Story Published:
Nov 17, 2009 at 11:31 AM CDT
Story Updated:
Nov 17, 2009 at 11:31 AM CDT
Jimmie Johnson has moved closer to a NASCAR record fourth consecutive championship with a dominating win at Phoenix International Raceway.
Johnson led 238 laps Sunday to win his seventh race of the
season, and fourth since the start of the Chase for the Sprint Cup
championship.
The win stretched his lead to 108 points over Hendrick
Motorsports teammate Mark Martin heading into next week's finale at
Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Martin, a former area racer from Batesville, Arkansas, finished fourth, but it wasn't enough to derail Johnson. He only needs to finish 25th or better in the finale to grab a spot in NASCAR's record books.
Jeff Burton finished second and was followed by Denny Hamlin,
Martin and pole-sitter Martin Truex Jr.