Cale Yarbrough was the only other driver to perform the feat 30 years ago. 

Johnson ran a very conservative race to have a 36^th place finish or better. Throughout the race Johnson kept out of trouble, not pushing the car or getting into any banging with other drivers.  

Late in the race, Johnson was able to lead a few laps in the race after a two tire stop, allowing him to enjoy the clean air. The issue came down to fuel mileage. In the closing laps of the race, almost all the drivers came in for fuel, except Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards. 

With a few to go, the two conserved as much fuel as they could. But with three to go, Kenseth ran out of fuel, barely making it to pit road. This left the question, could Edwards make it. 

Edwards was able to perform the same feat at Texas Motor Speedway a few weeks earlier. This time Edwards had over a 15 second lead over David Ragan. At the three to go mark, Edwards was almost not on the gas the entire track. With one to go Edwards was running out of fuel. Coming out of turn four the car sputtered, but was able to make it across the start / finish line to take home his 9^th win for the season. 

Edwards grabbed his 16^th win in 157 Cups races. This is his 9^th victory and 27^th top ten finish for the year. Edwards won his first race here tonight, although his 4^th top ten finish at this track. 

To date Johnson has run 108 races with 22 wins. At the end of the event, Johnson had a 69 point lead on Edwards.

Johnson finished the 2008 season with seven wins, 15 top-five finishes and 22 top-10s. He had just one DNF. 

Three of his victories and eight of his top-10s came during the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. 

Johnson’s third championship comes in his seventh year of full-time competition in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He has finished in the top five in the final points standings all seven of those years. 

Team/Car Owner: Rick Hendrick/Jeff Gordon 

• This is the eighth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship for Hendrick Motorsports, second only to Petty Enterprises (nine).

• This is Hendrick’s 25th fulltime season as a team owner and Gordon’s seventh year as a car owner.

• This is car owner Jeff Gordon’s third championship – all with Johnson. 

Crew Chief: Chad Knaus 

• Chad Knaus won his third series championship as a crew chief – all with Johnson. He becomes the first crew chief in series history to win three consecutive championships.

• Knaus is 37 years old and from Rockford, Ill. This is his eighth season as a crew chief – seventh with Hendrick Motorsports and Johnson as driver. 

FOR THE LAST TIME THIS YEAR – YOUR PRE-RACE CHATTER 

If Johnson does win the 2008 title, he’ll join one of the sport’s greats — Cale Yarborough — as the only drivers to win three consecutive series championships. He also can accomplish the feat on the 30th anniversary of Yarborough’s last title (1976-78). 

Also notable: If Johnson does take the title, it will be Hendrick Motorsports’ eighth driver championship and 11th owner championship across NASCAR’s three national series. The latter would tie Richard Childress Racing for the most national series titles.  

“I really think where we are in points is going to allow me to go to Homestead and take a little pressure off my brain this week,” Johnson said. “We can just go down and relax and get in the car and set it up, just do what we know how to do.”

Here’s what he must do to clinch his third consecutive series title — finish 36th or better on Sunday.  

Over the past nine Chase races, Johnson has three wins, six top fives, eight top 10s, an average finish of 4.7 and a Chase-high Driver Rating of 118.7. 

Edwards has had an excellent Chase as well, winning two races and racking up seven top fives, an average finish of 8.8 and a Driver Rating of 113.2.  

He’ll need a lot of help to catch Johnson, but there is some precedence at Homestead-Miami. Edwards gained 127 points on Johnson during the 2005 season finale there. He finished fourth while Johnson finished 40th. If Edwards had won that race, he would have gained 147 points — six more than his current deficit to Johnson heading into Ford Championship Weekend. 

“It’s possible, not real probable,” Edwards said, “but I guarantee that’s not going to change the way we do business. We’re going to go to Homestead with everything we’ve got. We’ll be aggressive and try to win the race.”  

