Johnson more relaxed than last year

For the past three years, Johnson has led the championship before the Chase, but had never been leading it going into the decisive last ten races. Since 2004, the first year when the playoff system was implemented, Johnson has always started the Chase from second place.

This year despite some bad luck during most of the summer, he was able to grab two consecutive wins in the past two races to put his name at the top of the points, winning six races in total until now, one more than what he achieved in a whole season last year en route to his first title.

"A lot can change in the sport and I think just using my situation I can look back at probably eight, 10 races ago, it just shows myself and I think shows probably everybody how much can change in 10 weeks and how tough it is to be good through these 10 weeks coming up," Johnson said.

"I was concerned about making the Chase. We were running well and having poor finishes and I knew if we weren't running well and weren't finishing we'd be in big trouble.

"But fortunately we got the finishing thing under control and maintained a good pace and good equipment and all that stuff so we really didn't lose too much."

Johnson says he can feel the difference a title makes as he claims to feel a lot more relaxed and more confident going into this year's Chase, despite having to look after the points lead for the next 10 races.

"I can say that I'm much more relaxed," Johnson added. "I woke up this morning, I was having breakfast with my wife and to sit there and remember a year ago today what the emotions were like and how tense and nervous I was last year at this time.

"It's so different now and I can't tell you how excited I am to go racing and get in the middle of this and see where it shakes out. Obviously I have a lot of confidence since we've won the last two races but aside from that, I'm in a better place, much more confident."

Last year Johnson dropped down from second to ninth in the Chase after the first race at New Hampshire, but fought his way back, claiming one victory at Martinsville and four second places in the last six races to clinch the championship at Homestead.