Jimmie Johnson was one of the few who got in front of Kevin Harvick on Sunday, but he decided not to push it in crunch time. Credit: Autostock

Cup title Johnson's to lose after recent runs

Advice from legend Allison helps points leader stay focused

AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Jimmie Johnson was frustrated, wondering what it would take to win his first Nextel Cup championship when he arrived at Lowe's Motor Speedway last month.

He was seventh in points and 175 behind then-leader Jeff Burton after a last-lap crash at Talladega Superspeedway that cost him at worst a second-place finish.

One slow pit stop was the only bad thing for Jimmie Johnson on Sunday at Phoenix. Credit: Autostock

Checker Auto Parts 500 Results Pos. Driver Make 1. Kevin Harvick Chevy 2. Jimmie Johnson Chevy 3. Denny Hamlin Chevy 4. Jeff Gordon Chevy 5. Carl Edwards Ford 6. Mark Martin Ford 7. Kasey Kahne Dodge 8. Kurt Busch Dodge 9. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevy 10. Jeff Burton Chevy • Complete results, click here • Driver standings, click here Victory LaneKevin Harvick celebrates his Checker Auto Parts 500 win Top finishersKenseth and Johnson talk about their day at Phoenix Final lapsKevin Harvick holds off Jimmie Johnson for the win at Phoenix Out frontJimmie Johnson charges through the field to take the lead Sign up for TrackPass now BUY THE NEXTEL i836

Enter NASCAR legend Bobby Allison, who reminded that he endured 12 years and four runner-up finishes in the Winston Cup modern era [1972-present] before collecting his first title in 1983.

"He was just trying to help me understand that, 'Hey, this isn't easy. So don't worry about it. Just keep doing your job. You're a great driver and you have a great team,'" Johnson recalled.

"He thought he was never going to win. So with that in mind, I've been only here five years. ... We're going to be in this sport a long time and I know deep down in my heart that we'll be a champion at some point."

Johnson probably won't have to wait 12 years.

He probably won't have to wait six.

He probably won't have to wait past next Sunday.

Barring catastrophe, by the time the sun sets at Homestead-Miami Speedway Johnson will be hoisting the shiny Nextel Cup trophy that narrowly has escaped him the last four years.

Barring catastrophe, nobody will catch him.

Johnson extended his lead from 17 to 63 over Matt Kenseth and 90 over Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin with Sunday's second-place finish at Phoenix International Raceway.

Since the talk with Allison, he's had an unbelievable run of four seconds and a win to erase what seemingly was an insurmountable deficit. With a finish of 12th or better at Homestead he'll own the title he dreamed he won two weeks ago.

To lose it he would have to:
A.) Blow up or wreck.
B.) Eat bad shellfish and be hospitalized.
C.) Get caught in race traffic and miss the start.

The way Johnson and his car have performed the past five races, none seem likely. He was strong enough on Sunday to move from 29th to fourth over the first 35 laps.

He could have extended the lead even further had he pushed Harvick hard for the win on the last lap.

He didn't. Experience from past Chases told him to back off, particularly when he moved inside of Harvick going into the dogleg.

	Jimmie Johnson can clinch the title by finishing 12th or better at Homestead. Credit: Autostock
	Chase for the Nextel Cup After Phoenix (9th of 10 races) Pos. +/- Driver Behind 1. -- J. Johnson Leader 2. -- M. Kenseth -63 3. +2 K. Harvick -90 4. -- D. Hamlin -90 5. -2 Earnhardt Jr. -115 6. -- J. Gordon -167 7. -- J. Burton -225 8. +1 M. Martin -273 9. +1 K. Kahne -319 10. -2 Ky. Busch -359 • Complete standings, click here SUPERSTORE •   2006 Chase merchandise!

"His spotter must have said, 'Looking,'" Johnson said. "If I would have been close enough inside of Kevin I would have had a clean lane into [Turn] 3. I was just barely there and he came down to block and we touched a little bit.

"If I stayed on the gas, I would have turned him into the grass down the dogleg and it would have been one helluva mess."

Johnson also backed off after racing two laps side-by-side with Mark Martin for the lead after a Lap 257 restart.

"The 6 [Martin] really wants the lead," Johnson said on his car radio. "He's got nothing to lose."

Johnson had everything to lose, and knew it. Had he become more aggressive it could have turned into a mess like Talladega, where Hendrick Motorsports teammate Brian Vickers crashed him and Dale Earnhardt Jr. racing for the lead on the last lap.

That incident left Johnson somewhat deflated going into Charlotte, but it didn't cross his mind while racing Martin.

"No, us drivers are stupid," he said. "We just go."

Johnson is far from stupid. He knew from his run in 2004, when he overcame all but eight of a 247-point deficit to Kurt Busch for his second runner-up finish, that he could make a run at the title.

"I have a lot of confidence in myself, a lot of confidence in the race team, our equipment ... and as my mind plays its games on me, I just fall back on the team," Johnson said.

With a little luck, he easily could be going for his third title.

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Earnhardt must be convinced this one is a given. He moved faster to get out of the garage than he did at any point during his ninth-place finish that left him 115 points out of the lead.

Hamlin, who is fourth and 90 points behind Johnson, said he'd have to be "extremely lucky" to have a shot at the title.

Ditto, said Harvick.

Kenseth, in the best position, chose A from above list.

"In my mind, they've been the favorite for four years," Kenseth said. "It's just a matter of time before they win it. I don't know if it will happen this year or not, but sooner or later they're going to win some championships."

That was Allison's message at LMS. Fortunately, Johnson listened.

"I certainly hope it's this year," he said. "We'll just have to wait and see."