JJ isn't invincible -- Martin still has a chance to win Chase

Five things we learned on a championship-changing afternoon at Texas Motor Speedway:

1. Mark Martin is still alive in the title hunt. Heading into Sunday's race, Jimmie Johnson only needed a top-10 finish in each of the last three Chase events to cruise to the Sprint Cup Championship, even if Mark Martin won out and lead the most laps in every race. Considering the ruthless dominance that Johnson has flashed during this Chase, this seemed as easy for Johnson as flipping his ignition switch. But then, in a heartbeat, everything changed -- for Johnson, for Martin, and for NASCAR.

On the third lap on Sunday, Johnson was minding his own business when Sam Hornish momentarily lost control of his car. To his defense, Hornish, who has had control issues all season long, was nudged from behind by David Reutimann, which caused him to become loose. Hornish slid up the track and into the hard-charging Johnson, who was in the process of passing Hornish on the high side. Johnson ended up careening into the outside wall, bounced off it, and got hit again by Hornish before slamming into the inside wall. The car was virtually totaled, but Johnson was able to drive it to the garage for repairs.

After more than an hour in the garage, Johnson returned to the track, puttered around for the rest of the afternoon, gained a few spots on cars that fizzled out and ended their days in the garage, and finished 38th. He ended up losing 101 points in the standings and now holds a 77-point lead over Martin, who finished fourth, with two races to go.

Make no mistake: This is still Johnson's championship to lose. The 77-point lead is the second highest any Chase champ has held with two races to go. And no Chase driver who's been atop the standings at this point of the season has ever lost the championship. Let's review:

In 2004, the first year of the Chase format, Kurt Busch held a 41-point lead with two to go and won; in 2005 Tony Stewart had a 38-point lead at this point and wound up hoisting the Cup; in 2006 Johnson was up 17 points with two left and won; in 2007 he had a 30-point lead at this point and won, and last year he was up 106 points after Texas. In other words, history is on Johnson's side.

Still, Martin isn't out of it. Why? Because...

2. Martin did just enough on Sunday. Martin didn't have the fastest car at Texas, but he managed to eeek out a fourth-place finish as several cars in front of him ran out of gas late. Martin didn't take full advantage of Johnson's crash, but he certainly didn't pull a Jeff Gordon either.

Gordon is no doubt kicking himself today because of the opportunity he missed at Texas. "I'm just terrible at this place," Gordon said before he left the track. He finished 13th and trails Johnson by 112 points, meaning he's gunning for second place rather than the big prize.

But Martin still has a realistic shot at the title. Why? Because the schedule sets up better for him than it does for Johnson. Martin has been the top driver on flat tracks this season. The next race is at Phoenix, a flat track where Martin led the most laps and won at in the spring. Yes, Johnson won the previous three races at Phoenix, but Martin should have the edge on Sunday based on the notes from the spring that his crew chief Alan Gustafson will lean on.