So it's over? No not yet

Let’s face it…the way Jimmie Johnson and his Chad Knaus team is running right now all they have to do next week is show up to Homestead and celebrate…

Of course the were probably full of that same confidence at Texas, and that didn’t work out so good

Odds favor Johnson winning his fourth championship next week in Miami, but as Johnson himself pointed out in victory lane Sunday at Phoenix as he celebrated his seventh win of the year, they could very well suffer a fate worse than Texas just seven days prior and the Chase could have a very dramatic outcome indeed.

Johnson needs to finish 25h or better at Homestead and while no doubt many would like to see a closer points battle, the fact remains that heading to the final race of the year the guy in first place in the standings isn’t assured of the championship just yet. Just seven days prior to his Phoenix celebration, Johnson crashed on lap 3 at Texas and limped home to a 38th place finish.

If that type of scenario plays out next Sunday, and Mark Martin continues his strong steady runs, the finish to the 2009 Chase for the Sprint Cup could have a very different and dramatic outcome.

Johnson himself isn’t going to Homestead ready to celebrate.

“I'm not thinking about a party, what I'm saying, what I'm doing. I'll be driving laps,” Johnson said. “When I go home tonight, I'm going to be driving laps, what I think I need to do in qualifying trim so I can put my best effort in on Friday. Same thing for race practice on Saturday, and go racing Sunday.

“Texas was such a good lesson,” he added. “And I hope that the points we lost in Texas isn't what keeps us from winning this championship.”

For Martin who is second in points, his post race was spent sitting on the pit wall consoling himself with fourth place finish Sunday. He wouldn’t say so, but Martin knows it isn’t over and Johnson is will aware of that.

“That man wants it,” Johnson said. “We've all seen it. I think with his experience, he's done a very good job separating the emotions of wanting to win it. He's just out there giving a hundred percent. I respect his ability to separate the two. But he wants it. Definitely wants it.”

It will be a two-driver show come Sunday at Homestead. For those behind Martin the hope of a season championship ended several races ago and all they could do was watch as Johnson and the Hendrick machine pulled ahead.

Drivers like Roush-Fenway Racing’s Greg Biffle. A long shot seeded 12th when the Chase began, several poor finishes took him out of contention early and a 14th place Sunday left the normally talkative Biffle with very little to say.

"What we got is what we got,” he said. “It's been that way all year. There was no light at the end of the tunnel. Just keep after it."

Biffle and his teammate and fellow Chase contender Carl Edwards, have at least one thing to look forward to next week.

Edwards won at Homestead last year and Biffle leads all drivers with three wins there.

Johnson on the other hand, has never won at Homestead and finished 15th last year. In 2005 he finished 40th.

Next Sunday will most likely end with Johnson celebrating his fourth series championship while NASCAR witnesses an historic first as the Cup title will be his fourth consecutive. But wily veteran Mark Martin isn’t giving up, two Roush drivers with a history of success at Homestead who have gone winless this year will be looking to make a statement and the rest of use could be in for a great show. 
 Mark Martin Over Jimmie Johnson By 108 Points

How many times has Mark Martin gained more than 108 points on Jimmie Johnson in one race?

The answer's 9, including once at Homestead, in 2005. Here's the list in chronological order.

RACE DATE   TRACK NAME                          MARTIN JOHNSON      GAIN
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11/3/2002       North Carolina Speedway              180          52              128
6/6/2004         Dover International Speedway        185          72              113
8/15/2004       Watkins Glen International             165         48              117
8/22/2004       Michigan International Speedway    175         43              132
11/20/2005     Homestead-Miami Speedway         175          43             132
2/18/2007       Daytona International Speedway     175         46              129
4/15/2007       Texas Motor Speedway                 165          49             116
6/10/2007       Pocono Raceway                          151          37             114
11/8/2009       Texas Motor Speedway                 160          49             111

SOURCE: NASCAR PR

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