MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Jimmie Johnson hears the chatter in the garage and knows that some of his fellow drivers have grown weary of seeing him win races and championships.
And why not?
He’s won 23 races in the past three seasons, and claimed the points championship each year, too, becoming the only driver other than Cale Yarborough to win three straight.
And he probably is not done. Johnson takes a 90-point lead over Hendrick Motorsports teammate Mark Martin into today’s race on the paper clip-shaped oval of Martinsville Speedway, where Johnson does some of his best work. He has won five of the last six races here, including the last three in the fall during NASCAR’s 10-race playoffs.
“I pick that up from time to time with the guys,” he said of a feeling they have grown frustrated by his relentless success, “but in the end I’m really just trying to focus on trying to do my job and not spend time worrying about what other people are thinking.”
What some of them are thinking, though, is pretty impressive.
Martin has referred to Johnson as “Superman” and said he thinks Johnson would have fared well in stock car racing’s rough-and-tumble days.
“Had he been here with me when I was racing Dale Earnhardt in the early ’90s for the title, I think Jimmie would have held his ground,” Martin said, adding that though Earnhardt just got in the car and drove it, Johnson takes notes on technical matters after races.
Johnson will start 15th in today’s race, and while there is an undeniable sense that he’s making his move toward a record fourth consecutive title, Martin isn’t conceding with five races remaining.
“I’m going to race him for it,” Martin said. “I’m not giving up, not one bit.”
Nor is Jeff Gordon, the Hendrick team’s other Chase driver. The four-time Sprint Cup champion is in third 45 points behind Martin.
KESELOWSKI WINS DUEL
In Memphis, Tenn., Brad Keselowski held off points leader Kyle Busch on the final lap to win the Kroger on Track for the Cure 250 in a green-white-checker finish in yesterday’s Nationwide Series race at Memphis Motorsports Park.
Keselowski was leading when a caution came out with two laps to go because Stephen Wallace spun after tangling with Matt Kenseth.
Keselowski held onto the lead through the overtime segment. Busch finished second and leads Carl Edwards by 215 points in the standings.
