DOVER, Del. — Jimmie Johnson dominated again in winning a crucial Chase race.
It's become about as routine this time of year on the sports calendar as the start of the NFL season or the baseball playoff stretch drive. If he keeps driving like this, NASCAR can expect another regular fixture in November: Johnson hoisting the series trophy and celebrating a championship.
Johnson thumped the competition in the second Chase for the championship race, sweeping the season races at Dover International Speedway to accelerate his bid for an unprecedented fourth consecutive Sprint Cup title.
"I'm pretty sure that dude is Superman," said Batesville's Mark Martin, the second place finisher.
He was pretty super on the concrete in the No. 48 Chevrolet. If three championships weren't enough to intimidate the rest of the Chase field, the way he won on Sunday should send another message: He's just really getting going on a fourth.
"As far as sending a message, I hope it does," Johnson said. "I hope people are worried."
Johnson cut Martin's points lead with the victory - his fourth of the year and 44th overall - in the second of 10 races in the Chase for the championship.
"I've seen that dude up close and I see why he's so successful," said Martin, Johnson's Hendrick Motorsports teammate. "He works harder at it than anybody else, I think, on the circuit."
No winner of the second Dover race has ever gone on to win the Cup championship. If any driver can reverse that trend, it's Johnson. Much as he did in May, Johnson's No. 48 Chevrolet was out in front for the majority of the 400-mile race.
"I certainly hope that our performance today scaressome people and affects them in a way that benefits us," Johnson said.
Chase drivers took nine of the first 11 spots. Martin followed last week's victory at New Hampshire with a second-place finish, almost two full seconds behind Johnson. Juan Pablo Montoya was fourth and Kurt Busch fifth.
Matt Kenseth was the highest non-Chase driver at third.
Martin holds a 10-point lead over Johnson heading into next week at Kansas Speedway.
"This team is really on a roll right now," Martin said.
Other Chase driver results saw Jeff Gordon finish sixth, Kasey Kahne was eighth, Tony Stewart ninth and Ryan Newman 10th. Carl Edwards was 11th, Greg Biffle 13th, Brian Vickers 18th and Denny Hamlin 22nd.
"It's just two races," Martin said. "I still say that there's 12 in and 12 can win. It might be a challenge for a couple of the ones toward the end of the back."
Johnson won from the pole.
"That's right boys, maximum points! Thank you!" Johnson said over the radio.
Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus also won their 15th Chase race. No one is better down the stretch and it's the main reason why the No. 48 team is going for its record fourth consecutive title.
"Our team is pretty easily motivated," Knaus said.
Sports, Pages 13, 15 on 09/28/2009