Jimmie Johnson Wins In Dover, Martin Still Holds Chase Lead

Sports Betting News - September 28th, 2009 - Written by Scott

Jimmie Johnson has dominated races at Dover International Speedway all season. He continued this again on Sunday as he outlasted Mark Martin, the points leader in this year's Chase, and cut Martin's lead to just 10 points. Johnson is looking for his fourth straight championship and made a strong push, despite it only being the second race of the Chase. History does show, however, that no winner of the second race at Dover has gone on to win the Cup Championship. Johnson led 271 laps in Sunday's race and he looks to break this streak this year.

"I certainly hope that our performance today scares some people and affects them in a way that benefits us," Johnson said.

Martin finished second in the race and is content about the way he performed on Sunday. Nine Chase drivers finished in the top 11 at Dover on Sunday. Matt Kenseth, who is not in the Chase, finished third in the race. Martin still has a 10 point lead, but also realizes that there are eight more races to go.

“It’s just two races,” Martin said. “I still say that there’s 12 in and 12 can win. It might be a challenge for a couple of the ones toward the end of the back.”

Johnson, who won for the first time since July, was way out in front of the rest of the field for most of the race. He even had no idea that teenager Joey Logano 's No. 20
car barrel-rolled eight times early in the race and caused the race to be red-flagged. Logano would walk away from the accident though. Johnson came out of the double-file restart and was never really challenged through the remainder of the race. Chase driver Greg Biffle was not pleased at all at an unfair advantage he feels that Johnson and Juan Pablo Montoya, who finished fourth on Sunday, received when they were picked for the tire test. He felt that all the Chase contenders should been involved or none at all. Johnson does not let any verbal complaints regarding him take away from his focus on winning the Chase.

"I hope people are talking about the fact that we tire tested and it's wrong," Johnson said. "All these people can get wound up about stuff that really doesn't matter. We'll keep our heads down, keep our blinders on and we'll go to work."

Johnson moved into second place in the points standings behind Martin after his win at Dover. Rounding out the top five are Motoya is in 3rd, Kurt Busch is in 4th, and Tony Stewart is in 5th. The Chase continues next Sunday at Kansas Speedway.

To discuss this and other Sports Betting stories like it, be sure to check out our new forum at:
https://www.usaplayers.com/forums/