Jimmie Johnson, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship after finishing in fifth place in the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Denny Hamlin won the race. (Photo: Getty Images)

 

Ford 400
Homestead-Miami Speedway

Not a bad way to finish - Denny Hamlin’s Chase was a disappointment, but with his fourth victory of the season, he doubled the output of his previous best season by closing the season with a Toyota victory in the Ford 400.

Laugher: Jimmie Johnson’s fourth championship was never in doubt. As has been his Homestead-Miami Speedway pattern, he was safe, secure and cautious, hiking his final margin over Mark Martin to 144 points.

Chin up - Jeff Burton, paired with crew chief Todd Berrier late in the year, finished second in the season’s final two races.

 

Notable numbers

.300 - Johnson’s career winning percentage in Chase races.

2.632 - Hamlin’s margin of victory.

3 - Number of times, in six years, Johnson has won four Chase races in a single year.

126.986 - The race average speed in miles per hour.

 

Quotable quotes

"I promise you within a couple of years we’re going to win a championship." - Denny Hamlin.

"We’re not where we need to be, or even where Denny (Hamlin) is, but we’re making headway." - runner-up Jeff Burton.

"I almost get emotional thinking about it. It was an incredible achievement to even have a chance and to be a part of history here." - Mark Martin.

"That guy (Johnson) can do things with a race car that nobody’s ever done before." - Chad Knaus, Johnson’s crew chief.

"To do something no one’s ever done is so awesome." - Jimmie Johnson.

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