It took just 3 hours, 24 minutes and 20 seconds of racing action Sunday at Dover International Speedway to allow "Superman" to reassert his dominance over NASCAR Sprint Cup racing.Jimmie Johnson pounded the field around the concrete one-mile oval for his fifth career win at Dover and fourth of the season to take home the AAA 400 trophy. Johnson led some 271 laps and never looked back despite late cautions that brought the competition back to his bumper three times in final 100 laps.
In doing so, Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus served notice that they don't expect a change from recent years at the celebration following the season's final race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
"New leader: the forty-eight," said someone on Johnson's in-car radio as Johnson flashed past Kurt Busch on lap 176, mimicking what NASCAR race control says each time a new driver takes the lead of a race.
It was probably the worst news any of Johnson's competitors had heard all day.
Johnson wouldn't look back from that point, never relinquishing the lead en route to sweeping the two-race series at Dover for 2009. Johnson's win also tied him with David Pearson for the third-most wins ever by a single driver in NASCAR history at the Delaware track.
"I'm pretty sure that dude is Superman," said runner-up Mark Martin, re-issuing the nickname he's used for Johnson at different points in 2009.
The win allowed Johnson to chop 25 points off the lead held by Martin, his Hendrick Motorsports teammate, in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, putting the No. 48 within striking distance to not only overcome the 10-point deficit to the No. 5 car, but also jump to a big lead if Martin stumbles next week at Kansas Speedway.
Latest NASCAR Images
DOVER, DE - SEPTEMBER 27: A detail of the signature of Jimmie Johnson is seen on the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet in victory lane as Johnson celebrated his win in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway on September 27, 2009 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Jimmie Johnson
Getty Images for NASCAR
DOVER, DE - SEPTEMBER 27: Jimmie Johnson (L of trophy), driver of the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, celebrates with his crew including crew chief Chad Knaus (R of trophy) in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway on September 27, 2009 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Jimmie Johnson;Chad Knaus
Getty Images for NASCAR
DOVER, DE - SEPTEMBER 27: Jimmie Johnson (L of trophy), driver of the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, celebrates with his crew including crew chief Chad Knaus (R of trophy) in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway on September 27, 2009 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Jimmie Johnson;Chad Knaus
Getty Images for NASCAR
DOVER, DE - SEPTEMBER 27: Jimmie Johnson (L) driver of the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, celebrates with a crew member in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway on September 27, 2009 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Jimmie Johnson
Getty Images for NASCAR
DOVER, DE - SEPTEMBER 27: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, celebrates with the trophy in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway on September 27, 2009 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Jimmie Johnson
Getty Images for NASCAR
DOVER, DE - SEPTEMBER 27: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, celebrates with the trophy in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway on September 27, 2009 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Jimmie Johnson
Getty Images for NASCAR
DOVER, DE - SEPTEMBER 27: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway on September 27, 2009 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Jimmie Johnson
Getty Images for NASCAR
DOVER, DE - SEPTEMBER 27: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway on September 27, 2009 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Jimmie Johnson
Getty Images for NASCAR
DOVER, DE - SEPTEMBER 27: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway on September 27, 2009 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Jimmie Johnson
Getty Images for NASCAR
NASCAR drivers race during the AAA 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup auto race, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009, at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
AP
"I'm excited to see that we've gapped some of the other Chase contenders," said Johnson.
Gapped, indeed.
Johnson, second in the standings, now has a 55-point advantage on Juan Pablo Montoya in third, 65 on Kurt Busch in fourth and 96 points on Tony Stewart in 5th.
And while 2009 is starting to show signs of Johnson circa his three straight Sprint Cup titles in 2006, 2007 and 2008, the California driver isn't ready to count out Martin quite yet.
"It's going to be difficult to shake Martin," Johnson said. "There's no free lunch in this sport -- especially racing Mark Martin."
The free lunch for Johnson, though, might come this week as teams start to realize that the No. 48, which has been unstoppable in the past three seasons, is back for more.
