway.

NHIS is a true oval, with symmetrical corners carrying 12 degrees of banking. Phoenix is banked 11 degrees in Turns 1 and 2 and nine degrees in Turns 3 and 4. Pretty close, huh?

	Jimmie Johnson won twice at New Hampshire this season. Credit: Autostock

Sure, Phoenix has a kinked backstretch, but the two tracks are similar enough that if you run well at one, you should run well at the other.

Take a step back, then, to the races at New Hampshire earlier this year. Jimmie Johnson won the first one in July, and when the series returned in September, Johnson completed the sweep.

And now comes Phoenix, site of this weekend's Checker Auto Parts 300. I'm not trying to say Johnson will win this weekend, but it does make you wonder if he should be considered the favorite.

"I'm really looking forward to going back to Phoenix," Johnson said. "Typically, flat tracks don't fit my style. In fact, it's just one of three tracks in the series where I haven't posted a career top-10. However if our performance at New Hampshire, a similar style track, was any indication of what we can accomplish, then we should be able to cross Phoenix off that list this weekend."

Besides Phoenix, Johnson hasn't finished in the top 10 at Infineon Raceway or Richmond International Raceway. Considering Johnson's Winston Cup career is 72 races old, that's a pretty good accomplishment.

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Of course, Johnson's career has been pretty solid through two full seasons. He's won six times and has been in the top 10 in points for 66 consecutive weeks, the longest active streak. And he's the only driver to be in the top 10 all of 2003.

With three races remaining, Johnson is fourth in the Winston Cup standings but only eight points out of second. And he comes to Phoenix on a roll, posting three top-three finishes in a row.

"The last four races or so have really given this team the confidence it needs heading down the stretch," Johnson said. "Matt (Kenseth) has all but sewn up the championship, so the real battle is for second place. With only three races left, we still have some fight left in us. I'm confident that we can ride the momentum we've built over the last month to finish the season on a high note."

	Jimmie Johnson and the guy who signs his paycheck. Credit: Autostock

That would be quite a turnaround from Johnson's rookie season, when he went from leading the points after Kansas to finishing fifth in the final standings. In between, there wasn't a single top-five finish.

This season, though, Johnson is running well at the right time. If his Hendrick Motorsports team were in the NBA, they'd be peaking in time for the playoffs.

So winning at New Hampshire isn't the only reason Johnson could do well at Phoenix. Besides running well lately, Johnson will rely on teammates Jeff Gordon and Brian Vickers, who tested here recently.

"Phoenix is going to be tough," crew chief Chad Knaus said. "The No. 24 was there testing recently, so that will help us not walk into the weekend blind, but you just don't know what you have to deal with until you get your driver out there in your race car.

"I would also say that Phoenix wasn't one of our strongest tracks last season. We had to use a provisional to qualify, but we raced well and were able to crack the top-15. But it's also similar to New Hampshire, and we all know how well Jimmie ran at New Hampshire this year."

	Jimmie Johnson's car at Phoenix is the same one that crossed the finish line at New Hampshire. Credit: Autostock

And guess which car the No. 48 team has here this weekend? The same chassis -- No. 4847 -- that won at New Hampshire.

Same car, similar track. A team on a roll. Help from a four-time champion. Could be a banner weekend for Johnson.

"I'm certainly glad that Jeff tested here recently," Johnson said. "At most of the tracks we run on, the veteran drivers are at an advantage because of their experience. If we utilize the knowledge that the No. 24 team got out of its test, I expect us to be in good shape on Sunday."