NASCAR

• Johnson makes championship statement with Phoenix win

  
  

  Avondale, AZ (Sports Network) - One week after suffering a season-worst 38th- place finish, Jimmie Johnson rebounded in his quest for an unprecedented fourth straight Sprint Cup Series championship with a convincing victory in Sunday's Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.

  Johnson led 238 of 312 laps for his fourth win in the last five races at Phoenix, including the last three fall events. He also recorded his Sprint Cup Series-leading seventh win of the season.

  With the victory, Johnson padded his lead to 108 points over Mark Martin, who finished fourth.

  If Johnson finishes 25th or better next week at Homestead- Miami Speedway, he will win the title, regardless of Martin's performance.

  Jeff Burton finished a season-best second, while Denny Hamlin took the third spot. Martin Truex Jr., the pole sitter, completed the top-five.

  Jeff Gordon now trails Johnson by 169 points after finishing ninth. Gordon will be eliminated from title contention when Johnson simply starts at Homestead.

  11/15 18:43:31 ET