Jimmie Johnson will display the NASCAR Top 10 logo on the rear deck lid of his #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet in Sunday’s Ford 400 season finale to celebrate his presence on a pretigious list of drivers who have been consistently ranked in the top 10 in points. Johnson enters this weekend having been ranked among the top 10 in points for 68 consecutive weeks, dating to last years race at Atlanta. The streak is the longest among active drivers and ranks ninth all-time in the modern era (since 1972) [see the top 11 in the list on my Stats and Stats Links page ]. Next up for Johnson to chase is Darrell Waltrip, who holds the #8 position at 86 weeks. The all-time record is held by the late Dale Earnhardt with 174 consecutive weeks among the top 10 in points. Earnhardt’s record-setting 174 weeks occurred over the course of seven seasons, beginning Feb. 23, 1986, at Richmond, Va. The streak concluded March 1 in the second race of the 1992 season at Rockingham, N.C., where he finished 24th.( ThatsRacin.com )(11-15-2003)
