SI cover features area model
Winter weather photos
Madison vs. Waynesville
SPORTS DATA
Johnson could join racing elite
Saturday, November 08, 2008
If Jimmie Johnson gains 57 more points than Carl Edwards in Sunday, Nov. 9's Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix, he'll need only to start the season finale to become the first since Cale Yarborough (1976-78) to win three straight NASCAR Cup Series championships.
Johnson, who leads Edwards by 106 points with two events to go, won the pole position Friday. He's on the verge of becoming the eighth NASCAR driver with three or more overall titles. Here's the group he'll be joining:
More than two titles
7 — Richard Petty (1964, '67, '71, '72, '74, '75, '79)
7 — Dale Earnhardt Sr. (1980, '86, '87, '90, '91, '93, '94)
4 — Jeff Gordon — (1995, '97, '98, 2001)
3 — David Pearson — (1966,'68, '69)
3 — Darrell Waltrip — (1981,'82, '85)
3 — Cale Yarborough — (1976, '77, '78)
3 — Lee Petty — (1954, '58, '59)
