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AVONDALE, Ariz. — History isn't always dramatic. Even when it's remarkable.

Jimmie Johnson's run to a record-breaking fourth consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup championship might not be appreciated by all who tire of seeing him in victory lane — as he was again Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway.

Get used to it.

Johnson holds a 108-point lead on Mark Martin heading into this weekend's season finale at Homestead. Martin gained 108 points or more on Johnson in a single race nine times in 265 races, including once this season.

That's 3.4 percent of the time.

It will take something dramatic as Johnson being involved in a crash — as he was at Texas last week — or blowing an engine for Martin to win his first series title.

Otherwise, Johnson will do something that Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Cale Yarborough or anyone else never did: win back-to-back-to-back-to-back championships.

Johnson, who needs to finish 25th or better next week to clinch the crown, isn't ready to celebrate.

"Anything can happen," he said.

Then he admitted, "Yes, I am excited" about his title prospects.

Martin, who finished fourth Sunday and still lost 35 points to Johnson, suggests Johnson's run might not be finished.

"From my experience from 1981 to today, no one has been able to sustain the kind of performance they have," Martin said of Johnson's team. "It might come unraveled at any time, but I don't see that. I see that continuing for a long time."

So, then how can Martin and his team beat Johnson?

"I've got to find a way to work harder," Martin said. "I've got to dig deeper. I've got to find some more."

More of what, though?

Whatever others do, Johnson continues to succeed. He's won a title with the old car, the new car and even won a title in a season where the old car and current car were both used.

"I don't know how good these two guys can get," car owner Rick Hendrick said of Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus. "I really don't. But they're two of the best I've ever worked with and the best I've ever seen."

Think about that. Hendrick has won Cup championships with Jeff Gordon and Terry Labonte. He's had Tim Richmond and Darrell Waltrip, among others, drive for him and Johnson and Knaus are the best.

Yet, in a championship-type performance that should be admired, some will lament how it's droned on. Just like Sunday's race. While Dale Earnhardt Jr. spinned out and collecting eight other cars, Johnson's precision was numbing. He led 238 of the 312 laps, including the final 65.

"For whatever reason, Turn 3, everyone enters that corner the same, but he can just accelerate off the corners much, much better than a lot of guys," said third-place finisher Denny Hamlin about Johnson. "That's what makes him so strong on the short tracks and one of the guys you usually have to beat every time."

Each track it's something different for Johnson, who has seven wins and 23 top-10 finishes in 35 starts this season.

And it's why Johnson nears a historic mark, even if not everyone will celebrate it.

"I don't think your generation ever gives you the credit you deserve," runner-up Jeff Burton said. "I think the next generation will give Jimmie the credit he deserves."

Johnson admits he's willing to wait. In the meantime, he'll continue to vie for wins and titles even as some fans tune away.

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

NASCAR Sprint Cup Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 results
By The Associated Press
Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale, Ariz.
Lap length: 1 miles
(Start position in parentheses)

1. (3) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 312 laps, 195 points, $267,001.
2. (36) Jeff Burton, Chevrolet, 312, 170, $204,006.
3. (5) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 312, 165, $144,825.
4. (10) Mark Martin, Chevrolet, 312, 160, $123,500.
5. (1) Martin Truex Jr., Chevrolet, 312, 155, $159,040.
6. (2) Kurt Busch, Dodge, 312, 155, $112,250.
7. (13) Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet, 312, 146, $107,450.
8. (17) Juan Pablo Montoya, Chevrolet, 312, 142, $119,148.
9. (14) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 312, 138, $120,326.
10. (15) David Reutimann, Toyota, 312, 134, $109,248.
11. (21) Marcos Ambrose, Toyota, 312, 130, $96,948.
12. (7) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 312, 127, $121,798.
13. (16) AJ Allmendinger, Ford, 312, 124, $77,600.
14. (6) Greg Biffle, Ford, 312, 121, $92,150.
15. (4) Kasey Kahne, Dodge, 312, 118, $113,923.
16. (25) Carl Edwards, Ford, 312, 115, $119,206.
17. (12) Sam Hornish Jr., Dodge, 311, 112, $92,510.
18. (28) Matt Kenseth, Ford, 311, 114, $115,765.
19. (30) Jamie McMurray, Ford, 311, 106, $81,025.
20. (24) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 311, 108, $107,329.
21. (27) Joey Logano, Toyota, 310, 100, $117,551.
22. (22) Robby Gordon, Toyota, 310, 97, $90,810.
23. (33) David Ragan, Ford, 310, 94, $80,775.
24. (31) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 310, 91, $108,928.
25. (8) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 310, 88, $86,423.
26. (40) Reed Sorenson, Dodge, 310, 85, $108,476.
27. (9) Casey Mears, Chevrolet, 308, 82, $85,900.
28. (35) Elliott Sadler, Dodge, 308, 79, $78,750.
29. (41) Paul Menard, Ford, 308, 76, $101,031.
30. (29) David Gilliland, Chevrolet, 308, 73, $71,500.
31. (39) Erik Darnell, Ford, 306, 70, $95,004.
32. (23) Max Papis, Toyota, 304, 67, $67,200.
33. (37) Scott Speed, Toyota, 303, 64, $79,148.
34. (42) John Andretti, Chevrolet, 268, 61, $75,900.
35. (18) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 256, 58, $84,825.
36. (11) Michael Waltrip, Toyota, 251, 55, $74,675.
37. (26) Brad Keselowski, Dodge, 239, 52, $99,040.
38. (19) Brian Vickers, Toyota, accident, 170, 49, $94,748.
39. (20) Bobby Labonte, Chevrolet, accident, 169, 46, $66,300.
40. (34) Joe Nemechek, Toyota, power steering, 47, 43, $66,150.
41. (38) Michael McDowell, Toyota, brakes, 36, 40, $66,000.
42. (32) Dave Blaney, Toyota, overheating, 9, 37, $65,875.
43. (43) Tony Raines, Chevrolet, electrical, 6, 34, $66,247.

Race Statistics

Average speed of race winner: 110.486 mph.

Time of race: 2 hours, 49 minutes, 26 seconds.

Margin of victory: 1.33 seconds.

Caution flags: 4 for 23 laps.

Lead changes: 9 among 4 drivers.

Lap leaders: Ku.Busch 1-52; J.Johnson 53; Ku.Busch 54-55; J.Johnson 56-73; R.Newman 74; Ku.Busch 75-89; J.Johnson 90-243; M.Kenseth 244-247; J.Johnson 248-312.

Leaders summary (driver, times led, laps led): J.Johnson, 4 times for 238 laps; Ku.Busch, 3 times for 69 laps; M.Kenseth, 1 time for 4 laps; R.Newman, 1 time for 1 lap.

Top 12 in points: 1. J.Johnson, 6,492; 2. M.Martin, 6,384; 3. J.Gordon, 6,323; 4. Ku.Busch, 6,281; 5. T.Stewart, 6,207; 6. J.Montoya, 6,203; 7. G.Biffle, 6,171; 8. D.Hamlin, 6,140; 9. R.Newman, 6,081; 10. K.Kahne, 6,016; 11. C.Edwards, 5,972; 12. B.Vickers, 5,826.