Video: ‘Seven-Time’ pushes ‘First-Time’ back to the finish line at the Glen

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After winning his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup race Sunday at Watkins Glen, Chase Elliott didn’t do a celebratory burnout.

That’s because he had run out of fuel shortly after crossing the finish line.  He was able to make it back around but coasted to a stop two turns before the front stretch.

Never fear, seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson is here.

Johnson, who had plenty fuel, lined up and pushed his Hendrick Motorsports teammate to the frontstretch.  Monday Johnson spoke about the memorable moment in a race filled with memorable moments.

“I didn’t know Chase was out of gas so I assumed he was getting ready to do burnouts or something… once I realized he was out of gas I stopped, backed up and pushed him along,” he said. “Seeing Chase’s arm pumping along the way was so cool as I was pushing him. The crowd was going crazy!”

“I know how hard all of those second-place finishes have been on him,” Johnson added. “He’s a great friend, teammate and competitor – and I’m so incredibly happy for him. He is so talented behind the wheel and I’m glad that first win monkey is off of his back.”

Original story posted on Autoweek here.

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.