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FONTANA, Calif. -- One race won't return a team to dominance, but car owner Rick Hendrick felt better about his title hopes after Jimmie Johnson's victory Sunday night at California Speedway.

Johnson's series-high fifth victory of the year guarantees he can be no worse than tied for the points lead when the Chase for the Nextel Cup Championship begins in two weeks at New Hampshire.

Johnson's victory also ended a 10-race winless drought for Hendrick -- the team's longest since 2005.

While Johnson excelled, Dale Earnhardt Jr. saw his title chances fade.

Earnhardt needs plenty of help Saturday night at Richmond to avoid missing the Chase for the second time in three years.

Earnhardt's championship hopes should improve when he joins Hendrick Motorsports next year. Hendrick's stable of Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch and Casey Mears combined to win nine of 10 races this spring.

Back then, the only question was: Would the Hendrick cars continue to dominate?

They didn't.

Tony Stewart of Joe Gibbs Racing has won three races since July.

Kurt Busch of Team Penske scored two victories in four August races.

Roush Racing's Carl Edwards has one victory among his four consecutive top-10 finishes.

"I was concerned that we had peaked too quick and that we would not be good in the Chase," Hendrick said. "We really needed this win because (Kurt Busch) and Tony and a lot of guys have just been coming on. It's probably going to be one of the toughest Chases that you've ever seen with a lot of good cars."

The Hendrick cars were nearly as strong Sunday as they had been earlier this season. Johnson and Kyle Busch combined to lead 181 of the 250 laps. It marked only the third time since the May Richmond race that Hendrick cars combined to lead at least half a race.

So where does points leader Jeff Gordon rate heading into the Chase?

Gordon was involved in a crash Sunday and finished 22nd. That followed a 19th at Bristol and 27th at Michigan.

Results have mattered little to Gordon, who has sought victories and the 10 bonus points that come with each since he has been all but guaranteed a Chase spot for several weeks.

"None of these races really mean a whole lot," Gordon said. "We'd like to be running better and be out there getting bonus points, but this team is going to come with a whole different focus and attitude when we get to New Hampshire.

"I'm a little disappointed in some of the things we've had happen to us, but at the same time, I'd rather have them happen to us now than in those final 10 races."

Earnhardt doesn't have that luxury. Poor finishes earlier this season have him facing a difficult challenge.

"You've got to look at it as we put ourself in that position," said Tony Eury Jr., Earnhardt's crew chief. "You can't fix it in two races. We got here by having errors and by having motors blow up and stuff like that."

Earnhardt has failed to finish four races because of blown engines.

Earnhardt trails Kevin Harvick by 128 points for the final spot in the Chase. Harvick can clinch the spot if he finishes 32nd or better at Richmond.

"It doesn't look like we are going to make it, but we aren't going to quit trying," said Earnhardt, whose last victory came at Richmond in May 2006.

At least Earnhardt will race at Richmond. Ricky Rudd, who made his 900th career start Sunday, separated his shoulder in a multi-car wreck and might not drive Saturday.

Contact Dustin Long at 373-7062 or dlong@news-record.com