"All of these people can get wound up about stuff that really doesn't matter," Johnson said, referring to those who think he might have had an advantage at Dover thanks to a tire test he was involved with back in August. "At the end of the day, all of the talk means nothing. We still have to show up at Kansas and run that race."
If history shows us anything about "that race," Johnson & Co. won't have any troubles maintaining at Kansas. He's got a win at the track and has an average finish of 10.4 -- third-best among drivers who raced there seven or more times.
Sure, there's always the possibility that Johnson could face some unseen trouble. But after seeing the past three seasons and seeing the performance from Sunday at Dover, the reality of such trouble seems quite unrealistic.















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
9-27-2009 @ 9:14PM
hafttwo said...
sometimes the good guys do come in first. lets make it 4 strait
Reply
9-27-2009 @ 9:53PM
pwillis639 said...
Go JJ !! Team 48 is ready to take CONTROL!!! We are very proud of you and the Team!!
Reply
9-27-2009 @ 11:13PM
twinkie2477 said...
Way to go #48!! I'm counting on you! 4 in a row!
Reply
9-28-2009 @ 12:02AM
evan said...
thats my guy GO #48!
Reply
9-28-2009 @ 12:31AM
bfgair said...
Respect your elders and Please take it easy on the old man. Don't turn your back to him but be nice. Between the two of you I only wish there could be two champions. You both deserve it.
Reply
9-28-2009 @ 12:43AM
mbsenlick said...
Go 5 team. You deserve it. Dethrone your teammate of his 4th consecutive championship
Reply
9-28-2009 @ 12:44AM
mbsenlick said...
I say that the 5 and the 48 run away with points battle, but 5 walks away with the title
Reply
9-28-2009 @ 2:52AM
Hello David said...
Funny how they call him "Superman"; that's what they were calling Jimmy Vaser at the high point of his career when they kept comparing him to Jeff Gordon and prematurely declaring him the greatest champ car/ open wheel driver ever! then he was eclipsed and regularly outperformed by his teammate Alex Zanardi, and then was just completely blown away by Juan Montoya when he was his teammate. But that's what Jimmy Johnson is! He's like the Jimmy Vasser of Nascar! He looks really good as long as he has the very best team, equipment and crew chief. it's made pretty easy for him, and although he is a way better driver than Dale Jr. He still couldn't hold a candle to Dale Sr. I would like to see some of the other guys in the exact same car with the exact same amount of experience and at the exact same point in there career, all race each other in identical cars! JJ would still be very good as he IS a talented guy, but I honestly think that as far as being an individual talent, without the edge in equipment, and a genius crew chief, he is not as good as some others like Sam Hornish Jr.,Juan Montoya, Marcos Ambros and AJA! I'm getting tired of people acting like JJ is the best in the World when the best in the world are infact Scot Dixon, Lewis Hamilton and a whole bunch of others who all have way more raw talent than this boring guy.
Reply
9-28-2009 @ 12:24PM
ironhead387 said...
WOW, Hello David I can't believe the statement you've made. JJ has been in Nascar 7 years and has 41 wins, 3 championships & come in second twice. As far as the equipment, Sam Hornish and Kurt Busch drive for Roger Penski who has more money than all the other owners put together and has the best equipment available, so why haven't his drivers won as many races and some championships? I like Sam Hornish and given time he may get used to the cars and start to win. Juan Montoya is getting there also. Equipment will not make a mediocre a winner no matter what you say equipment is only 50% of the equation, the driver the other 50%. All the driver you mention are good drivers but in my opinion so is JJ, give the man his due. I want to see history made and him win his 4th, then next year Mark "the kid" Martin kick butt and win his championship. GO MARK!
9-28-2009 @ 12:44PM
xxxsexyveronica said...
HELLO SIR DAVID,
you may be getting tired of hearing about JJ superman,but many are getting tired of reading your montoya and others F-1 fictious story.
You been elogiating your montoya puppet in every blog and the guy was a hated f1 driver all over europe and a wortheless bull head cachey bean.
In his good days back in the 90's he only won 6 races in how many years?He won an indy champ,was it cart or champ series back then,do not recall.
