Mid-year struggles aside, JJ plays Chase like a champ

Jimmie Johnson's sixth season -- and his second consecutive Cup title campaign -- can be broken down into six six-race intervals, each (almost) as impressive as the one before it.

How dominant was Johnson down the stretch? Over the final six races, he out-pointed runner-up Jeff Gordon by 86 points -- the largest margin among the top 25 drivers in Races 31-36 -- en route to winning the title by 77 points.

"We're in elite company winning two championships, winning back to back championships is something I'm very, very proud of," Johnson said. "The good thing, I feel, is we're just really hitting our stride. I think we have a lot of good years ahead of us, and we'll be fighting for more championships and certainly winning more races as years go by.

"Hopefully we can be a three-time champion in the near future."

Clearly Johnson was the best of the best in 2007. After crashing-out of the season opener at Daytona and posting a 39th-place finish. He bounced back to win three of five starts between California and Martinsville and for all intents and purposes the race to the Chase was on -- despite Gordon's points-leading performance through the first 26 races.

After winning at Martinsville, Johnson was third in points, 60 behind leader Gordon and Jeff Burton (-28). However, a 38th-place showing at Texas, the result of a crash and another DNF, did little to deter the No. 48 team; Johnson reeled off five consecutive top-10s and moved into second in points, 132 behind Gordon.

A 15th-place run at Dover in Race 13 ended Johnson's run of top-10s and was a harbinger of things to come during the middle 12 races of the season. He was 42nd at Pocono and back-to-back DNFs at Chicago and Indianapolis dropped Johnson to ninth in points, 607 behind Gordon, with six races remaining until the Chase field was set.

And then there were the Car of Tomorrow infractions at Sonoma. NASCAR issued penalties and fines to the Nos. 24 and 48 after the cars were found to be in violation of rule book sections:

• 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing);

• 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used do not conform to NASCAR rules);

• 20-2.1E (parts or components of the car not previously approved by NASCAR that have been installed or modified to enhance aerodynamic performance will not be permitted);

• 20-2H (fenders may not be cut or altered except for wheel or tire clearance which must be approved by the Series Director). (Continued)