The Hendrick Motorsports driver, known as "Five-Time" for his run of five consecutive championships from 2006-10, won his sixth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the Ford EcoBoost 400. "Oh wow, I don't even know where to start. I'm at a loss for words, just so proud and thankful," Johnson said following his ninth-place finish.
Johnson, who wrestled the lead in the points standings from Matt Kenseth following his win on Nov. 3 at Texas, led the Joe Gibbs Racing driver by 28 points entering the season finale. He ended the season up 19 points. The Texas win was Johnson's second in the Chase and put seven points between him and Kenseth.
One week later, in the penultimate event at Phoenix International Raceway, Johnson finished third while Kenseth posted a 23rd-place result. Sunday's result came one year after Johnson pushed eventual champion Brad Keselowski in the finale before retiring to the garage with car trouble. Now with six premier-series titles, Johnson has one less career championship than Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, who are tied for the most all-time with seven.
Denny Hamlin won Sunday's race, with Matt Kenseth, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Martin Truex Jr. and Clint Bowyer rounding out the top five.
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