Full Throttle

So much for a fluke accident giving any hope to Jimmie Johnson’s closest competitors. After a short run in Texas cost Jimmie Johnson a huge chunk of his points lead he did what was needed. A win and a win in convincing fashion.

A statement made some said.

“I guess in the end it could be looked at like that,” Johnson acknowledged. “It was, `Hey, guys, you know, we need to step up and get it done … we need to show what we’re made of, we need to get this done.’

“I guess in the end, it could have been a statement that we’re sending. I’m very proud of the fact we looked each other in the eyes, knew what we had to do, and delivered.”

His win at Phoenix - Johnson’s fourth in the last five races here, and seventh victory of the season - stretched his lead to 108 points over Martin heading into the finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Johnson needs to finish 25th or better next week to grab a spot in NASCAR’s record books.

“We gave it everything we had,” said Martin, who finished fourth.

“We’ve still got to go to Homestead and run like this again, because we still have heat behind us, Jeff Gordon, especially,” Martin said. “I definitely have been beat by the best — Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt. It wouldn’t embarrass me if it was Jimmie Johnson as well.”

Jeff Burton finished second, his best showing of the season, followed by Denny Hamlin, Martin and pole-sitter Martin Truex Jr.

The common refrain emanating from the Chase/Johnson haters is he’s the best Chase driver and not necessary the best driver period.

On it’s face, given he’s won 4 of this years 9 Chase events to this point, the idea has some credence, but where’s the proof he wouldn’t be doing the same without the Chase?

Face it, the team is the best there is for the moment and barring a Texas Sized collapse next week he’ll be the first four-time Cup Champion.

Not to mention doing it the old way.

Using the old points system Johnson leads Tony Stewart by either 8 or 13 points - depending on who’s count you use - going into Homestead. Furthermore, under the old points system Johnson won the 2006 Cup by a margin of 4 points over Matt Kenseth.

Simply, Johnson can do it either way, so quit your whining about it.

Enough of that….

Full Throttle’s Half Vast Staff™ steps out on a limb with it’s first 2010 prediction. Marcos Ambrose will be the first, if not the only, first time Sprint cup winner in the 2010 season.

Ambrose is eyeing a top 20 season finish in the Sprint Cup season standings next week after an 11th place in Phoenix today.

Johnson now needs only to finish better than 26th in Miami to win the title.

Former V8 Supercar champion Ambrose, in his first full season of Sprint Car racing, was hovering near the top 10 for most of the 312 laps of the 1.6km oval Phoenix circuit, running as high as fourth at one point.

Ambrose moved up to 3767 championship points to be 18th on the season standings and has earned over $4.28 million in prize money this year.

He said recent performances put him in good stead for 2010.

“Good result, good for the guys and more encouragement for next season,” Ambrose told ESPN.

“Looking forward to the break, it gets your body and your head back in shape for the following year. I need it, I’m getting really tired.

“I’ve got my family back in Australia right now so hopefully I’ve only got seven or eight days to wait here and I get back and see them.

“But I love NASCAR racing, it’s what I live for and if we got to race every weekend it wouldn’t be a problem.”