Homestead, FL -- (Sports Network) - Carl Edwards dominated Sunday's season-ending Ford 400, but Jimmie Johnson was the "tropic" of conversation at the Homestead-Miami Speedway as he drove into NASCAR's record books with his record-tying third consecutive Sprint Cup Series championship. Johnson finished 15th to join Cale Yarborough as the only drivers in NASCAR's 60-year history that have won three titles in a row. Yarborough accomplished the feat from 1976-78.

Johnson finished the season 69 points ahead of Edwards, who picked up his series-leading ninth win of the year by gambling on fuel in the late stages of the race.

"It's the ultimate reward," Johnson said. "We've worked so hard to put ourselves in this position. It is such a team sport, and it's total team work and dedication. There were times this year when things were dark, but we buckled down and got to work. That's what it's really all about. I have to commend Carl Edwards and his team for the effort they put forth. Those guys put a lot of pressure on us this year, and they're going to be a championship threat for years to come."

Chad Knaus also made history as he became the first crew chief in series history to win three straight championships.

"It's absolutely amazing," Knaus said. "It will probably hit me tomorrow morning with a heck of a headache, but tomorrow morning is going to be nice. I just got to sit back and let it all soak in. It's what we've worked for."

Johnson only needed to finish 36th or better at Homestead, regardless of Edwards' performance.

But Edwards did all he could do, leading a race-high 157 laps en route to victory. The win was the fifth-straight for Roush Fenway Racing at the South Florida track.

"I know we didn't win this championship, but we won the most races this season," Edwards said. "Second place for the championship isn't what we came here for, but Jimmie is a great guy and he deserves to win."

Johnson started 30th, but steadily moved his way through the field as he held the 19th position by Lap 15. Meanwhile, Edwards pulled even with Matt Kenseth and then got around his teammate to take the lead for the first time.

Aric Almirola cut a right-rear tire and spun on Lap 70 to put the race under caution for the first time and set up a round of stops. Edwards beat Kevin Harvick by less than a car-length to retain the lead, while Johnson rejoined the field in 13th.

Kurt Busch blew a left front tire and scraped the wall on Lap 151. On the following lap, Edwards clinched the 10 bonus points for leading the most laps in the race.

On Lap 168, Marcos Ambrose slapped the outside wall to put the race under caution for the fourth time. David Reutimann took two new tires only and advanced nine positions as he exited first. Edwards came out fifth. Meanwhile, Jeff Gordon grabbed the top spot for the first time when he elected to stay on the track. Gordon led the field for the restart on Lap 174.

Jeff Burton made contact with Joe Nemechek and spun in the infield grass on Lap 177. Johnson pitted during the caution to put on two new tires, as he rejoined the field in 18th.

Johnson moved up to 13th, but the strategy really paid off when Reed Sorenson's accident brought out the sixth caution and led to another round of stops on Lap 199. Johnson got two tires and was the quickest off of pit road, advancing 12 positions to grab the lead for the first time. He grabbed five bonus points in the process.

"This night was good, and we had a great race car," Johnson said. "That's what made me feel most comfortable is the fact that we had a great race car, and I knew I could pass people."

Johnson led six laps before Kenseth passed him to recapture the top position on Lap 206.

By Lap 227, Edwards took the third spot from Johnson, and then Tony Stewart followed as Johnson dropped to fifth.

Stewart continued his march towards the front as he passed Edwards and then Denny Hamlin for the second spot. He trailed Kenseth by two seconds on Lap 235.

Stewart ran down Kenseth and then grabbed the lead with 23 laps remaining.

Johnson pitted for the final time with 14 laps to go, taking two tires and fuel in a 5.9-second stop. Stewart came in for his last stop two laps later as Kenseth re-inherited the lead. Stewart took three seconds of gas.

With less than 10 laps remaining, Kenseth and Edwards remained on the track as they ran first and second, while Stewart held the 16th spot and Johnson back in 20th.

Kenseth ran out of fuel with four laps to go, allowing Edwards to take the lead for the final time.

Edwards' fuel held up just enough for him to coast out of the final turn of the last lap to take the checkered flag for the 16th time in his Sprint Cup career.

Harvick finished 7.548 seconds behind in the runner-up spot.

Jamie McMurray came in third, and Gordon was fourth. Clint Bowyer finished fifth.

Kasey Kahne, Travis Kvapil, Casey Mears, Stewart and Martin Truex, Jr. completed the top-10.

Stewart ended his 10-year career with Joe Gibbs Racing as he leaves the No.20 Toyota to start up his own team - Stewart-Haas Racing - in 2009.

Meanwhile, car owner Rick Hendrick captured his eighth Cup championship, second only to Petty Enterprises with nine.

"I thought I would never win one of these, but to get eight is very special," Hendrick said.

Hendrick drivers Gordon and Terry Labonte combined for an unprecedented four consecutive series championships from 1995-98. Gordon gave Hendrick his fifth title in 2001.

Johnson will be honored as the 2008 champion at the Sprint Cup Awards Banquet in New York City on December 5th.

The first race of the 2009 Sprint Cup season is the Budweiser Shootout (pre- season, non-points race) scheduled for February 7th at the Daytona International Speedway.