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NASCAR Race For Chase Is All But Over

Associated Press photo

As Jimmie Johnson waits in his car, crew chief Chad Knaus, left, and others cover the car as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series' Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 auto race is stopped for a rain delay at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday.

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The Associated Press

Published: November 10, 2008

Updated: 11/10/2008 12:13 am

AVONDALE, Ariz. - Jimmie Johnson moved inches away from his record-tying third consecutive NASCAR championship with a dominating victory Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway.

With a crowd of friends watching from his pit box, Johnson led 217 of the 313 laps to pull away from Carl Edwards in their race for the Sprint Cup title. Johnson won for the seventh time this season to stretch his lead in the standings from 106 points to 141 over Edwards with one race remaining.

Johnson heads to the season finale at Homestead needing to finish 36th or better to tie Cale Yarborough (1976-78) as the only drivers in NASCAR history to win three straight Cup titles.

"This is what I've worked my whole life for," Johnson said in Victory Lane.

Edwards, the winner of the previous two races, finished fourth.

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