Fans dream about Sunday’s AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway , one of the season’s most eventful races.

Those drivers in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship may consider it a nightmare — especially since it comes with only four races remaining in the 2009 season.

There have been five editions of the Chase format. And on three occasions — 2004, 2005 and 2006 — the points leader entering the AMP Energy 500 has failed to win the title.

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photo

Conversely, the points leader after Talladega — Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet) in 2007, Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot Chevrolet) in 2005 and Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge) in 2004 — went on to become champion.

In the Chase era (2004-present), the points leader after six races has gone on to win the championship in two of the five Chases. Prior to the Chase’s inception, from 1975-2003, five drivers won the title after trailing with four races to go. (See chart page 4)

Johnson’s current lead of 118 points might appear comfortable but history suggests otherwise. Although Johnson has finished ninth and second in his past two AMP Energy 500 starts, the three-time champion’s overall record in the race isn’t good. Before his runner-up performance in 2007, Johnson failed to finish higher than 24th with four finishes of 31st or worse.

He finished 30th in Talladega’s Aaron’s 499 earlier this year. Talladega is his third-worst track for average finish (17.7) and Driver Rating (84.1) Ironically, Johnson is the only driver to win a championship in the Chase era with an AMP Energy 500 finish outside the top 10. He overcame a 24th-place performance in 2007.