The First Reid:Johnson Has Gone From Winless To Winner, And No One Should Be Surprised
By Reid Spencer
NASCAR Wire Service
It has been more than a day since Jimmie Johnson took the checkered flag at Dover to win his second straight NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.
So what’s wrong with the No. 48 team?
If that question sounds absurd, remember that Johnson himself thought questions about the dire state of his Hendrick Motorsports team were equally preposterous when he started the year with 11 straight “losses” and matched the longest drought from the start of a season in his career.
The six-time champion said many of his fans on social media have treated the “drought” with levity.
“I think (there has been) a lot of joking about the ‘long’ winless streak being over,” Johnson said.
“That’s been the common theme among friends and social media.
“So I’m just having fun with it and trying to remind myself that it’s a backhanded compliment, I guess, that we have done sowell as a team and been fortunate to win a lot and win often, that we put ourselves in this corner.
“So, I’m glad I don’t have to answer those questions any longer, and we’re looking forward to winning again soon – and especially later in the year – winning often.”
After Dover, there’s no doubt the burning question has changed. It’s no longer, “When will Jimmie Johnson win a race.”
The question now is … “When will someone beat Jimmie Johnson?”
NASCAR Numbers
9: The number of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victories recorded by Jimmie Johnson at Dover International Speedway. The six-time champion extended his own track record on Sunday with a dominating performance in the FedEx 400.
81: The number of laps led by Kyle Busch in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Dover. Though Busch made an early exit after a crash and finished 42nd, he spent more than enough time out front to exceed 10,000 laps led for his career. The 15th driver to hit that milestone, Busch has now led 10,053 career laps.
85: The current series-best number of consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races in which Roush Fenway Racing driver Greg Biffle has been running at the finish. Biffle’s streak of no DNFs seemed in jeopardy on Sunday at Dover when he was the victim of a five-car wreck on the backstretch on Lap 134. But Biffle’s team repaired the car, and the No. 16 Ford completed 292 laps.
262: The number of laps led by Jimmie Johnson in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Dover, a total that pushed the six-time champion past Bobby Allison as the all-time lap leader at the Monster Mile. In 25 starts at Dover, Johnson has led a total of 2,976 laps.
3: The number of consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events won by Hendrick Motorsports drivers at Pocono Raceway. Jeff Gordon won the August race in 2012, Jimmie Johnson the June race in 2013 and Kasey Kahne the August race in 2013. In case you’re wondering, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has yet to win at the Tricky Triangle.
NASCAR Notes
After a 13-race opening stretch broadcast on FOX, TNT will enter, providing all-access coverage throughout the six-week NASCAR Summer Series. TNT’s coverage will start Sunday, June 8, at Pocono Raceway at 1 p.m. ET, continuing throughout the summer with behind-the-scenes content featuring a select driver and their team, along with special “off the track” segments and more. The Toyota Camry Test Car, a new addition for this year’s race coverage, will take viewers inside the car and bring them closer to the action. TNT analysts Kyle Petty and Wally Dallenbach will use the car for pre-race driving segments on the track, taking viewers into the turns and down the straightaways before the green flag drops each week. Additionally, the car will be a resource for analyst Larry McReynolds during the race as the former crew chief will outline key performance features and mechanical challenges during the race. TNT will once again follow a driver and their team over the course of the entire week as they travel and prepare for the upcoming race Featured drivers will include Kyle Larson (Pocono), Austin Dillon (Michigan) and AJ Allmendinger (Daytona), among others.
@nascarcasm
MILES THE MONSTER WITH HIS NEW ENDORSEMENT DEAL.
- New slogan for Dover International Speedway: “Remember the scene in ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ when Han Solo has to maneuver his ship through the giant asteroid field? Racing here is sort of like that.”
- With his ninth victory at Dover, Jimmie Johnson became the all-time lap leader at the track. His name will be etched in history, as well as on every Dover trophy from here on out before it’s delivered to the track. It’s just easier that way.
- Following the pothole incident, Kyle Busch grabbed a sledgehammer and asked NASCAR if he was permitted to “work on” the No. 15 car during the red flag.
(Follow @nascarcasm on Twitter. His unique views on NASCAR are his own – but chances are you have figured that out by now.)
NASCAR Tweets Of The Week
Kurt Busch
@KurtBusch
Congrats to my bud @JimmieJohnson for another stellar win. Anyone who counted you guys out was a fool.
Joey Logano
@joeylogano
Couldn’t get a handle on the car all day. Really loose then really tight. Guess it’s good when you are disappointed with a top-10 finish.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
@DaleJr
Weirdest thing happened this weekend. Tire on @ReganSmith pit box blew during the NW (Nationwide Series) race. No reason. Just POW.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
@DaleJr
Good job on @NASCAR for patching that track, or whomever is responsible. It held up good.
