With only two races left, can Carl Edwards— or anyone else — catch Jimmie Johnson?
“A lot of stuff can happen in two races,” says Jeff Burton, still mathematically alive, 212 points behind Johnson in fourth place. TEAM REPORTS: Sprint Cup news, notes Johnson has been able to maintain a firm grip on the top spot the last two weeks thanks to his team’s ability to salvage respectable finishes. The key is no longer Edwards’ ability to win races (he’s done that eight times this season) or Biffle’s (he’s won twice in the Chase), it’s Johnson’s ability to avoid catastrophe. “If I stuff it in the fence the first run and I finish 43rd, they’re right there,” Johnson said. “It’s a race of 20 or 30 points at that point.” Johnson has been a master of not beating himself. He’s been running at the finish in 33 of 34 races this season and his 15th last week was his first finish outside the top 10 in a Chase race. Just as Edwards retains hope of reeling in the two-time defending champion, Johnson has the possibility to end it all this week. If he should leave Phoenix with a lead of 1
