Johnson is almost there

Jimmie Johnson, if he is not yet Sprint Cup Series champion for this 2009 season, did the hardest last night in Phoenix. The three-time reigning champion, who made a mistake in the third round in Texas last weekend, this time controlled the debates from start to finish. Gleaning a seventh victory this season, his fourth since the start of the ?Chase?, the Hendrick Motorsports driver reminded who was the boss. In Miami, next weekend, even if Mark Martin wins with the bonuses (at least one lap in the lead [5 points], greatest number of laps in the lead [5 points]), a place in the top 25 will be enough to Johnson to secure the title which has been in his arms for several weeks.

Jimmie Johnson is not the only driver to stand out in Phoenix. Kurt Busch, who won last weekend in Texas, quickly took control of the Phoenix race, not giving Martin Truex Jr the opportunity to take advantage of his pole. The older Busch brother led the debates for a long time, before the inevitable Jimmie Johnson came to steal first place from him on the 57th lap, then again on the 90th lap. The No. 48 then never let go of the controls of the race in order to secure, at the end of 312 laps, its seventh victory of the season.

Not far from there, Mark Martin finished in fourth place and dropped 35 points to his rival in the quest for the title. Fighting for the podium throughout the race, the veteran was unable to gain the upper hand over Jimmie Johnson, who took a lead of 108 points which could prove almost definitive. By finishing in the top 25 in Miami next weekend for the final race of the championship, Jimmie Johnson will capture a fourth consecutive Sprint Cup Series title.