Chase for the Sprint Cup - 1. J Johnson 6073pts 2. G Biffle 5924pts 3. J Burton 5921pts 4. C Edwards 5875pts 5. C Bowyer 5831pts 6. K Harvick 5817pts 7. J Gordon 5798pts 8. T Stewart 5735pts 9. D Earnhardt Jr 5694pts 10. M Kenseth 5665pts 11. D Hamlin 5653pts 12. K Busch 5628pts

On a brilliantly sunny Sunday afternoon and before 70,000 sun bathed fans at Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia, Jimmie Johnson led seven times, and led a total of 339 laps in the 504-lap TUMS QuickPak 500 to win his sixth race of the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. First constructed in 1947 by a man named H. Clay Earles, Martinsville is an anomaly on the NASCAR schedule, the 0.526-mile, paper clip-configured 12-degree oval the smallest, shortest track that the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series runs on all year. It’s also one of NASCAR’s most historic circuits, Martinsville holding its first race on July 4, 1948.

The sixth race in NASCAR’s all-important Chase for the Sprint Cup championship playoff was one to remember for series points leader Jimmie Johnson.

Johnson’s performance on Martinsville’s asphalt/concrete surface was simply one of pure domination and one that now has him heading down the home stretch for his third consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup — a feat not accomplished since the great Cal Yarborough pulled off the triple play precisely 30 years ago, winning NASCAR’s biggest prize in 1976, 1977 and 1978.

“What a better way to win a points race then to go out and lead the most laps,” smiled Johnson, standing alongside his #48 Chevrolet Impalla SS that he had parked before the sprawling grandstands on the front straight.

When asked about holding a massive points lead with only four races remaining in The Chase, Johnson answered “It’s getting closer,” when asked if he had started to think about winning his third championship, he was cool and restrained simple saying “but it’s still not the time. We still have four races to go.”

At precisely 1:34 P.M, The Martinsville High School marching band performed the national anthem and five minutes later all 43 cars were fired up. At 1:48 P.M, the green flag was thrown and it was Jimmie Johnson leading the field around to lead the opening lap. Johnson would lead the first 34 laps before Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon motored by to lead the next 20 laps. Johnson would then zap Gordon back and once again take control of the race. Johnson would continue to hold sway as the race wound down to its conclusion. On lap number 459, Reed Sorenson was turned around in Turn 2, clouting the wall and bringing out the caution flag. Every car on the lead lap, led by Johnson, ducked down pit road to take on tires. The green flag was unfurled and waved on lap 468 and Johnson found himself at the front, tailed by Dale Earnhardt Junior and Carl Edwards.

The last caution came on lap 498 when David Ragan was spun, the shunt setting up a green-white-checkered shootout for the victory. Johnson anticipated the start perfectly, enjoyed a great jump, and simply cleared out to defeat Earnhardt, Edwards, Gordon, Denny Hamlin and Casey Mears.

The NASCAR contingent will now head southwards to the Atlanta Motor Speedway for next Sunday’s Pep Boys Auto 500. The fastest track NASCAR runs, Johnson will attempt to hustle his 3,500-pound Chevrolet around the 1.54-mile quad oval’s dizzyingly fast 24-degree high banks in an effort to win his seventh race of the 36-race NASCAR season.

Eric Johnson