QUALIFYING NOTES

David Reutimann won the Coors Light Pole Award for the FORD 400 with a lap of 31.462 seconds, 171.636 mph.

This is his first pole in 63 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.

This is his first pole and fifth top-10 start in 2008. He became the 23rd driver to win poles in all three national series.

This is his first pole in two races at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Scott Speed (second) posted his career first top-10 in his first race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Matt Kenseth (third) posted his second top-10 start at Homestead-Miami Speedway.  It is his 14th in 36 races this season.

Regan Smith (26th) was the fastest qualifying rookie. 

OK – NOW LET’S LIGHT THOSE TIRES AND BURN THOSE FIRES!! 

Reutimann and Speed bring the filed for the last time for the start of the event. By the back stretch Kenseth sails past Speed to take over second place. Lap 2 out of turn two Kenseth challenges Reutimann for the lead. At the start of lap 3 Kenseth is the leader. 

In turn three Edwards flies by Reutimann. Lap 5 Reutimann may not have the best handling car. Lap 6 Jimmy Johnson started the race pretty far in the back. Johnson has moved himself up to 22^nd. Lap 8 Edwards asks his team if Kenseth can let him lead a lap to close in on Johnson. 

Lap 10 Kenseth seems to be content with being the leader and not letting Edwards go by for lap. Kenseth could remember an incident with Edwards back a few races that might motivate him to make Edwards work for the position. 

Lap 13 Edwards finally gets his 5 points for leading a lap. Lap 16 Johnson has moved up to 19^th. Lap 18 Kenseth led for a lap or two and on lap 19 Edwards is back in the lead. Lap 22 Reutimann runs in 4^th place, after Kevin Harvick passed him for 3^rd. 

Lap 25 your top ten drivers are Edwards, Kenseth, Harvick, Reutimann, David Ragan, Speed, Jamie McMurray, Casey Mears, Martin Truex Jr. and Tony Stewart. Lap 33 the field almost encircles the track. Lap 38 Kyle Busch pushes Denny Hamlin along the back of the track as they run 13^th and 14^th. 

Lap 46 most of the cars have dropped a second and a half from the start of the race. Pit stops will be coming in the next ten laps. Lap 47 Edwards leads Harvick by 2 seconds and 3^rd place Kenseth by 4.1 seconds. Lap 48 drivers a lap down are Chad McCumbee, Michael Waltrip, Tony Raines, Brad Keselowski, Marcos Ambrose, Kurt Busch with Paul Menard and Bobby Labonte to be next. 

Lap 50 Robby Gordon heads to pit road. Lap 51 Kurt Busch, Waltrip, Menard, Mears, Allmendinger. Lap 52 Kenseth, Edwards, Earnhardt Jr., Bowyer, Harvick and many others head to pit road. 

After pit stops by lap 57 your top 20 drivers are Edwards, Harvick, Ragan, Reutimann, Truex Jr., McMurray, Kenseth, Mears, Stewart, Jeff Burton, Montoya, Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Speed, Johnson, Bill Elliott, Robby Gordon, Bowyer, Vickers and Earnhardt Jr. 

Lap 59 Edwards leads Harvick by 1 second and 3^rd place Ragan by 7 seconds. Lap 62 29 drivers remain on the lead lap. Add Joe Nemechek, Ryan Newman, Regan Smith, and Elliott Sadler to the lap down list. Lap 64 Aric Almirola has fallen a lap down with Allmendinger, Blaney and Marlin to be next on the list. 

YELLOW FLAG lap 70 as Almirola spins out of turn 4 with no contact. Looks like he will have some flat tires to replace. Allmendinger will be the lucky dog. The leaders head to pit road. The race back to the track is Edwards, Harvick, Bowyer, Ragan and Reutimann. 

GREEN FLAG lap 75 as your top ten drivers of Edwards, Harvick, Bowyer, Ragan, Reutimann, McMurray, Kenseth, Stewart, Truex Jr. and Mears race past the start finish line.  

