RICHMOND, Va. — Not so fast, Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards. Jimmie Johnson has no intention of giving up his title without a fight.
Johnson stormed into the Chase for the championship by winning his second consecutive race Sunday, getting a big boost as he starts his pursuit of a third consecutive title.
The two-time defending Cup champion passed Tony Stewart and Martin Truex for the lead with 32 laps to go at Richmond International Raceway, then held off Stewart’s late challenge over the final 10 laps.
“I think this … car is going to be ready for this championship battle,” Johnson said in Victory Lane. “I think chances are high. We’re in the show and we’re going to give 100 percent and try to make history.”
Johnson is seeking to become the first driver to win three consecutive titles since Cale Yarborough (1976-78).
It was the final event before NASCAR’s 10-race title hunt begins next week in New Hampshire, and everyone had to wait a day to see which 12 drivers would make the Chase after NASCAR postponed the Saturday start because of Tropical Storm Hanna.
New Chase arrivalsDavid Ragan and Kasey Kahne were the only two drivers mathematically eligible to race their way into the Chase field. Ragan put on a gutsy push before contact with other cars ended his run with a 32nd-place finish.
Kahne finished 19th, giving the final Chase spot to Clint Bowyer.
“I drove everything I could all day,” Kahne said. “It was a long day in the pits — we came out close to last almost every time. But we were never going to beat Clint.”
The Chase field is Johnson, Stewart, Busch, Edwards, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, Denny Hamlin, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton and Bowyer.
Busch goes into the Chase seeded first based on his eight Cup victories this season. He had a rough day at Richmond in his final tuneup for his title run. He was wrecked by Dale Earnhardt Jr. while leading midway through the race, and was later wrecked a second time by Elliott Sadler. Busch finished 15th.
Edwards also had a long day after an early tire problem relegated him to the pack. He finished 13th but is still the second seed in the Chase based on his six previous victories. Johnson is seeded third, with four victories.
The three are the only Chase drivers with multiple victories — five of the title contenders are winless this season — and an intense fight for the championship is expected.
Among the winless drivers are Stewart and Gordon, who have never before gone this deep into the season without a victory. Stewart was visibly frustrated after failing to catch Johnson and end his 39-race winless streak.
Chase Standings
Tiebreaker is best finishes beyond race victories
Pos. Driver Points
1. Kyle Busch 5,080
2. Carl Edwards 5,050
3. Jimmie Johnson 5,040
4. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 5,010
5. Clint Bowyer 5,010
6. Denny Hamlin 5,010
7. Jeff Burton 5,010
8. Tony Stewart 5,000
9. Greg Biffle 5,000
10. Jeff Gordon 5,000
11. Kevin Harvick 5,000
12. Matt Kenseth 5,000
betagnome Chase Points
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