BROOKLYN, Mich. – Jimmie Johnson finally found his way to victory lane at Michigan International Speedway two months ago. Since then, it’s been a rocky road.
Johnson, who won here in June for the first time in 25 starts, has led just six laps and has finished 39th or worse three times in the seven races since.
He’s glad to be back.
“We’ve had the craziest luck over the last six or seven races,” said Johnson, who finished 28th last weekend at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International and dropped a spot to seventh in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings.
“Although we’ve only won here once, it’s been a very strong track for the No. 48 and there is a lot of room on this racetrack, so I think I can be out of harm’s way.”
The six-time Sprint Cup champion left the June race on cloud nine. His victory was his third in four starts and vaulted him to second in the season standings behind teammate Jeff Gordon. He’s already guaranteed a spot in the revamped Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup and didn’t seem concerned about a lack of momentum when the playoffs begin Sept. 14 at Chicagoland Speedway.
“It’s nice to have momentum entering the Chase,” he said. “If it doesn’t happen, we’ve won championships that way, too.
“So, we’re taking it as it comes, but it has been a very challenging year.”
Johnson will have a long ride to the front of the field in Sunday’s Pure Michigan 400 (1 p.m. ET on ESPN), where he’ll start 30th.
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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