Johnson says he isn't worrying as much about the Chase this season. Credit: Autostock

Johnson hopes to put sleeper hold on first title

Current runner-up says outlook more positive this time around

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Jimmie Johnson won his first Nextel Cup championship on Monday night.

In his dreams.

Yes, Johnson is in a good place mentally with three races left in the Chase. He's not in a bad place in the standings, either, second only 26 points behind 2003 champion Matt Kenseth.

	Johnson takes the checkers in Martinsville. Credit: Autostock
	Inside the Numbers A look at laps led among the contenders during the first seven races of the Chase Driver Laps Pts. J. Johnson 455 2nd J. Gordon 272 7th M. Kenseth 238 1st K. Harvick 205 6th Earnhardt Jr. 187 5th K. Kahne 152 9th Ky. Busch 75 10th J. Burton 64 4th D. Hamlin 33 3rd M. Martin 3 8th

Johnson said the dream, which didn't come with full visuals of him standing on the stage after the final race at Homestead-Miami Speedway holding up the championship trophy, was a good sign.

"In the past, I almost had nightmares,'' Johnson said on Tuesday. "When I would think of the championship laying there before I'd go to sleep at night, I was, 'Ah, man! That 20 [Tony Stewart] is running well. There is this and that.'

"Everything was kind of fear based.''

There is no fear in Johnson now. He has come from seventh in points, 156 out of the lead, after four Chase races to second with consecutive finishes of second, first and second.

He has led more laps with 455 than anybody in the Chase and almost twice as many as Kenseth with 238.

His feeling and thoughts are totally different than those of a year ago when he was second, 43 behind eventual winner Stewart, with three races left. They're different than when he was second, 59 behind eventual champion Kurt Busch, with three races remaining in 2004.

"I really haven't been worrying about things that worried me before,'' Johnson said. "The last two years, the things that made me lose sleep at night, they aren't there.''

They shouldn't be. Johnson is closer to his first championship at this point in the season than he's been during his career that includes two seconds and two fifths since he broke into Cup in 2002.

He's survived the type of bad luck that in past seasons eliminated drivers from championship contention.

And now he comes to a Texas track where he's registered five top 10s in six trips, with an 11th in April his worst finish.

"We have a great chance at being the champions,'' Johnson said as he looked ahead to the final three races at Texas, Phoenix and Homestead-Miami. "I'm very confident in the team.

"The entire Chase we've been so strong. We're more prepared and in a better position this year than any other year being in the championship battle.''

Johnson was ninth, 247 points out of first, four races into inaugural Chase in 2004. He was 59 behind Busch with three races remaining after winning three in a row. He finished second overall, eight back.

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A year ago, Johnson was 43 behind Stewart. He closed within 38 with a fifth at Texas, but fell 52 back with a seventh at Phoenix and finished fifth after a crash at Homestead left him 40th.

Past experience has kept him more optimistic than those around him.

"I never said we were out of it,'' Johnson said. "Some other Chase competitors were on record saying that. I just felt all along that you just don't know until Homestead, and I still feel that way.''

Johnson was more cautious with his optimism in 2004. He talked about not wanting the burden of being the leader and how his team performed better from behind.

"This year, I just feel different,'' Johnson said. "I don't care where we are. If we're leading after this event, it's no big deal. We're going to keep working and try to keep scoring points.''

But Johnson, who has led the points standings more the past three years than any driver, admitted the Chase seems easier when you have the more aggressive nature of playing catchup.

"It is easier to play offense,'' he said. "If you are the points leader and can somehow convince yourself that you're still in second and third, I'd take that mindset.

"It's human nature to defend once you get on top of the heap.''

The only time Johnson or his team had cause for concerned was after a last-lap wreck at Talladega Superspeedway while racing Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the lead.

"We were in position to score points, to get back in this thing,'' he said. "Frustration was there. But in the back of my mind I felt we still had a shot somehow if we just did our jobs.

Chase for the Nextel Cup After Atlanta (7th of 10 races) Rank +/- Driver Behind 1. -- M. Kenseth Leader 2. +1 J. Johnson -26 3. +1 D. Hamlin -65 4. +2 D. Earnhardt Jr. -84 5. -- J. Burton -84 6. -4 K. Harvick -121 7. +2 J. Gordon -146 8. -1 M. Martin -201 9. -1 K. Kahne -210 10. -- Ky. Busch -249 • Complete standings, click here

"It's just worked out that way. Now I feel great, very optimistic. If we can just keep playing offense and not be in a position to protect ... we'll be very strong in these last three races.''

And if he stumbles, Johnson won't give up. He learned long ago that there are more setbacks than wins in racing.

"It's not too far away from my mind,'' Johnson said of his past. "I look at photos and think back to where I was five years ago, 10 years ago, coming up through ranks and begging people for a ride, trying to convince them I was able and capable of racing and winning championships.

"I think that and my upbringing does have a lot to do with my outlook on racing, the way I approach it, my dedication to it.''

It also makes for better dreams.

"This year I as I doze off and go to sleep I can't stop smiling,'' Johnson said. "I can't wait to get to Texas and Phoenix and Homestead. It's a totally different mindset.''