With Phoenix looming, J.J. vulnerability might be illusion

Is there really a championship race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup or is it just a mirage in the desert near Phoenix International Raceway?

On paper, Jimmie Johnson's lead over Mark Martin is definitely smaller than the 184-point advantage he brought into last week's race at Texas Motor Speedway. After a 38th-place finish -- the result of a Lap 3 crash, Johnson lost 111 points off that cushion heading into Sunday's second-to-last race of the season at PIR.

But even though the lead is down to 73, many believe Johnson is still in command.

That includes the man in second place.

"Obviously, the performance of [Johnson] has been phenomenal," Martin said. "And we have given it a good fight, but we haven't quite matched their performance, although we gave him a pretty good run until Martinsville and Charlotte."

"That is all we can do. Certainly, I wasn't BSing you guys; I didn't take this job to go try to get a championship trophy. I took this job, you know why, and doggone, it has worked out pretty good."

And although Martin is looking at things as objectively as possible, he still plans on giving it his all trying to earn a first Sprint Cup title.

"We have been in a position; it still could happen," he said. "The race is still on for the top six positions. We are going to race. I can't wait!"

If anyone can't wait to get to Phoenix, it's probably Johnson, who has won three of the past four races at the one-mile desert oval. The string also includes eight consecutive finishes of eighth or better, which has Johnson feeling pretty confident heading into Sunday's Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500.

"I would say that looking at the schedule, the best track remaining for us would be PIR," Johnson said. "We had a really fast car in the spring and had some different issues on pit road and some bad luck with the timing of the caution that kept us back in the pack and still ended up with a reasonable finish, but we passed a lot of cars, and in our opinion felt like we had the strongest car."

Johnson realizes there are other drivers in the field who are no slouches at Phoenix, including the two Hendrick teammates in hot pursuit in the standings, Martin and Jeff Gordon.

"For me it's a great track, but it's also a great track for Jeff," Johnson said. "He runs very consistent there, and then Mark won in the spring. The two guys I'm trying to stay ahead of in the points have that track as a strong one as well. At the end of the day I feel very confident. I feel very strong about the performance Hendrick Motorsports will have. I just hope it's the 48 car on top of the heap."

Gordon will have to change his recent Phoenix fortunes to gain any ground on Johnson. He won in April 2007 but hasn't fared well since, with only one top-10 finish in his past four starts.

"Phoenix has certainly been on our radar because it's a track that's been hit or miss for us," Gordon said. "I'm a little disappointed in how we performed earlier this year, and we certainly need to improve on that this weekend."

"A lot still has to happen if we are going to realistically battle for the championship in the season finale. But we need to make sure we do everything in our control to secure as many points as possible this weekend."

Who's hot?

Jimmie Johnson: A three-time Phoenix winner, Johnson won this event in 2008 after leading 217 laps from the pole. He's finished seventh or better in his past eight starts.

Mark Martin: Won the spring race from the pole in his first Phoenix start with Hendrick Motorsports. Martin has a 9.0 average finish in 25 starts. He also won the 1993 race with Roush Racing and will return in the same car that won earlier this year at Phoenix and New Hampshire.

Kurt Busch: Phoenix is his best track on the circuit based on Busch's 12.5 average finish. He has finished second and third in his last two starts; did win the 2005 race with Roush Racing.

Who's not

Casey Mears: Has yet to post a top 10 in 11 starts. Finished 20th in his first track start with Richard Childress Racing in April.

Elliott Sadler: Has the worst average finish (32.8) among the drivers who have competed in all five races with the COT at the track. Sadler's only top 10 came in 2002 when he finished 10th with the Wood Brothers.

David Ragan: Only top 10 (10th) in five starts came in this event last year. Ragan has yet to lead a lap at PIR.

Make a note

• Johnson had won three straight races before Martin snapped his streak in April.

• Chevrolet has an eight-race win streak at Phoenix, dating to 2005. Dodge and Toyota are winless at the 1-mile track.

• Kurt Busch has a 2.5 average finish in his last two starts.

• Carl Edwards has finished 11th or better in eight of his past nine starts.

• Kevin Harvick has finished in the top 10 in the last three fall races at PIR, including a win in 2006.

• 2005 Fall Phoenix winner Kyle Busch has finished in the top 10 in four of his last five starts.

• Dale Earnhardt Jr. has led 150 laps with the COT at Phoenix.