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NASCAR: How each of the five remaining playoff drivers can win their way to Homestead-Miami

By Dustin Smith

AVONDALE, AZ - MARCH 13: A general view of the speedway during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Good Sam 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on March 13, 2016 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
AVONDALE, AZ - MARCH 13: A general view of the speedway during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Good Sam 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on March 13, 2016 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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FORT WORTH, TX – NOVEMBER 05: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)
FORT WORTH, TX – NOVEMBER 05: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images) /

How Jimmie Johnson makes it to Homestead-Miami

It’s hard to imagine a final four race at Homestead-Miami without seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson in the mix. Johnson is 51 points behind Brad Keselowski heading into the final race. This means Johnson must win in order to make the finals.

If I had to pick one driver in a must-win situation, Jimmie Johnson might just be my guy. The seven-time NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series Champion will need a win to keep his playoff hopes alive. Even if Johnson were to win both stages and fail to win the race, he would more than likely not earn the final spot. This is especially the case if Brad Keselowski finishes well. The points gap from Keselowski in 4th and Johnson in 8th is just too overwhelming for Johnson not to need a win on Sunday.

We all need to remember who we are talking about here. This is Jimmie Johnson…seven-time champion and four-time Phoenix International Raceway race winner. Don’t be too surprised when Chad Knaus throws a curve ball on pit road to put Jimmie out front late, putting the 48 team in Victory Lane. This is a race team that knows how to win, especially in pressure situations.

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