From the November, 2006 issue of Stock Car Insider
Jimmie Johnson Widens His Lead at Phoenix
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| Jimmie Johnson has been nothing short of dominant over the last five races of the Chase. His average finish over that time has been 1.8. That's incredible considering the odds Johnson has had to overcome through the final 10 races of the Chase. As you remember, the Chase started out with Johnson in the lead. However, he quickly relinquished that lead at New Hampshire in the Sylvania 300 where he finished in 39th position. With a 13th place finish at Dover, a 14th place finish at Kansas, and a 24th place finish at Talladega, it seemed unlikely that Johnson would climb out of the large crater he dug for himself in the first 4 races of the Chase. However, looking like a sherpa on Mt Everest, Johnson scaled his way back up the points standings by rattling off five consecutive top 2 finishes. Those top 2 finishes were anything but easy. Take yesterday's Checker Auto Parts 500 for example. Johnson started in 29th position and spent the first half of the race picking his way towards the front. In these last 5 races, Johnson has shown us that he has the desire and courage, qualities that seemingly eluded him in the previous two Nextel Cup Champsionships, to compete for this year's Nextel Cup Championship.
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