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Edwards Wants To Put Pressure On Johnson

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 2, 2008

FORT WORTH, Texas - Carl Edwards looks at the last three NASCAR Sprint Cup races of 2008 and sees nothing but opportunity.

Sure, the series runner-up trails leader Jimmie Johnson by a daunting 183 points. And with Johnson needing only to finish ninth or better in the remaining events to win his third consecutive title, it probably isn't a good omen for Edwards that Johnson has finished ninth or better in each of the seven Chase for the Sprint Cup races this year - or that Johnson is the defending champion of today's Dickies 500.

There is also the fact that the biggest comeback over the final three races since the current points system began in 1975 came in 1990 when Dale Earnhardt overcame a 49-point deficit.

Never mind the overwhelming odds. Edwards, coming off a win at Atlanta, likes to think it's Johnson who is under the gun heading into the race at Texas Motor Speedway.

"I'm sure there's pressure on him," Edwards said. "I've been in a couple of championship battles; the ones that I remember the most were the ones at my local dirt track and stuff. It wears on you, and it's easier to come from behind, that's for sure.

"Anytime you've got a lead and it's shrinking, that's real nerve-racking. Just mentally we have an advantage because it is so much easier to do it that way, I think."

Besides Edwards, the only drivers with a legitimate chance to catch Johnson are third-place Greg Biffle, 185 points behind, and fourth-place Jeff Burton, 218 points out of the lead.

"Definitely, the wheels can fall off that No. 48 in a hurry," Biffle said. "We've seen it happen, and maybe you get comfortable and kind of relaxed and stuff jumps out and bites you. That can happen. Absolutely.

"After Phoenix next week, if he's got enough margin to clinch the title, then we will walk away with our tail between our legs. But until then, we're not going to."

Burton, while not ready to concede the title to Johnson, is more of a realist.

"I'm sure that Jimmie will be in mode to not do anything stupid," Burton said. "He doesn't have to force the issue."

Burton noted the best thing that could happen for his pursuers would be for Johnson to start racing for points instead of wins.

"I'm sure they're in the position where they've had to look at that, and I'm sure they're looking at what can they do differently to make sure they do protect the lead," Burton said. "The best offense that I've ever seen played was a prevent defense in football. When teams go to prevent defense it seems like a lot of points get scored."

Johnson understands the possibilities, which is exactly why he and his Hendrick Motorsports team will try not to do anything different than what has gotten them to this point.

"We really look at ourselves as a team and focus on our strengths and our weaknesses and try to maintain the strengths and prevent the weaknesses," he explained.

Several people have asked Johnson this week if he has thought much about the disastrous three-race run by Kyle Busch at the start of this year's Chase. Busch, who won eight races and dominated the 26-race regular season, finished 34th, 43rd and 28th at the start of the postseason and was out of contention almost before the 10-race title run began.

"That's a great example of what can happen in a three-race stretch," Johnson said.

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