Johnson wins third title in a row to match Yarborough (cont'd)

Just this weekend, NASCAR said it would suspend all testing next year to help teams save millions in their 2009 budgets.

Had the crisis hit earlier, and the testing ban was in place this season, Johnson very well might not have won the title. He struggled at the start of the year in adapting to the full-time use of NASCAR's current car, so he and crew chief Chad Knaus embarked on an aggressive testing schedule that helped them catch the competition by late summer.

Second helpings

Just as he had done the night before in the Nationwide Series, Carl Edwards won the race at Homestead but came up short in the championship.

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By the time the Chase began in September, Johnson drove right past them.

"It's what we work for, it's what we do," said Knaus, the first crew chief to win three consecutive titles. "We don't want to do anything but race and win races and win championships."

Johnson solidified his legacy in typical fashion, with a huge assist from crew Knaus, who got the No. 48 Chevy out front under caution on Lap 201 with a two-tire call in the pits. With Edwards and others trying to stretch fuel mileage to the limit, Knaus called Johnson to the pits for a splash of gas on Lap 254 -- just for security.

Johnson ended the season with seven victories -- 22 total in his three championship seasons -- and finished the year with 40 career wins, good for 15th on the all-time list.

"From the first lap on track I knew we had a car that was in the ballpark and a car that I could drive to the front with," Johnson said. "I felt very, very good once the race started. There were a couple of points where it was dicey at times, but all in all, I really felt like I was in control of where this car was on the track.

"It's the ultimate reward. We worked so hard to put ourselves in this position. It is such a team sport. I can't thank Chad Knaus enough. It's total teamwork and dedication.

For Edwards, it was the second consecutive night he won the race, yet still came up empty in the championship bid. He won Saturday night's Nationwide Series event, but came up 21 points short of champion Clint Bowyer.

Edwards' win Sunday chopped 72 points off of Johnson's margin and he was optimistic as he crossed the finish line, radioing his Roush Fenway Racing team "we'll definitely get them next year."

"I don't know what to say," Edwards said. "Second place in the championship isn't what we came here for, but ... [Johnson] deserved to win. We got beat by a true champion."

And even though the 2009 season-opening Daytona 500 is three months away, Edwards already is hungry for the season to start.

"I wish Daytona was starting in 20 minutes," he said. "I want to race so bad. Nine [race wins] this season, seven in the Nationwide and real close in two championships. I can't wait to go."

Notes: Tony Stewart ended his 10-year association with Joe Gibbs Racing and crew chief Greg Zipadelli with a ninth-place finish at Homestead. In a career that began with three victories during his 1999 rookie season, Stewart accumulated 33 wins and two championships, in 2002 and 2005. As of Monday, he will turn his attention exclusively to his new role as owner/driver of Stewart-Haas Racing's Chevrolets. ... Robby Gordon jettisoned his regular pit crew in favor of the over-the-wall gang from Roger Penske's No. 77 car, which did not make the race. In the past several weeks, owner/driver Gordon felt his crew had cost him vital positions in his fight to stay in the top 35 in owner points. The top 35 at season's end are guaranteed starting spots in the first five races of 2009. Gordon finished 26th and remained 34th in points. ... After 14 consecutive seasons with at least one victory, Jeff Gordon finished the season without a win.

Post-Race Interviews
• Video: Johnson | Edwards

The Associated Press contributed to this report.