For those anti-Jimmy Johnson fans out there, you can finally breath easy. You will not be calling the defending five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion, aka “Five-Time,”  “Six-Time” next year. (no promises for 2013 though)

You Ford fans, however, will have to do the usual and give it up to, the now 35-time manufacturers title winners, Chevrolet. They actually clinched it on Oct. 30 (three days before Chevy’s 100-year anniversary) with three races remaining.

Ford won seven of its 15 total manufacturer titles during a nine-year span in which Chevrolet didn’t financially back a team (1963-1971). Dodge/Plymouth won in 1970 and 1971, respectively, before the bowties started a stretch of 31 titles in the last 40 years. Two of those nine years Chevy didn’t win went to fell0w GM manufacturer Buick (1981 and 1982).

Just a fun fact.

For me, the Ford vs. Chevy rivalry is the reason I’ve watched almost every race since I was a child, and it’s just nice to see that at least one Cup title still goes to the leader of the season-long marathon.

The Chase does offer something different in the drivers point standings, and I have slowly warmed up to the final 10-race “postseason” format since its trial year of 2004.

In the Cup Series’ previous “marathon” format, which most other racing leagues still (sanely) employ, it was rare to have a climactic end in the season’s final stretch.

The season-long points leader usually held his advantage until the end, clinching the points title a week or two before the season finale, or needing only something like a 35th-place or better showing to do so in race No. 36.

Now the season comes down to the top 12 drivers (after 26 races) over the final 10 events of a 36-race season.

Logically, it just isn’t the most fair way of crowning the true champion, but is has consistently provided, as NASCAR hoped it would, a more captivating end to the season.

Johnson’s run of dominance, which has grown stale with fans over the last half decade, was all do to he and crew chief Chad Knaus’ teamwork and ability to come through in the clutch.

It may have gotten old for some to watch the No. 48 Chevy take the crown year after year after year after year … after year, but it was a true display of dominance in a league set up to run equally.

Johnson was eliminated from a sixth straight title last week in Phoenix, coming in 14th while future Hendrick Racing teammate Kasey Kahne won in his penultimate race with the Red Bull Toyota team.

Roush Ford driver Carl Edwards, holding a 3-point advantage over Tony Stewart, ran neck and neck with his closest points rival, beating him out for second place. The 2-3 finish maintained the same gap going into the finale, while also eliminating all other Chase drivers from title contention.

After winning the previous two races to tie a Chase record four total victories, Stewart is now in position for his third drivers title and his first since 2005.

Adding to the storyline, scoring four or more points than Edwards this Sunday would also make Stewart the first owner/driver to win since Alan Kulwicki in 1992.

While Johnson’s five straight championships have deservedly put him in the ranks as one the greatest stock car drivers of all time, Stewart is also considered as one of the most complete and skilled ever.

Despite earning just two titles in 13 years on the Cup circuit, Stewart’s ability to win on any circuit; short-track, super speedway or road course; is why he is mentioned with the best in history. A title as driver and owner would only cement that further.

Edwards has been a championship contender over the last few years, and is just now entering his prime. With just two victories in 2011, it has been consistency that has kept Edwards near the top of the standings throughout the campaign.

Stewart kept pace enough in the “regular season” to make the Chase field, but his final surge has led to another championship push, his first in the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Chevy.

Nearly even in the points race, it all sets up a classic two-driver sprint to the finish, among 41 other cars, for the final 400 miles of the year.

It’s Stewart vs. Edwards.

It’s owner/driver vs. just driver.

It’s the top veteran vs. the best of the new breed.

It’s wins vs. consistency.

But best of all, it’s Chevy vs. Ford.