By Ryan - Posted on September 30, 2009

Prior to Sunday’s AAA 400, the second race in the Sprint Cup Chase for the Points, NASCAR News agencies reported that Jimmie Johnson was oozing with confidence.  “I just like the way this year’s Chase sets up,” said Johnson in a pre-race interview, “These are six or seven of my best tracks.”

Come Sunday, Johnson backed up those words, crushing the competition en route to an easy victory at Dover International Speedway.  The win, his second this year at Dover and fourth overall, was good for 25 points and the second place slot on the Chase points leader board.

Johnson’s teammate Mark Martin, who held on to the points lead with his runner-up finish, summed up his feelings on Johnson’s impressive victory, saying, “I’m pretty sure that dude is Superman.”

Johnson was certainly “super” on Sunday.

In capturing the victory, the 44th of his brilliant career, Johnson survived eight cautions and a brutal crash at lap 31—a crash that sent Joey Logano tumbling helplessly across the track.  The scary incident stalled the race with a 23 minute red flag, but it couldn’t stall Johnson’s pursuit of racing history.

On the way to taming the Monster Mile, Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 Chevy Impala team led for 271 of the 400 laps, and moved one step closer to a record 4th straight Sprint Cup championship.  If he was confident about his championship chances before the race, he seemed downright assured after it was over. 

“As far as sending a message, I hope it does,” Johnson said, “I hope people are worried.”

In the history of the Cup, no winner of the second race at Dover has ever gone on to win the championship, but Johnson seems bent on changing that trend.

“I certainly hope that our performance today scares some people and affects them in a way that benefits us,” Johnson said.

Now considered the favorite to repeat, Johnson moved into second, just 10 points shy of Mark Martin, who crossed the finish line just behind Johnson.  Matt Kenseth led all non-Chase drivers with his third place finish, while Juan Pablo Montoya and Kurt Busch rounded out the top five.

Speaking on the continued success of Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin dismissed the idea that his teammate was “lucky.”

“I’ve seen that dude up close and I see why he’s so successful,” said Martin, “He works harder at it than anyone else, I think, on the circuit.”

Johnson, Martin and the rest of the field will continue the Chase for the Sprint Cup as the championship rolls into Kansas Speedway this weekend.