Question is how he won it? By being a bully and bone head to other drivers and wrecking many of them.He left f-1 in misery and hated and so he did
the cart series. In nascar he has been showing for 3 years how wortheless he was and how many accidents he caused and there too, he tryed repeatedly to bully his way to the top finishes being rude to other drivers on the track and made it to nowhere. Just lately he finally seems to have walked out his nascar training 3 long years stretch when it took tony stewart only 1 season to
become successfull after his transfer from indy.
That sure proves that he is not such great of driver as you describe him continueously but an average driver in a slow learning process.
Last week after the new hampshire race he said next time that martin slowed him down, he was going to wreck him,and soon after he corrected himself saying quote; i won't wreck him but i will bump him, i have a lots of respect for martin.
Acting like the though hercules again against rookie and mellow drivers before and lately against mellow cool clean drivers like jeff burton and mark martin but in 3 years i never once saw THIS FAKE GODZILLA acting though or rude against tony stewart on or off the track and never once i seen him either acting wise ass against the other retired hot head dale jarrett.
It would be nice for you to stick with your f1 or else cartoon heroes and let us worship our gods of nascar like anna calls them.About it?
My congratulations to my top JJ driver. You done it again and you won in a classy fashion and deserved it and so did mark martin finishing 2nd.
May the best of you 2 this year win the title.
9-28-2009 @ 5:52PM
nazcar14anna said said...
WOW VERONICA LOVE AND IRONEAGLE, GREAT POSTING.
NZCR 14 IS WITH YA ALL THE WAY ON THIS MONTANA BUM
I just got done posting in another 2 files against this GRUMPY BULLHEAD DRIVER and now i find you 2 lashing back at the montoya lover poster too. HELLOOO MR DAVID?
WHY do you like this ugly skilless driver so much ah? Are you spsnish? well if you are at the least your rooting for him it's UNDERSTANDABLE.
But don't come on here SLAMMING AND BASHING THE POSTER THAT DISLIKE HIM, like SUNSHINE AND GEORGE HAMILTON in the other file.
You stick with your RICE AND BEANS COUISIN and we stick with our meats and chicken. JAPS stick with their fishing couisin.
Just in about every thread i find your MONTOYA promoting spew and the reality is that HE IS AND WAS THO MOST HATED DRIVER IN EUROPE IN HIS F-1 DAYS AND EVEN NOW. SLOWLY it's becoming the SAME HERE IN US.
And if he wins the champ(which i doubt it)NAZCAR ATTENDANCE ON THE GRAND STANDS WILL DROP ANOTHER
40 TO 50% on top of the already dropped poor attendance cause the bad economy.
On the track montana is no dale3, no tystew, no kyle bush, no jeff gordon, no jimmy johnson, no R pretty etc etc.
IN HIS ENTIRE CAREER OF F-1--INDY---NAZCAR HE HAS WON LESS RACES THAN YOUR 2 HANDS FINGER COUNT.
His name is a little more known compare to some other because he won 2 very popular races;the MONACO GRAN PRIX IN EUROPE, THE INDY 500 HERE IN THE USA but a race popular worldwide. THAT'S ALL!
HE IS A NOBODY IN DRIVING SKILLS AND DRIVING LONG TIME RECORDS!
HE won 1 nazcar race in 3 years at the poor man road courses tracks like SONOMA and the only reason he won, it was cause he wrecked his teammate AJ ALMOND DIGER OUT OF THE WAY.
HIS CART champ was due to the misfortunes of other drivers and his BULLY ROUGH RUDE DRIVING.
However he will not attempt such practices against hot tempered drivers.
IT'S EASY TO PLAY BIG THOUGH BOY AGAINST THE WEAK AND MELLOW BUT HE CHICKENS OUT against the REAL THOUGH HOT TEMPERED DRIVERS OF NAZCAR-F1-INDY.
And i'm not trashing him because he is spanish.I'M TRASHING HIM FOR AGES BECAUSE HE IS AN OBNOXIOUS, CACKEY,DIRT BALL SPECIES 10 TIMES MORE THAN THE KYLIE.
