It isn't bonus round yet, but Hamlin counting wins

Jimmie Johnson could finish second in the next 10 Sprint Cup races and as long as Denny Hamlin remains among the top 12 of the series standings, Johnson won't gain a point on him.

Huh?

Here's the point: While being the series leader has its perks, when it comes to the start of the 10-race Chase for the Sprint Cup, bonus points determine where a driver starts in the battle for the championship.

Right now, Johnson and Hamlin have a significant separation on the rest of those likely to be contending for the title.

"I think if you are in the top three or four guys right now, that is all you are worrying about is getting wins," said driver Tony Stewart. "If you are ninth through 12th right now, you are worrying about just making sure you have enough points to be in it and going from there."

A driver gets 10 bonus points for every win during the first 26 races, and entering today's Lenox Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Johnson (four) and Hamlin (five) have won nine of the first 16. No other driver has won more than two (Kurt Busch and Kyle Busch).

By the current win count, regardless of where Hamlin might be in the series standings after the 26th race, as long as he is among the top 12, he will be ranked No.1 at the start of the Chase. Johnson would be second, 10 points behind.

So, while good finishes are important, it's basically only wins that will help separate Johnson from Hamlin the rest of the way.

"If you've got a good gap over the rest of the guys, it doesn't necessarily give you a free pass, but if you have an off-weekend - maybe finish 20th or something - it doesn't hurt you as bad because you started with a little bit of a lead," said Hamlin.

"With (Johnson's) win last week, that gap kind of closes back in on us, so we've got to make sure we get some more bonus points. We feel like we need one or two or three more wins before the Chase starts."

While going all out for wins might seem the logical approach for Johnson and Hamlin - or the others trying to catch up to their trophy haul - Johnson cautions about focusing too much on that objective.

"In the end, I think it's more important to win in the Chase than it is to win now. So, if I could pick when I could win my next race, I'd rather it be during the Chase," Johnson said. "For us, we still feel like we need a little bit more speed.

"My goal right now is to be smart and try to finish in the top five, learn about our race cars and make sure we're right so we can be winning when the Chase comes around."

Consistency still seems to rule the day.

Kevin Harvick is the points leader but with one victory this season, he would be shuffled back in the standings at the start of the Chase. Yet, he isn't ready to give in to a 'win-or-wreck-trying' attitude.

"We need to win a race or two before the Chase gets started. That would be the optimum position to be in," he said. "But I've also said this all along: Winning races is great, but you can't win or finish 30th.

"You have to have that middle ground somewhere. When you have bad days you can't make them disasters. I think there is a lot more to it than winning."

Johnson agrees.

"I think there is more damage to be done if you're out there driving over your means and the team is looking for a home run every time you're on the track," he said. "For my team, I think a consistent mindset is very helpful for us."

It would seem Johnson speaks from experience since he has won the past four championships - a NASCAR record.