The Chase for Jimmie Johnson Will Conclude in Miami

Carl Edwards tried to make it interesting, but Jimmie Johnson showed why Texas was in his rear-view mirror.

Tony Stewart: Working together with your teammate is great, but it's your current teammate, Tony!

Tony Stewart was having a pretty solid day, avoiding trouble and moving his way forward. It only took 307 laps for trouble to find Tony.

An overaggressive A.J. Allmendinger on the final laps spun Tony, leaving him with 22nd place finish, not the way he hoped to see this day end. Now he's the one looking in at the top 10 place in New York.

Kyle Busch: Before the Chase, you couldn't get an interview with the guy. Now he's barely mentioned.

Kyle Busch was once again an afterthought this week. He ran in the top 10 for most of the day but never was a factor for a win. You have to wonder what happened to this team? 

They were a factor every week; now we are seeing the same Kyle Busch who was at Hendrick Motorsports early in his career.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.: This week, this team didn't gamble. They didn't have to; solid run for them.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. stayed in the top 15 for most of the day. He didn't leap a lap this week but overall it's a solid run that has them sitting in position to be in New York.

It's strange: only a few months ago we were talking championship contenders, now were talking about them just being at the big show.

Denny Hamlin: I can't figure out who we will see each week: Good Denny or Bad Denny?

This week we had Good Denny, which is good because he gained three spots in the standings and positioned himself into the top 10, by a slim margin. A strong run by this FedEx team coming home with a fifth-place finish. He didn't have enough for the leader, but who does?

Matt Kenseth: We can blame Matt Kenseth for the current point system, because he was just way too good!!

A freakish tire going flat, poor handling car, poor qualifying position and a late race wreck which brought this team home in 15th. That isn't great, but if you experienced the day this team had, 15th is probably the best they could do. Kenseth is just looking until next year.

Jeff Gordon: Still winless, but there are signs of progress; just don't use Sunday as an example.

Jeff Gordon actually was running pretty well until his engine started acting up and then exploded nearly 100 laps later. That relegated this former champ to a 41st-place finish. But the ending doesn't tell the whole story. He ran very well early in the race. Getting as high as third, but that's all they could get this weekend.

Clint Bowyer: One week he's hot, then next he's cold. Where's lukewarm?

Clint Bowyer was never good this weekend. After getting lapped early, the team battled back and finished 12th. Bowyer is securely in the top 10 for New York, but you expected so much more from this team, with all that talent.

Kevin Harvick: Once again wasn't a factor for a win, but was for a good finish.

Lapped traffic really did affect this team's finish. Like many drivers they were battling more the lap traffic then they were the guys on the lead lap at times. Kevin Harvick's year hasn't been spectacular, but a strong finish this week bodes well heading to Homestead.

Jeff Burton: As the Mayor, Burton needed to take charge, but instead his constituency out ran him.

I really thought Jeff Burton had a shot at winning this thing only a few short weeks ago, but poor races and poor handling race cars have ended that possible championship with halt. Sunday was no different, he struggled with a tight condition most of the day. He didn't lead a lap which meant no bonus points for them.

Greg Biffle: He had his chance to capitalize on the two men in front of him, but now it's too late.

Greg Biffle was so hot early in the Chase and quickly became a favorite to win it all, but his luck changed as he got ill-handling cars and tough luck on the track.

Sunday showed why this team was considered a contender. Starting from the rear, with a little strategy he lead the race for some time, but after a round of pit stops he never got higher than 11th.

Carl Edwards: He has to be wondering what will it take next year to dethrone the champ?

Carl Edwards struggled with lapped traffic, and passing. He never did lead a lap. But a strong performance here shows why this guy will be a factor in many more seasons to come. His fourth place finish kept him in touch with Jimmie Johnson, but it is a little to late.

Jimmie Johnson: Do you think Jimmie got nervous when he lapped Jeff Gordon?

Jimmie Johnson proved once again why he loves the Chase format. He dominated at Phoenix leading the most laps and staying ahead of closest rival Carl Edwards.

Bouncing back from a rough weekend at Texas, all Johnson has to do is show up at Homestead, and history will be made.

A heads up to a couple guys this week: Jamie McMurray, Kurt Busch and even Casey Mears.

Yes, Casey crashed but he had a good run going until a late-race incident with Juan Pablo Montoya. But these three guys have shown steady improvement the last couple weeks.

So the end is here. I think we can predict what is going to happen come Sunday night, but it sure will be something to watch. Keep an eye on the guys battling for the top 10 in points.

They are so close in points that any mistake could cost guys eighth through 12th a seat in New York. Also the top 35 is getting interesting, as these guys are trying to set up for Daytona.

See you in South Beach!!