RICHMOND, Virginia (AP) — Jimmie Johnson hit his stride at exactly the right time, winning two straight races to roll into the Chase for the championship. Dale Earnhardt Jr. never had a chance, the victim of five faulty motors when his season was on the line.

Now Johnson will run for a second consecutive Nextel Cup title, while Earnhardt watches from the sidelines for the second time in three years

Johnson easily raced to his series-best sixth victory of the season, winning on Saturday night at Richmond International Raceway to shore up the top seed in the Chase. But Earnhardt, the only driver mathematically eligible to race his way into contention, suffered his third blown motor in seven races to finish 30th.

"We broke another motor and they seem to fall apart when they plug 'em into my car," Earnhardt said. "We deserve to be in the Chase. We race hard. We don't quit. We love racing. That's what we do. It's just disappointing, man. These dang motors."

Johnson and Co. have been near flawless this season, and the defending series champion will start the ten-race title hunt on top of the standings.

"Everything is working right now," he said. "We're happy to be hitting our stride at this point in the season."

Johnson rallied to win last week in California and then complete a season sweep at Richmond. He believes this streak will send him into the Chase with the momentum to hold off the 11 other challengers.