NZCR14 SAID SO....
9-28-2009 @ 7:20AM
illsell4u said...
I guess that is your opinion David but the reality of it is that the chase format is made for a great combination like JJ and Chad. They are very good all early season, winning races and trying things for the chase. BUt when the chase comes around, they have it down to perfection.
They changed cars and guess what, these two are still doing exactly what they have been doing all along. The driver drives what the crew chief gives him. If the driver cannot communicate what the car is doing properly, the crew chief cannot set the car up correctly. These guys are in each others head and it shows come chase time, every time. Top ten or even top five finishes are not going to beat this team. You are going to have to finish top three every week if you want a chance.
Every time someone starts to shine the critics come out and say "if my diver had the same crew chief and equipment he would be bullet proof too". The fact is that if their driver had a talent he would have been hired by the best and given the best equipment to begin with.
mbl
mbl
Reply
9-28-2009 @ 6:33PM
anzajoe said...
OOPS I forgot to say; CONGRATS TO SAINT JIMMY AND MMARTINI for winning such a great race. They both
well earned the 2 top finishs.My main driver has improved a little but still at the poor end of performance even though his points position has not slipped that bad but i doubt 6hat him or JG
are going to own this year title.
And SOMEBODY PLEASE, ANYBODY OF THE 12 DRIVERS
PUT THE MONTANA THING IN THE GUTTER SO WE WILL NOT HEAR ANYMORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
9-28-2009 @ 7:45AM
Kim said...
Oh yea!!!! I only knew it was a short matter of time before JJ started winning and running away with the chase as he has the past three years. Yes, JJ & Chad have pefected the Chase format and have proven so in the "win" column. I think Martin is having a fantastic year and I am equally impressed by him and his team. That being said, my money is still on my main man, JJ for his fourth in a row! Go get em' "Superman!"
Kim
P.S. Mad props to Alan Gustafson for giving Mark Martin the best racing year of his life! It's about time Gustafson had a driver that would LISTEN to him and allow him to do his thing, once again proving that a winning crew chief is still a winning crew chief when he has the right driver! Mark Martin is class all the way!!!
Reply
9-28-2009 @ 9:46AM
illsell4u said...
Kim, people keep saying that it is Mark's best year of his career. He has finished 2nd in points four times in his career. While he is 2nd in the Chase format right now he is no place even close to 2nd in total points for the year. How is this the best year of his career? help me understand.mbl
9-28-2009 @ 10:04AM
Kim said...
Mike,
I think many including myself are saying it's Mark Martin's best year ever mostly because Mark has said that himself. Yes, he's been close several times before, but he has said repeadidly this season that he is having the time of his life and his "best year ever."
Kim
9-28-2009 @ 10:19AM
illsell4u said...
Ok, if Mark says so I can go along with that.
I sent you an email a week ago and never heard back. Was it hijacked by a family member?
9-29-2009 @ 9:09AM
Kim said...
Hey Mike!
Apparently I need to set up my own email addy. And yes, it more than likely was "hijacked," (too funny) by a family member. Since my boys entered middle school this year, they are now on the computer constantly for school stuff, then add hubby to the mix, I am lucky if I get at it at all anymore. I am sure the little boogers don't do it on purpose! Like I said before, hubby is "spam" happy. I will set up my own account and give it to you and others who want to email me.
:-)
Kim
9-28-2009 @ 8:00AM
salesconsl said...
So nice to see Kilie finish where he should be, out of the top 30.
Reply
9-28-2009 @ 9:03AM
Jim said...
Ever since Bill France jr. died and his cokehead son, Brian has been in charge, Rick Hendrick has run NASCAR and made the rules. On any given race day anyone of 3 Hendrick drivers have the best chance to win and the other one makes them big money in NASCAR merchandise sales. Having said that, I really like Jimmy, Mark and Jeff, but all this Hendrick winning makes for boring racing. The car makes for boring racing to begin with and having one team so strong makes it worse. With that said, go Mark. You have enough Jimmy. It's Mark's turn and long overdue.
Reply