Associated Press

Jimmie Johnson crosses the finish line during Sunday's Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.

AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Really, did many think Jimmie Johnson would finish poorly two races in a row?

One thing Johnson and his team have proved is an ability to bounce back after a bad result. So a week after placing 38th at Texas, where Johnson crashed when he was hit by another car, Johnson & Co. won Sunday's race at Phoenix. He also extended his advantage on second-place Mark Martin heading into the season finale at Homestead.

It will take something unforeseen for Martin to win the title. Since New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick won't be anywhere near South Florida on Sunday, the chances of Johnson losing the crown are slim. He needs to finish 25th or better to clinch it. He's placed outside the top 25 only seven times in his last 50 starts.

Johnson's performance Sunday was nothing new. He's won four of the last five Phoenix races. He also continued a streak that goes back to the inaugural Chase in 2004.

Only once has he had back-to-back finishes outside the top 10 in the Chase. What's more remarkable is that Johnson has nearly twice as many wins (21) as finishes outside the top 10 (11) during the Chase.

Even with such numbers, Johnson talked of "grinding it out'' at Phoenix. Grinding? He made his run truly look like a Sunday drive.

"Man, it's not easy to win races,'' Johnson said after his 47th career Cup win, putting him three short of tying Junior Johnson and Ned Jarrett for 10th on the all-time wins list.

"Think of the first half of the Chase, how I was running, Mark was running. You couldn't give up an inch. In your bad races, you needed to be top five. In that respect, grinding it out ... it's just that you can't give an inch.

"With that in mind, going to Homestead we need to show up, blinders on, focused on qualifying trim, get all that we can. I have to make sure I have that car as comfortable as possible, so if a caution comes out at the wrong time, we're down a lap, I can work my way back.''

Sounds a bit preposterous, but that's nearly what happened to Johnson in 2007 at Homestead when a caution came out as he was on pit road. He remained calm, got a quick caution and was back in contact with the leaders.

And on his way to a second consecutive championship.

Give him the trophy

Regardless whether Johnson or Mark Martin wins the championship, car owner Rick Hendrick will collect his ninth Cup crown and 12th NASCAR championship in the sport's top three series, breaking his tie with Richard Childress.

Of course, the big issue is when will Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s team perform better. Hendrick has never put all four of his cars in the Chase.

Earnhardt was the only Hendrick car not to make it this year. So, as Hendrick celebrates, many will watch what happens to Earnhardt's team.

Even NASCAR chairman Brian France has mentioned that the sport's TV ratings likely would increase if Earnhardt performed better.

Big talker

Denny Hamlin wants his voice to be heard by NASCAR and others within the garage but one might wonder if he's trying too hard. A week after questioning if series officials listened to comments by younger drivers, Hamlin called Brad Keselowski "a complete moron'' and said he would wreck Keselowski in this weekend's Nationwide race at Homestead after Keselowski spun him Saturday at Phoenix.

Is that the way a leader -- or someone who wants to be a leader -- handles a situation? Granted, Hamlin said he had been wrecked multiple times by Keselowski and eventually a breaking point is reached. There's no doubt Hamlin wants to be viewed as among the garage's leaders. Time will tell if he succeeds.