Tune-In: NASCAR On Television, June 2-8
Monday, June 2
5 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FOX Sports 1
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBC Sports Network
6:30 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FOX Sports 2
7 p.m., Empty Cup: Quest for the 1992 NASCAR Championship (re-air), FOX Sports 2
2:30 a.m. (Tue.), NASCAR Now, ESPN2
3 a.m. (Tue.), NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race at Dover (re-air), FOX Sports 1
Tuesday, June 3
5 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FOX Sports 1
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBC Sports Network
6:30 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FOX Sports 2
2 a.m. (Wed.), NASCAR’s The List (re-air), NBC Sports Network
2:30 a.m. (Wed.), NASCAR Now, ESPN2
2:30 a.m. (Wed.), NASCAR’s The List (re-air), NBC Sports Network
Wednesday, June 4
11 a.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race at Dover (re-air), FOX Sports 1
5 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FOX Sports 1
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBC Sports Network
6:30 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FOX Sports 2
6:30 p.m., NASCAR’s The List (re-air), NBC Sports Network
7:30 p.m., 100,000 Cameras: NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race (re-air), FOX Sports 2
2:30 a.m. (Thu.), NASCAR Now, ESPN2
Thursday, June 5
1 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub Special (re-air), FOX Sports 1
2 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race at Dover (re-air), FOX Sports 1
5 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FOX Sports 1
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBC Sports Network
6:30 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FOX Sports 2
2:30 a.m. (Fri.), NASCAR Now, ESPN2
Friday, June 6
10 a.m., The 600: History of NASCAR’s Toughest Race (re-air), FOX Sports 1
11 a.m., NASCAR K&N Pro Series Race at Iowa (re-air), FOX Sports 1
Noon, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Practice, FOX Sports 1
4:30 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Qualifying, FOX Sports 1
7 p.m., 100,000 Cameras: NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race (re-air), FOX Sports 2
7:30 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub Special (re-air), FOX Sports 1
8:30 p.m., NCWTS SetUp, FOX Sports 1
9 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race at Texas, FOX Sports 1
2:30 a.m. (Sat.), NASCAR’s The List (re-air), NBC Sports Network
3 a.m. (Sat.), NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Practice (re-air), FOX Sports 1
4:30 a.m. (Sat.), NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Qualifying (re-air), FOX Sports 1
Saturday, June 7
9 a.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Practice, FOX Sports 1
10 a.m., Empty Cup: Quest for the 1992 NASCAR Championship (re-air), FOX Sports 1
10:30 a.m., NASCAR K&N Pro Series Race at Bowman-Gray, FOX Sports 1
11:30 a.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Final Practice, FOX Sports 1
12:30 p.m., NASCAR Live, FOX Sports 1
9 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Qualifying (re-air), FOX Sports 2
10:30 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Final Prac. (re-air), FOX Sports 2
11:30 p.m., NASCAR K&N Pro Series Race at Bowman-Gray (re-air), FOX Sports 2
12:30 a.m. (Sun.), 100,000 Cameras: NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race (re-air), FOX Sports 2
3 a.m. (Sun.), NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race at Texas (re-air), FOX Sports 1
5 a.m. (Sun.), NASCAR Sprint Cup Final Practice, FOX Sports 1
Sunday, June 8
6 a.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race at Texas (re-air), FOX Sports 2
10 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub Special, FOX Sports 1
11 a.m., NASCAR RaceDay, FOX Sports 1
Noon, NSCS Countdown to Green, TNT
1 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race at Pocono, TNT
7 p.m., NASCAR Victory Lane, FOX Sports 1
2 a.m. (Mon.), NASCAR’s The List, NBC Sports Network
2:30 a.m. (Mon.), NASCAR’s The List, NBC Sports Network
This Week
NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
The Next Race:
Pocono 400
The Place:
Pocono Raceway
The Date/Time:
Sunday, June 8, 1 p.m. (ET)
TV: TNT
Radio: MRN,
Sirius XM Channel 90
NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES
The Next Race:
Michigan 250
The Place:
Michigan International Speedway
The Date/Time:
Saturday, June 14, 2 p.m. (ET)
TV: ESPN
Radio: MRN,
Sirius XM Channel 90
NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES
The Next Race:
Winstar World Casino and Resort 400
The Place:
Texas Motor Speedway
Date/Time:
Friday, June 6, 9 p.m. (ET)
TV: FOX Sports 1
Radio: MRN,
Sirius XM Channel 90
NASCAR National Series Standings
This year, wins matter more than in any season in the 65-year history of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
Essentially, a win locks a driver into the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
2014 Winners
Pos Driver Wins
1. Kevin Harvick 2
2. Joey Logano 2
3. Jimmie Johnson 2
4. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 1
5. Brad Keselowski 1
6. Carl Edwards 1
7. Kyle Busch 1
8. Kurt Busch 1
9 Denny Hamlin 1
10. Jeff Gordon 1
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Pos Driver Points
1 Matt Kenseth 463
2 Jeff Gordon 461
3 Carl Edwards 438
4 Jimmie Johnson 436
5 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 429
6 Joey Logano 414
7 Kyle Busch 411
8 Brad Keselowski 404
9 Denny Hamlin 379
10 Kyle Larson # 377
11 Ryan Newman 374
12 Kevin Harvick 373
13 Brian Vickers 366
14 Paul Menard 362
15 Austin Dillon # 358
16 Greg Biffle 357
NASCAR Nationwide Series
Pos Driver Points
1 Regan Smith 448
2 Elliott Sadler 444
3 Chase Elliott # 426
4 Trevor Bayne 421
5 Ty Dillon # 414
6 Brian Scott 391
7 Brendan Gaughan 341
8 James Buescher 332
9 Chris Buescher # 328
10 D. Kwasniewski # 303
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Pos Driver Points
1 Timothy Peters 185
2 Matt Crafton 184
3 Johnny Sauter 184
4 German Quiroga 179
5 Ron Hornaday Jr. 170
6 Ben Kennedy# 169
7 Ryan Blaney 166
8 John Wes Townley 159
9 Jeb Burton 153
10 Joey Coulter 142
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.
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