Jimmie Johnson stages late race rally to win at Dover

DOVER, DE - MAY 31: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's Pro Services Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series FedEx 400 Benefiting Autism Speaks at Dover International Speedway on May 31, 2015 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images)
DOVER, DE - MAY 31:  Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's Pro Services Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series FedEx 400 Benefiting Autism Speaks at Dover International Speedway on May 31, 2015 in Dover, Delaware.  (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images)
DOVER, DE – MAY 31: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Pro Services Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series FedEx 400 Benefiting Autism Speaks at Dover International Speedway on May 31, 2015 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images)

Jimmie Johnson led only once Sunday but it came at the right time.  Johnson took the lead on a gutsy pit call with 23 laps to go in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks and was able to hold off Kevin Harvick on a green-white-checkered flag finish to score a record setting 10th win at Dover International Speedway.

“I was trying to be smart with my line and I guess guys on two tires weren’t all that fast,” Johnson said. “Chad (Knaus, crew chief) said something to be about that on the radio and they never really came, you know? The No. 4 (Kevin Harvick) and I did just fine on old tires and held those guys off.”

Johnson survived three restarts in the final laps including a green-white checkered flag finish at the end to score his 74th career win. The key for Johnson came when was told to stay out on old tires during the races fifth caution with 25 laps to go. Harvick too stayed out as Martin Truex Jr. who led a race high 131 laps came in for two tires.  Johnson shot to the lead on the restart as Truex made his way to third. With 15 laps to go polesitter Denny Hamlin and Clint Bowyer got together sending Hamlin into the backstretch wall and bringing out caution number six. MORE>>>

Greg Engle
About Greg Engle 7421 Articles
Greg is a published award winning sportswriter who spent 23 years combined active and active reserve military service, much of that in and around the Special Operations community. Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.