Johnson giving NASCAR reasons to rethink Chase

ATLANTA - Hey, NASCAR. Got any other tweaks that might actually bring a little suspense to what is supposed to the most exciting part of the season?

Jimmie Johnson has turned the current Cup Chase into a laugher. Judging by all those empty seats at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday, most fans have already turned their attention to 2009.

Maybe the folks that brought you yellow flags for "debris on the track" can sneak a couple of cement blocks into Johnson's car. Maybe they can get some troopers to set up a speed trap that only targets the No. 48. Maybe they can send him out in a REAL Chevrolet Impala.

The way things stand now, they might as well set up the ballroom, warm up that banquet circuit chicken and shine up the big trophy for Johnson.

Even on a day when Carl Edwards cruised to victory in the Pep Boys Auto 500, the star of the show was the laidback Californian who has essentially locked up his third straight Cup championship with three races still to go.

Even with a rare mistake, he was caught going a bit too fast on pit road (maybe NASCAR did take the advice about the speed traps), Johnson roared back from 30th place to take the runner-up spot behind Edwards.

"We just fought and fought and fought," Johnson said.