Fourth title in Johnson’s grasp

BY JENNA FRYER AP RACING WRITER

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. – It’s down to Talladega Superspeedway in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship, which has hardly resembled a title race over the past four weeks.

Three-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson has taken commanding control in his bid for a NASCAR record fourth consecutive title, and his challengers have one last desperate hope at the largest and most unpredictable track on the circuit.

Only it’s not about how well Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart or Juan Pablo Montoya might run on Sunday. Nope, this race is all about what could happen to Johnson.

See, Talladega is Johnson’s worst track in the 10-race Chase. There was a win in 2006 and a pair of runner-up finishes the next season, but the rest of his record represents the struggle that Johnson has had on the high-banked Alabama track.

Three engine failures and three wrecks, including a late accident in April that led to a 30th-place finish, have left Johnson with six DNF’s and a 17.7 average finish.

“Man, it [stinks] racing here,” Johnson said after wrecking out of April’s race.

So it makes sense that Johnson was a bit testy following his second-place finish at Martinsville last week. The questions, of course, turned to Talladega and all the unknowns that track brings for the usually unflappable champion.

He knows the smallest miscalculation Sunday – by himself or anyone else in the 43-car field – could trigger “The Big One” and the damage might be enough to swallow up a ton of Johnson’s cushy 118-point lead over Hendrick MotorSports teammate Martin.

Tell us, champ, just how do you feel about going to Talladega?

“I’m so tired of answering this question,” he replied. “I think you guys can all figure it out. Talladega, there’s no telling.”

No, there’s not, and that apparently has Johnson on edge. Particularly since it’s the one place that has his challengers chomping at the bit.

Martin, who has made no secret of his dislike of Talladega despite two career victories, figures the odds are in his favor of having a good race on Sunday. He was caught in the very first accident in April and was headed home after just six laps. He finished last.

“Somehow or another, I just feel lucky about this one,” Martin said recently. “If you can wreck on lap five of the last one there, something tells me I ought to be able to miss it this time. That’s about as bad of luck as you can have.”