Members of the media who were recently polled choose Carl Edwards as their choice to win the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup series championship and, therefore, end Jimmy Johnson three years dominance.Edwards received almost twice the first-place votes as Johnson. Edwards finished with 70 first-place votes, compared to Johnson's 37.Mark Martin's return to full-time competition with Hendrick Motorsports will shake up this season's Chase. The media picked Martin to finish eighth. Clint Bowyer, who must adapt to his new No. 33 Chevrolet crew in 2009, is the only '08 Chase participant who the voters feel will fail to make it this year. Media's Top 12 predictions:
Rank Driver 1. ¸ Carl Edwards 2. Jimmie Johnson 3. Kyle Busch 4. Jeff Gordon 5. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 6. Greg Biffle 7. Kevin Harvick 8. Mark Martin 9. Jeff Burton 10. Matt Kenseth 11. Denny Hamlin 12. Tony Stewart photo: NASCAR - Getty Images
Rank Driver 1. ¸ Carl Edwards 2. Jimmie Johnson 3. Kyle Busch 4. Jeff Gordon 5. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 6. Greg Biffle 7. Kevin Harvick 8. Mark Martin 9. Jeff Burton 10. Matt Kenseth 11. Denny Hamlin 12. Tony Stewart photo: NASCAR - Getty Images