11.19.07
Johnson wins second NASCAR title
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JIMMIE Johnson won his second successive NASCAR championship after defending his points lead over Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon in the final race of the season.
Matt Kenseth of Roush won the 400 mile race but Johnson finished seventh to ensure he ended the championship with a 77 point lead over four-times champion Gordon - who finished fourth.
Johnson went into the race knowing that even if Gordon - who won back-to-back titles in 1997 and 1998 - won the battle he only needed to finish 19th to keep top spot in the standings.
The 32-year-old Johnson, driving a Chevrolet, took few risks in a race which saw Kurt Busch finish second and Denny Hamlin third.
Johnson’s title win was the seventh triumph for team owner Rick Hendrick and completed an outstanding season for the driver who claimed 10 victories throughout the 36 race season - including four of the last five races.
“I don’t think I have seen a more dominant performance since I have been in racing,” said Hendrick of Johnson’s season.
“I was in the right frame of mind and focused on the right things and I had great support from my team,” said Johnson, who came from 68 points behind Gordon to clinch the title.
The rivalry between the two team mates has always been calmed by friendship and Johnson described Gordon as “a great friend and a great teammate”.
Gordon, consistent throughout the season, said he had paid the price for being conservative, whereas Johnson had shown the determination and risk-taking needed to come from behind.
“In those four races they got aggressive and we were maybe a little conservative. They got the wins at crucial times and they beat us - that is the bottom line,” said Gordon.
“It is always about risk versus reward but other than a bit more of an aggressive approach in the car set up, I am not sure what more we can do on the track.”
Gordon, 36, was Johnson’s mentor when the younger man entered the sport six years ago, and he said he was aware that time was now running out for him.
“I don’t feel like I am done yet but I know I don’t have a lot of years left to be this competitive,” he said.
Johnson though is looking forward to plenty more successes.
“We are just hitting our stride, there are a lot of good years ahead of us and hopefully a third championship,” he said.
Hendrick will be strengthened next year by the sport’s most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt Junior, who raced for the last time for DEI - the team founded by his late father.
Earnhardt Jr. decided to quit DEI, run by his stepmother Teresa, after his request for 51 per cent ownership of the company was rebuffed - he finished a disappointing 36th.