Lap 82 Edwards is increasing his lead to 3 seconds over Harvick. Johnson has moved up to 11^th place. Lap 86 where is the Chase race at the moment? Johnson leads Edwards by 76 points. Biffle is 3^rd in the standings running 29^th, Burton 4^th running 15^th, Harvick 5^th running 3^rd, Bowyer 6^th running 7^th, Jeff Gordon 7^th running 12^th, Kenseth 8^th running 8^th, Hamlin 9^th running 10^th, Stewart 10^th running 5^th, Kyle Busch 11^th running 13^th and Earnhardt Jr. 12^th running 17^th. The top ten will make the awards banquet. Earnhardt is 2 points behind Kyle Busch and 12 points behind Stewart. 

Lap 94 Edwards still running away from the field who is up to a 3.7 lead over Ragan and 5.5 seconds over 3^rd place Harvick.  

Lap 100 your top 20 drivers are – Edwards, Ragan, Harvick, Reutimann, Stewart, McMurray, Hamlin, Kenseth, Bowyer, Mears, Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch, Earnhardt Jr., Montoya, Burton, Vickers, Truex Jr., Gilliland and Speed. So far we have seen 7 lead changes among 5 leaders and 1 caution for 4 laps. 28 drivers are on the lead lap with all 43 drivers still on the track. 

Lap 107 Edwards has increased his lead to 6.5 seconds. Lap 112 Johnson closes in on Bowyer for 10^th place. Jeff Gordon is on Johnson’s heels as well. Lap 114 Edwards is up to 6.6 seconds over Ragan and 17 seconds over 10^th place Jeff Gordon. 

Lap 117 Bowyer looses 3 positions as Jeff Gordon, Earnhardt and Johnson pass him to put him back to 13^th place. Gordon also passed Kenseth to take 9^th. Lap 120 Jeff Gordon works on Mears to take over 8^th place, which for Gordon has been a 29 position move to the front. 

Lap 123 other drivers a lap down are Marlin, Sorenson, Kahne, Biffle and Riggs. Almirola comes into pit road and is given a speeding ticket where he will have to come back down pit road to make up for it. 

Lap 125 pit stops begin. Stewart and Kyle Busch are on pit road. This opens the flood gates as we see 15 drivers come in. Lap 131 after this round of pit stops Edwards stays in front with a 2.7 second lead over Ragan and the rest of your top ten of Stewart, Hamlin, Reutimann, Harvick, McMurray, Earnhardt Jr., Johnson and Jeff Gordon. 

Lap 136, 21 drivers remain on the lead lap. Lap 139 Bill Elliott is now a lap down to make it 20 on the lead lap with Speed on the list. 

YELLOW FLAG lap 140 for debris in turn 2. Elliott is the lucky dog. The race back to the track is Edwards, Hamlin, McMurray, Ragan and Kyle Busch.  

GREEN FLAG lap 147 with a full field side by side as Edwards and Hamlin bring the field back up to speed. Lap 150 and your top 20 drivers are – Edwards, Hamlin, McMurray, Ragan, Kyle Busch, Harvick, Jeff Gordon, Mears, Stewart, Reutimann, Johnson, Montoya, Truex Jr., Burton, Bowyer, Kenseth, Gilliland, Kenseth, Allmendinger, Earnhardt Jr. and Speed. 

YELLOW FLAG lap 151 as Kurt Busch blows a tire and slams the outside wall in turn 4. Kahne is the lucky dog this time. Most of the leaders stay out. Some of the guys in the back of the lead pack pit. 

GREEN FLAG lap 157 as Edwards and Hamlin get the show underway once again. Lap 160 action on the track as Stewart battles with Harvick for 6^th place as Robby Gordon is in the middle of the action, but a lap down. Lap 162 three wide action between Mears, Reutimann and Montoya. 

