Cale Yarborough is the only driver to have won three consecutive championships in NASCAR’s series. But this year, Jimmie Johnson shows promise to finally match this record. Johnson certainly has the skill and ability. He is also provided with the equipment through Hendrick Motorsports. The challenge for him now is for his performance to be consistent or to exceed what he has shown for the last five years. To win, it is important to keep consistent finishes.

Johnson may also have some tight competition in the race. There are at least ten other drivers who could have matched Yarborough’s record with three consecutive wins in the championship. Six of them actually came close to making this a reality.

Two drivers, Herb Thomas and Buck Baker, could have held this record in as early as the first decade of NASCAR. Their chances were destroyed, however, by Tim Flock and Lee Petty. Thomas had won the 1951 and 1953 championships, finishing only second to Flock in 1952. Baker became champion in 1956 and 1957, and also finished second to Flock in 1955.

With many contenders for matching Yarborough’s record, all eyes will be on Jimmie Johnson this year to see if he will be the first one to do it.