The greatest driver since ...

Jimmie Johnson's third consecutive championship furthers the debate on where he ranks in NASCAR history. Is the greatest, since some would say this is as competitive an era as there has been in the sport? Is he behind Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty only? Or where else does he rank?

 

First, here's the list of drivers who have won 3 or more titles:

 

1. Richard Petty ..... 7

Dale Earnhardt ..... 7

3. Jeff Gordon ........4

4. Darrell Waltrip ...3

Cale Yarborough ...3

David Pearson .... 3

Lee Petty ................3

Jimmie Johnson .. 3

 

OK, now for the debate part of where Jimmie Johnson ranks in NASCAR history:

 

Car owner Rick Hendrick: "I don't know how you can doubt the talent that he's got  and the competitiveness of the sport and the things that he does in the car and the coolness, the communications. The way he describes the chassis and works with Chad, I don't think he's gotten the respect he deserves.

 

"I think this is kind of serving notice that what he's really done to win three of these in a row. If you go back and look at (2002), since he stepped into the series what he's accomplished in his record speaks for itself. I'm just glad I don't have to race against him.''

 

Car owner Jack Roush was asked to describe how much harder he thinks it could be to win three titles in a row today than years ago:

 

"It's a real tough thing,'' he said. "Particularly wtih Matt and with Greg and with Jeff Gordon and all the senior guys.

 

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Carl Edwards won Sunday's race. He finished as the series leader in wins (9), top-five finishes (19) and top-10 finishes (27). He was asked if he had caught the Hendrick dynasty:

 

"I personally feel like we've closed a big gap this season,'' he said. "I know they'll enjoy this championship, but I'm sure they knew we were here. That's good.''

 

Edwards won by stretching his fuel mileage again Sunday. It's his third victory in the last four races. .He led a race-high 157 of the 267 laps.

 

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Kevin Harvick finished second in Sunday's race to place fourth in the points, tying his career-best finish in Cup.

 

"I think the first part of the year was really good for us,'' Harvick said. "The last part of the year, we just kind of (had) a portion that we didn't run that well. But (we) buckled down and got our cars better at Chicago and made a lot of headway. I know we didn't win this year, but it's by far the best 10 races at the end of the year we've had.''

 

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Jeff Gordon finished fourth to record his first winless season since his rookie year in 1993. Gordon says he's jazzed about next season with the way his team ran later in the year. He made a few interesting comments about Clint Bowyerm, though, after the race:

 

"I have to thank Clint Bowyer. I have had more fun racing him this year for whatever, fifth, sixth, seventh in points. He is just a great racer and a good guy. I am proud of him for winning that Nationwide championship. We had a lot of fun out there racing today.''

 

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Tony Stewart finished 9th in his final ride with Joe Gibbs Racing.

 

"It's hard,'' Stewart said the end of his time at JGR now here. "These guys are my family. When you've been with a group of guys for 10 years and the sponsor for 10 years like this, that's a long time. I know people that haven't been married that long. It's just one of them rough nights. We had a shot to win and it didn't work out for us.''

 

Stewart had to pit late, giving up the lead late to pit for fuel.

 

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Odds and ends:

 

# Regan Smith was selected rookie of the year.

# Red Bull's driver switch worked. They moved Brian Vickers to the 84 (and Scott Speed to the 83) to help it get into the top 35 in car owner points. Although Vickers finished 32nd, it was good enough to get the 84 team into the top 35 in car owner points, knocking out Marcos Ambrose.

# Jamie McMurray finished third -- He placed third in the each of the final three races.

# Kasey Kahne's sixth-place finish was only his second top-10 in the last 11 races.

# Travis Kvapil's seventh-place finish was his first top-10 since May.

# Matt Kenseth (11th in points) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (12th) will not be at the banquet Dec. 5 in New York. NASCAR recognizes only the top 10 in points at the banquet.

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