AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Jimmie Johnson moved a step closer to his first NASCAR championship on Sunday, using yet another smooth run to leave Phoenix International Raceway with a firm hold on the top spot in the season standings.

Johnson smartly settled for second place, racing winner Kevin Harvick just hard enough over a final three-lap sprint to the finish to maintain his track position and keep the Nextel Cup title within his reach.

"In order to get the win, I was really going to have to force the issue and I knew that I needed to be smart from that point on," Johnson said.

He heads into the season finale next week at Homestead-Miami Speedway with a 63-point lead over Matt Kenseth, needing just one more trouble-free race to grab the title that has so cruelly eluded him the past two seasons. Johnson can wrap up the title with a 12th-place finish or better.  More