Lap 164 Montoya and Reutimann bang into each other as the jockey for 9^th place. Lap 167 (100 to go) Ragan challenges Kyle Busch for 4^th place. Busch holds Ragan off. Stewart passed Harvick for 6^th. 

YELLOW FLAG lap 168 as Ambrose comes up into Sorenson. Ambrose tears apart the left front of his car. Most of the leaders head to pit road. Reutimann, Kenseth, Bowyer, Gilliland and Edwards are the first five back to racing. Biffle is the lucky dog. 

GREEN FLAG lap 174 with the top ten drivers of Jeff Gordon, Reutimann, Kenseth, Bowyer, Gilliland, Edwards, Hamlin, Truex Jr., Ragan and Allmendinger restart all over the track. Looking like Dega or Tona with three and almost four wide. 

Lap 177 (90 to go) three wide with Stewart, Johnson and Elliott. 

YELLOW FLAG 90 to go as Burton spins out on the back stretch. Riggs is the lucky dog. Allmendinger, Johnson, Earnhardt Jr. and Mears pit, while the rest stay on the track. 

GREEN FLAG lap 182 (85 to go) as Jeff Gordon and Kenseth get the show going again. A slow restart by Gordon bunches the field. Lots of three wide action in the middle of the pack. Lap 185 Kenseth challenges Gordon for the lead on the outside. Lap 186 Kenseth leads once again. 

80 to go and Johnson is stuck back in 17^th. A 36^th place finish or better will give him the championship. Burton is on pit road with continued issues. 76 to go, Hamlin challenges Jeff Gordon for 2^nd place. Hamlin on the low side looks to be stronger, but Gordon does not give way easily. 75 to go Edwards is in the mix waiting to see when he can make a move past the two. 

70 to go the movers of the race have been Allmendinger from 43^rd to 19^th, Gilliland 34^th to 16^th, Riggs 39^th to 15^th, Johnson 30^th to 13^th, Bowyer 27^th to 8^th, Stewart 13^th to 5^th, Hamlin 25^th to 3^rd and Jeff Gordon 37^th to 2^nd. 

YELLOW FLAG lap 198 for Sorenson who blows a tire and slams the wall. Kvapil is the lucky dog. Leaders head to pit road. We will need one more stop to make it to the end of the race. The race out of pit road is Johnson, Kenseth, Edwards, Hamlin and Harvick. Johnson leads for the first time today. 

Lap 200 your top 20 drivers are Johnson, Kenseth, Edwards, Hamlin, Harvick, Stewart, Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Bowyer, Reutimann, McMurray, Montoya, Biffle, Ragan, Earnhardt Jr., Gilliland, Mears, Truex Jr., Allmendinger and Elliott.  

We have seen 11 lead changes among 7 leaders and 6 cautions for 29 laps. 25 drivers are on the lead lap. 

GREEN FLAG with 64 to go. Johnson did not look good on the restart with Kenseth on his bumper. Hamlin almost hits the back of Edwards’ car. 62 to go Kenseth on the inside of Johnson for the lead.  

YELLOW FLAG 61 to go Kurt Busch slams the wall out of turn four, Busch rides along the wall until turn two where he hits it harder. Newman is the lucky dog. 

GREEN FLAG lap 211 as Kenseth and Johnson lead the drivers to turn one. All 43 drivers remain on the track. 54 laps to go Kenseth pulls away from Johnson to a 1.1 second lead. 51 to go Hamlin takes 2^nd from Johnson. Ragan and Reutimann battle for 10^th. 

50 to go Ragan on the inside line completes the pass on Reutimann. 48 Harvick makes a challenge on Earnhardt Jr. for 12^th place. Earnhardt holds him off. 47 to go Edwards closes in on Johnson for 3^rd place. 46 to go Kenseth leads by 2 seconds over Hamlin. 

43 to go Hamlin seems to be falling off as Johnson and Edwards close in on him. 42 to go Stewart closes in on Edwards for 4^th place. Earnhardt Jr. works on Reutimann for 11^th. 

