(photo courtesy of Leon Hammack)

Jimmie Johnson has emerged from the pack of twelve by winning the AAA 400 at Dover, and taking the first step towards winning his fourth consecutive championship in a row!  However, he still trails Mark Martin by 10 points in the championship standings.   Nonetheless, the Hendrick Motorsports #48 Lowe’s Chevy has established itself, as they have for the past four years, as the car to beat for the Championship!  Of the 52 races run so far in the six years of the Chase, Johnson and team have won 15!

Jimmie Johnson’s #48 Lowe’s Chevy was clearly the class of the field at Dover Sunday.  On his way to the victory, Johnson led 271 of the 400 laps that encompass the AAA 400 at Dover!  By having such a dominate car, Johnson, Knauss, and the whole #48  Lowe’s Chevy team has sent a message very loud and very clear to the other 11 Chase contenders!  That message simply states,” we are here, come and get us”!

Could this be the year that history is made with Johnson’s four consecutive championships?  Could this be the year that the oldest champion in NASCAR history is crowned with Mark Martin?  Could Jeff Gordon finally caps off “the drive for five”?  Will this be the year the crowns its first driver/owner since Alan Kulwicki won the championship in 1992?

What do you think?

The answer will unfold in the next eight weeks!