Saturday, October 1, 2011

Time Champion - Jimmie Johnson Remains Optimistic About Sprint Cup Title Chances

Could Delaware be Jimmie Johnson 's Waterloo?

Johnson can be looking to win accurate documentation sixth consecutive championship inside NASCAR 's Sprint Cup Series, but he is within issues seeing that rushing resumes Sunday from Dover International Speedway .

After not one but two backrounds in NASCAR's 10-race Chase for the Cup playoff, Johnson is definitely 10th one of the 12 Chase drivers, a large 29 things at the rear of head , a two- time champion whom won each races.

It's the minimum Johnson includes ever previously recently been from the Chase standings, and also he demands a strong featuring at Dover upskill his situation for the reason that in the event that your dog doesn't, the actual El Cajon native nicknamed "Five Time" could finish upward remaining only that will during season's end.

"I don't think we're prepared where it truly is earn or nothing," Johnson informed reporters at Dover on Friday, although he or she additional which "we have to have a top-three run here."

There is definitely reason when you consider Johnson might boost his Chase hard work Sunday.

Johnson has more is the winner at Dover (six) than any other active Cup driver, along with overall he trails only NASCAR tales Bobby Allison , who seem to every single had seven.

Johnson, 36, is also near driving several other drivers inside Chase and can even leapfrog a variety of them with a good work Sunday. Jeff Gordon , a four-time champ and Johnson's teammate with Hendrick Motorsports, is fifth while in the standings although just six points in front of Johnson.

The drivers sixth through ninth while in the standings Matt Kenseth (the 2003 series champion), Dale Earnhardt Jr. and (the 2005 champion) are generally get rid of compared to some details ahead of Johnson.

"I do not think that will Jimmie is out with friends of it by way of any kind of means," said , who's third within the standings. "He's truly possibly not that will far back." But, Keselowski added, "He surely cannot have any longer awful races."

Under the latest points program NASCAR implemented the following year, a new car owner can certainly earn approximately seventy two points by means of winning a battle in addition to contributing the best laps while the last-place finisher gets just one point.

"We've recently been during this place ahead of and now have been behind," Johnson said. "I without doubt believe I can be quite a component to this particular championship battle from a several of months if most people go out plus complete what we recognize you can easlily do."

But Dover, dubbed "The Monster Mile," is definitely a treacherous one-mile speedway which will spawn numerous wrecks. One issue might conclude Johnson's contest even if their No. seventy two Chevrolet makes trapped with a persons mistake.

At Dover's early spring kind in May, Johnson brought your race-high 207 laps. But Kenseth won following changing a couple four tires on his or her last pit stop when needed four, as well as Johnson accomplished ninth.

Johnson's only victory this particular time of year came 30 days earlier, whenever he or she nipped Clint Bowyer with a feet at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

To earn a sixth Cup title, Johnson also offers to beat the actual beginning momentum enjoyed through Stewart along with his two Chase victories.

Stewart has been the past drivers for you to win the actual Cup shining before Johnson initiated his or her talent throughout 2006, another year or so whereby Johnson started the actual Chase inadequately but rallied.

james.peltz@latimes.com

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