Johnson's on cruise control

AVONDALE, Ariz. – Winning three consecutive championships is one of the most difficult tasks in Sprint Cup racing.

Only one man in NASCAR history, Cale Yarborough, has been able to do that (1976-1978).

"It was far from easy," Yarborough said recently. "In fact, it was one of the most difficult things of my racing career."

Yet, instead of laboring over the likelihood of winning his third title in a row next Sunday in Homestead, Fla., Jimmie Johnson is making what should be the hardest of three championships look the easiest of all.

The 2006 championship was unquestionably the hardest. Four races into the 10-race Chase, Johnson was 158 points back, just barely out of last place in the playoff standings and was ready to start preparing for the following season.

Instead, he mounted one of the greatest comebacks NASCAR has ever seen.

The 2007 title was much easier – four straight wins in the stretch run of the Chase will do that for you – but still required Johnson to finish strongly in the last race of the season at Homestead.

Of course, he did and racked up title No. 2 with virtual ease.

But the route to this year's championship, while hard early on, will potentially end up with the least muss and fuss of all.

All Johnson needs to do is finish 36th or better in the season finale next Sunday at Homestead and he'll be crowned champ at the end of the race, permanently putting his name alongside Yarborough's in the NASCAR record book.

"Where we are in points now is going to allow me to go into Homestead and take some pressure off my brain, to relax, get in the car and set it up," Johnson said after winning Sunday's Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. "I'm really excited about next week. There's no need to do anything stupid."

All he has to do is coast around Homestead for 267 laps, stay out of trouble and he'll once again be lifting the crystal Sprint Cup trophy to symbolize not only a great championship, but an even greater accomplishment for having done so three years in a row.

Yet, for as easy as Johnson has made it look this year, he's thinking of shifting course in Sunday's season finale.

"How cool would it be to win out (and tie Yarborough's record)," Johnson said. "I'd love to do that. If we can do it like we won the race tonight, hell yes, let's do it."

Sure, Johnson could still lose the championship at Homestead. If he wrecks or suffers mechanical failure early on and Carl Edwards wins the race, it could be nearly as much of a shock as when the New York Giants upset the previously undefeated New England Patriots in last year's Super Bowl.

But that's not likely to happen. Even many of his peers have already conceded Johnson the championship.

"What Jimmie is doing is something very special," said Kurt Busch, who finished second to Johnson in Sunday's race. "They're on their game and it's really something special to watch. It's a privilege."

Watching history in the making truly is a privilege for the one who is doing it. But when fellow competitors feel humbled and honored to play a small part in it, such an achievement becomes something that extends beyond the reach of just the championship-winning team.

Thirty years from now and after they're long retired from racing, guys like Busch, Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon will likely enthrall their grandkids not only with their own career exploits, but how they were there to watch firsthand as Johnson did something that was nothing short of sheer greatness.

You can only imagine the reaction: "Wow, grandpa, you were there?"

I'm sure there's some disappointment that the points battle heading into the final race won't be closer, particularly among Edwards' and non-Johnson fans – not to mention NASCAR chairman Brian France.

What they wouldn't give to see something more akin to the way Busch beat Johnson on the last lap of the last race in the inaugural Chase of 2004, winning the championship by a mere eight points.

But with each passing race as this year's Chase has unfolded, and the way Johnson has made his annual dominating achievement in the playoffs look easier than ever, there's a certain downside, as well.

Look at ABC. It jumped ship and shifted the final 34 laps of the race to ESPN2 in favor of airing "America's Funniest Home Videos." You know, another race, another Johnson win or strong finish, and another championship all but in the bag. What's the point of hanging around?

That's like taking the final innings of Game 7 of the World Series, or the final two minutes of the Super Bowl, and shifting them to the Cartoon Network.

"To go to 'America's Funniest Home Videos,' that hurts," Johnson said.

Let's just hope that when Johnson celebrates his third championship next Sunday, ABC realizes the history that has been made and sticks with him through the final champagne toast – and doesn't abruptly bolt to "Desperate Housewives."

Now, that would really hurt.