Jimmie Johnson Carries 178-Point Lead Into Texas

November 6, 2009 3:11 p.m. EST

Fort Worth, Texas (AHN) - Thanks to surviving Talladega Superspeedway with a top-10 finish last weekend three-time defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson owns a 178-point lead in the points standings heading into this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway.

Johnson extended his lead by 60 points from 118 to 178 last weekend and clings to that cushion with three races to go in the season.

Johnson, who has three Chase wins, has 6,248 points and is trailed by Mark Martin (6,064), Jeff Gordon (6,056), Juan Pablo Montoya (6,009), Tony Stewart (5,969), Kurt Busch (5,936), Greg Biffle (5,908), Ryan Newman (5,846), Kasey Kahne (5,834) and Carl Edwards (5,811).

Chasers Denny Hamlin (5,800) and Brian Vickers (5,692) sit in the 11th and 12th positions and are followed by Kyle Busch (4,043), Matt Kenseth (3,986), Clint Bowyer (3,932), David Reutimann (3,854), Jeff Burton (3,539), Marcos Ambrose (3,519), Joey Logano (3,494) and Casey Mears (3,471).

In positions 21st through 29th are: Kevin Harvick (3,380), Jamie McMurray (3,286), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (3,197), Martin Truex Jr. (3,139), Elliott Sadler (3,134), AJ Allmendinger (3,084), David Ragan (2,985), Reed Sorenson (2,964) and Sam Hornish Jr. and (2,948).

In positions 30th through 39th are: Bobby Labonte (2,942), David Stremme (2,919), Paul Menard (2,742), Michael Waltrip (2,612), Robby Gordon (2,474), Scott Speed (2,435), John Andretti (2,381), David Gilliland (1,700), Brad Keselowski (1,330) and Regan Smith (1,306).

Rounding out the top-43 in positions 40th thru 43 are: Joe Nemechek (1,262), Dave Blaney (1,167), Max Papis (980) and Bill Elliott (919).