#11-Denny Hamlin’s late charge to the win at Texas unseated leader #48-Jimmie Johnson, only the second time the lead has changed hands this late in the Chase. In Johnson’s dramatic comeback bid in 2006 to win his first Chase, he took second to #17-Matt Kenseth’s 12th at Texas and grabbed the lead for good. The lead has not changed hands after race #9 or #10 in six previous Chases. Even though regaining the lead at Phoenix would be a Chase first, Johnson has bested Hamlin at Phoenix eight of nine times, including winning the last three Chase races at PIR.
How the Chase standings looked with two races to go since it started in 2004:
2009 (After 8 Races)
1-JOHNSON 6297/+73
2-Martin 6224/-73
3-Jeff Gordon 6185/-112
2008 (After 8 Races)
1-JOHNSON 6366/+106
2-Edwards 6260/-106
3-Biffle 6223/-143
2007 (After 8 Races)
1-JOHNSON 6382/+30
2-J Gordon 6352/-30
3-Bowyer 6201/-181
2006 (After 8 Races)
1-JOHNSON 6157/+17
2-Kenseth 6140/-17
3-Dale Jr. 6079/-78
4-Hamlin 6077/-80
2005 (After 8 Races)
1-STEWART 6255/+38
2-Johnson 6217/-38
3-Edwards 6178/-77
2004 (After 8 Races)
1-KU BUSCH 6191/+41
2-J Gordon 6150/-41
3-Dale Jr 6144/-47
4-Johnson 6143/-48
See more stats and notes on the Chase Stats after Texas page and my 2010 Chase Notes and History page.(11-11-2010)
