DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Reigning and three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet) is exactly where he likes to be in early November — at the head of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup class.

And as series teams prepare for Sunday’s Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, he’s staring down some personal and historical benchmarks.

No driver has won four consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup titles. Johnson could be the first.

But the 2009 Chase hardly is over. Beginning Sunday, three races remain, which means Johnson has plenty to do to cement his position and fend off pursuers.

The closest are a pair of Hendrick Motorsports teammates — Mark Martin (No. 5 Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevrolet) and Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet), in second and third place, respectively, in the Chase standings.

One, Martin, is a four-time series runner-up. The other, Gordon, is a four-time series champion himself.

Neither will yield.

Aside from Gordon and Martin, another Texas threat comes in the form of 10th-place Carl Edwards (No. 99 Aflac Ford), who swept both 2008 races there.