40 to go Johnson on the high side, Edwards on the low side as the inch in on Hamlin for 2^nd. In turn three Johnson allows Edwards and Stewart to pass. Johnson is told to save fuel, as he might be able to make it the distance. 

37 to go Edwards, Stewart and Hamlin are three wide in turn four as they battle for 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th. Edwards starts to save fuel. 36 to go Stewart takes 2^nd from Hamlin.

30 to go Kenseth leads by 1.5 seconds. We see a few of the guys a lap or more down make a pit stop. 29 to go Earnhardt Jr. closes in on Ragan for 9^th place. Earnhardt picked up 10^th from Biffle a few laps back. 27 to go Earnhardt takes 9^th. 

26 to go Stewart closes in on Kenseth for the lead. 25 to go your top ten drivers are Kenseth, Stewart, Edwards, Hamlin, Johnson, Kyle Busch, Bowyer, Montoya, Earnhardt Jr. and Ragan. 

23 to go as he makes the challenge for the lead on the outside and takes the lead with 22 to go. 21 to go we hear that Earnhardt Jr. may have some type of steering issue. Reutimann is in for a stop. The team changes four tires and on pit out we hear that Earnhardt has a broken part on his car. This will drop him to 12^th place in the points. His night is basically done. 

18 to go Biffle is on pit road. We hear that Earnhardt has a broken brake on the car. 16 to go Montoya is in for his stop. 

15 to go Stewart leads Kenseth by 2.5 seconds. 14 to go Johnson is in for two tires and fuel. 12 to go Hamlin and Stewart are in for fuel. 

10 to go as Kenseth leads Edwards by a few car lengths. 9 to go as we hear the team tell Edwards to save his fuel. 

7 to go Kenseth looks to be going to the end of the race. 

6 to go Kenseth, Edwards and Ragan are the top three. 

5 to go Edwards is big time lifting the gas pedal to make it. 

4 to go Kenseth is in Edwards view, Johnson is 1 lap down in 20^th. 

3 to go Kenseth is out of gas Edwards is the leader. 

2 to go as Edwards coasts in the turns. 

WHITE FLAG as Edwards is almost not on the gas on the track at all. Turn three and four Edwards runs out of gas… 

CHECKERED FLAG as Edwards is crossing the start / finish line. Johnson takes the championship. 

This is Johnson’s 3^rd Championship and done in a row. The team tells Johnson that they wanted him in for gas so he could do a victory burn out. Johnson finished 15^th. 

Edwards coasts to the start finish line for the customary flip. 

The race lasted for a bit more than 3 hours. We saw 15 lead changes among 8 leaders. 7 cautions came out that lasted for 32 laps. 41 drivers finished on the track. 

Edwards led the most laps with 157. Kenseth led the 2^nd most with 73, Jeff Gordon 16, Stewart 11, Johnson 6, Montoya 2 and Harvick and Reutimann 1. 

Kevin Harvick (second) posted his sixth top-10 finish in eight races at Homestead-Miami Speedway.  It is his 19th top-10 finish in 2008.

Jamie McMurray (third) posted his third top-10 finish in seven races at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Regan Smith (34th) was the highest finishing rookie. 

PERSONAL NOTES 

I want to thank all of you who have read all the information that I have written on this site. Not too many places will let you write as much as you have read here. This is something that you, the fan can read the overview, then the lap by lap coverage to see the action that many sites do not give you. 

I hope that I can keep this going in the 2009 race season to keep you informed.

Please, make sure that you stop by our site as much as you can, and let us know how we are doing. It is good to have a vacation after 36 races in 10 months. I hope through the tough times that we all face that you make it to a race to support NASCAR and your favorite driver. 

If you can’t, please stop by SpeedwayMedia to catch all the inside information on the weekend saga that our drivers face. 

Enjoy! And Happy Holidays from all of our staff.