BRISTOL, Tenn. – Jimmie Johnson has won four consecutive championships under the Sprint Cup Series’ Chase format without once leading the standings at the end of the regular season.

            In other words, declaring Kevin Harvick the likely champion may be a bit premature.

            Don’t believe it? Ask Harvick.

“I still think the No. 48 (Johnson) team is the team to beat,” said the runaway point leader. “No matter how (well) somebody runs, I still think those guys are the ones to beat just for the fact that they have won it the last four years being in a somewhat similar situation.

“Contending and winning are two different things, and I think we’ve shown we can win races and have shown that we can run (well). But I still think until somebody completes the deal and knocks them off, they have to be the ones you have to beat just because they have done it four times.”

            Access, access, access – NASCAR stock car racing and NHRA drag racing could scarcely be more different and still grouped as motorsports. Funny Car driver Ron Force held a press conference at the track on Friday and was asked what the two had in common.

            “What I think the two sports have in common is attitude because both are about going as fast as possible,” he said. “What’s not common, I think, is the interaction with the fans. You go from zero to 300 (mph) in four seconds, and 10 minutes later, you’re standing in the pits talking with the fans.

            “I think it’s a little difficult for fans to grasp. We don’t leave and go to the motor home. I’ve overheard NASCAR fans at our events who couldn’t believe we were really walking through the pits, right in the middle of them, without anyone steering us through.”

            A bit misleading – During his media session on Friday, Tony Stewart answered several questions regarding Chase strategy by saying the media spent more time thinking about it than he did.

            Then, when his session ended, he walked out of the room talking, just loudly enough for most to hear, about the lack of intelligence in the room.

            It’s hard to be more two-faced than that.

            In contrast – Had Stewart not been so obsessed with “protecting the NASCAR brand,” he might have answered in the manner of Carl Edwards, who said that winning the championship with winning a race would be a source of pride.

            “In a way,” said Edwards. “I’m prouder of what we’ve accomplished this year. In 2008, we won more races than anyone else, so I’ve experienced that.”

            Edwards’ average finish in the past six races is 5.7 but he hasn’t won since the final race of 2008.

            “For us to do what we’re doing now … in a way, that show you’re getting a lot out of your car.”

            Heck, yeah – The dialogue described above began earlier in the day when Jeff Gordon reiterated what he has said many times before: that he would be proud to win the Sprint Cup championship even if it meant failing to win a single individual race.

“I'll be fine winning the championship without winning a single race,” he said. “I'll take pride in it, absolutely. You win it however you win it, you know?

“Do you want to win a championship that way? Not necessarily, but you'll take it. Do I want to win the championship without having a win? No. But I'll still take it and take it proudly."

You may contact Monte Dutton at mdutton@gastongazette.com.