Johnson is second entering race today

HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) — A year ago, the pressure was almost unbearable for Jimmie Johnson as he prepared for the fall race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

This time is different.

“I’m in a much better place and I’m actually enjoying this year and this championship battle,” said Johnson, who is second in the standings, 53 points behind Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon, heading into today’s Pep Boys Auto 500.

Johnson flirted with a championship in each of his first four seasons in NASCAR’s Nextel Cup series, never finishing worse than fifth and twice winding up second — once by just eight points.

Heading into this race last year,Johnson was second again, trailing Matt Kenseth by 26 points and living with the distinct possibility of falling short once more. He persevered, though, winning the title and removing the massive weight of unfulfilled expectations from his shoulders.

In some ways, the pressure has shifted to Gordon, who hasn’t won a championship since 2001, which also means he hasn’t finished on top under the current Chase format, which began in 2004.

Gordon was dominant during the “regular season,” this year, building a lead of 312 points over Johnson after the first 26 races. But, thanks to NASCAR’s new seeding format, based on wins, that lead was erased and Johnson started the Chase leading Gordon by 20 points.