OPINION

By Tony Stewart

updated 2:33 p.m. ET Oct. 29, 2009

This story first appeared in the October 26, 2009 edition of Sporting News magazine. If you are not receiving the magazine, subscribe today or pick up a copy, available at most Barnes & Noble, Borders and Hudson Retail outlets.

It was John "Bluto" Blutarsky, the famous scholar of one Faber College, who proclaimed, "Nothing is over until we decide it is!"

And as media and fans seemingly anoint Jimmie Johnson this year's Sprint Cup champion, we're taking a page from Bluto's rallying speech to his Delta fraternity brothers.

Proof of that was our win at Kansas, our fourth points-paying win of the season but our first in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. And after finishing 14th in the first Chase race and ninth the following weekend to drop 106 points behind the leader, our victory at Kansas cut that deficit to 67 points.

Johnson then showed why he's the three-time defending champion. He won the fourth Chase race in California and took the points lead from Mark Martin -- and then won at Lowe's the following weekend. But we're still in fourth place.

Five more races are ahead of us, and anything can happen -- especially at Talladega, the seventh Chase race. That's the one venue we're all paying really close attention to because no matter the standings going in, they could be dramatically different afterward.

Talladega is the fourth and final restrictor plate race of the year. We're 2-for-3 in plate races so far, and when I use that statistic, I mean we came out unscathed twice. We finished eighth in the Daytona 500 and won in our return trip there in July. But in between those races, we had an engine issue at Talladega and finished 23rd.

Wrecks, not engine problems, are the major concern at Talladega. Accidents in restrictor plate races, well, they're pretty much a given. And they're also pretty big, collecting cars like kids collect candy on Halloween.

There were a couple of Big Ones at Talladega in April -- a 14-car accident on Lap 7, a 10-car melee on Lap 180 -- and a last-lap crash that sent Carl Edwards airborne into the front-stretch catch fence. Those accidents sent four current Chase drivers to results of 30th or worse -- Johnson, Martin, Kasey Kahne and Jeff Gordon.

The Big One is bound to happen again at Talladega and, if history is any indication, more than once during the race's 188 laps. Who comes out with decent finishes will be who is still in the hunt for the championship. For those at the other end of the spectrum, their championship hopes are going to look like their racecars -- unsalvageable.

Slide show   Week in Sports Pictures Pain on the skating rink, flying high on the hardwood, upsets on the football field, and more. more photos

So don't go crowning anyone champion yet. There's a lot of racing to go and one frightening venue to overcome ... on Halloween weekend, no less.

Tony Stewart, a two-time season champion in NASCAR's Cup Series, is a regular contributor to Sporting News.

SportingNews.com Johnson's run is historic—but it's not over NASCAR Number: 6 On this day ... November 23 Daily podcast from Rowdy.com: November 23 Johnson grabs 4th straight title; Hamlin wins race

Also on NBCSports.com Rosenthal: Steelers’ struggles could sink their playoff hopes Circling the Bases: Dodgers unlikely to land Halladay Inside the Irish: Clausen reportedly involved in fight Opinion: So far, Nowitzki is NBA’s MVP  |  Fan Ranker Twitter: Follow us @nbc_sports

MORE FROM NASCAR / MOTORS

NASCAR / Motors Section Front

Johnson's feat stacks up to those in other sports Opinion: Johnson isn't the best driver of all time yet   Vote: Is Johnson the greatest NASCAR driver ever? Opinion: NASCAR needs to address its issues Johnson races to 4th straight NASCAR title   Vote: Will Johnson win fifth straight NASCAR title next year? Latest NASCAR videos Live odds Matchups/injuries NASCAR RESULTS, SCHEDULE, STANDINGS NASCAR / Motors Section Front   Add NASCAR / Motors headlines to your news reader: