#48-Jimmie Johnson’s 1572 Chase points represents the second lowest total of his five-year reign, bettering only title #1 in 2006 as he scored 1430 points. 2007 remains as Jimmie’s high point total: 1663. Johnson’s lone win in the ’10 Chase equals the low mark of one in 2006, but his nine of 10 Top 10s and 7 of 10 Top 5s equals the high mark in 2009. Coming out of Talladega in 2006, Jimmie Johnson was mired in 8th place, 156 points out of first with six races to go. Consider his accomplishments over the 56 races since then: 14 wins, 13 Seconds, 3 Thirds (30 podium finishes), 36 Top Fives, 46 Top 10s.
Even though Jimmie Johnson has been the top driver in NASCAR over the last five years, Jeff Gordon is the winningest active driver and has been the dominant driver over the last 18 seasons. Let’s compare the two drivers after their first nine seasons:
Wins: Gordon 58 in 292 races; Johnson 53 in 324 races
Top 5s: Gordon 147 in 292 races; Johnson 134 in 324 races
Top 10s: Gordon 190 in 292 races; Johnson 203 in 324 races
Championships: Gordon (4) last in his ninth season in 2001, Johnson (5).
See season ending stats, year-to-year comparison on my Chase Stats after Homestead page and for rules, links, more comparisons, Classic Points Standings 2004-2010, Chase Standings if used 1975-2003 and Ancient Chaseology links, see my 2010 Chase News and History page.(12-1-2010)
