bigbadbrother
06-01-2014, 11:04 PM
Tom Jensen
Remember the slow start to the season that Jimmie Johnson was off to? Forget about it.
After ending his 13-race winless streak last week in Charlotte, Johnson won his second consecutive race on Sunday, drubbing the field in the FedEx 400 benefitting Autism Speaks to win his record ninth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway.
The six-time Sprint Cup champion won easily on this beautiful late spring afternoon, leading 272 of 400 laps in his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet and having no serious challenges over the second half of the race. The victory was the 68th of Johnson's career.
Johnson said his pursuit of a sixth championship last year, coupled with off-season hernia surgery and inclement weather that cancelled several off-season tests, put the No. 48 Hendrick team a little behind the field at the start of the year.
A new car for the Dover race showed just how far the team has come in speed.
"We're getting closer," Johnson said. "We brought out a new-generation car that Chad (Knaus, crew chief) just had a lot of faith in, put a lot of time and effort into. He told me I'd love the car, and sure enough, we unloaded and got on the track and it was right."
Second behind Johnson was 2012 series champ Brad Keselowski in a Team Penske Ford, followed by the Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota of Matt Kenseth and Clint Bowyer in a Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota. Denny Hamlin completed the top five in a second JGR entry.
"We were pretty equal to Jimmie there but never got a crack at him," Keselowski said. "I would have liked a shot. It was a decent day for us finishing second and that is something to be proud of but we want one spot more."
Concrete barrier: Broken chunk of track halts race for more than 22 minutes at Dover
Keselowski started from the pole, his eighth front-row start of 2014. Kyle Busch, the winner here on Friday and Saturday, went from the outside of Row 1 into the lead on the opening lap ahead of the Team Penske Fords of Keselowski and Joey Logano.
Busch dominated the early going, leading the first 81 laps. But his chance for a triple ended abruptly on Lap 124, when Bowyer drifted up into him and put the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota into the wall and out of the race.
Then, on Lap 134, AJ Allmendinger triggered a multi-car crash that brought out a red flag and took out Roush Fenway Racing teammates Greg Biffle and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
On the restart on Lap 142, Kevin Harvick took his first lead of the day, going under Johnson and into the lead.
The mayhem continued on Lap 158, when a piece of concrete came up in Turn 2 and hit Jamie McMurray's splitter, which sent him into the backstretch wall. On Lap 161, the red flag flew a second time as track workers had to patch the hole, which took 22 minutes and 22 seconds.
Harvick's shot at another victory ended on the Lap 165 restart, when a valve stem came off one of his tires. That turned the lead over to the JGR Toyotas of Kenseth and Hamlin.
By Lap 178, Johnson was back out front, easily wheeling to the outside of Kenseth for the lead.
At the halfway point, Johnson led his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon by 1.855 seconds, followed by Kenseth, Hamlin and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
And really, from there on out, Johnson was in command, surrendering the lead only briefly during his final pit stop on Lap 323.
On Lap 361, there was a caution for debris on the backstretch. Under the ensuing caution, Bowyer took the lead by virtue of a two-tire pit stop while the rest of the leaders all took four fresh Goodyears.
Johnson went smartly to the lead on the restart, passing Bowyer immediately.
Then, with nine laps to go, a tire came unraveled on Casey Mears' car to bring out another caution. The top five cars stayed out, with the cars in positions six to 15 pitting for tires.
But Johnson again pulled away on the final restart and won easily.
"It was an awesome race car," Johnson said. "The first run I wasn't sure we were really going to have the normal Dover magic here. Once the track rubbered in our car came to life and it was so good. It's amazing that we can stay on top of things here with the different generation car, different rules, different tires. This place just fits my style and Chad Knaus' style."
Pos Driver Trk Mfg Start Laps Led Speed Time Behind
1
#48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 4 400 272 151.184 23.812 Leader
2
#2 Brad Keselowski Ford 1 400 1 150.213 23.966 0.885
3
#20 Matt Kenseth Toyota 21 400 17 148.920 24.174 2.008
4
#15 Clint Bowyer Toyota 10 400 5 149.074 24.149 2.325
5
#11 Denny Hamlin Toyota 7 400 0 149.894 24.017 2.744
6
#78 Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet 16 400 0 149.007 24.160 3.445
7
#14 Tony Stewart Chevrolet 20 400 0 148.051 24.316 3.738
8
#22 Joey Logano Ford 3 400 0 146.276 24.611 4.176
9
#88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 13 400 0 147.203 24.456 4.284
10
#27 Paul Menard Chevrolet 15 400 0 148.234 24.286 4.643
11
#42 Kyle Larson Chevrolet 5 400 0 147.735 24.368 4.986
12
#43 Aric Almirola Ford 25 400 0 147.275 24.444 5.113
13
#1 Jamie McMurray Chevrolet 19 400 0 147.917 24.338 5.359
14
#99 Carl Edwards Ford 29 400 0 147.197 24.457 6.036
15
#24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 6 400 0 146.610 24.555 6.747
16
#9 Marcos Ambrose Ford 27 400 0 146.318 24.604 6.839
17
#4 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 8 399 24 147.342 24.433 1 lap
18
#41 Kurt Busch Chevrolet 24 399 0 147.856 24.348 1 lap
19
#5 Kasey Kahne Chevrolet 17 399 0 146.801 24.523 1 lap
20
#3 Austin Dillon Chevrolet 23 398 0 143.135 25.151 2 laps
21
#47 A J Allmendinger Chevrolet 11 397 0 140.460 25.630 3 laps
22
#66 Brett Moffitt Toyota 18 396 0 147.011 24.488 4 laps
23
#10 Danica Patrick Chevrolet 28 396 0 146.234 24.618 4 laps
24
#36 Reed Sorenson Chevrolet 38 396 0 146.431 24.585 4 laps
25
#13 Casey Mears Chevrolet 22 395 0 145.637 24.719 5 laps
26
#51 Justin Allgaier Chevrolet 30 395 0 144.306 24.947 5 laps
27
#26 Cole Whitt Toyota 31 394 0 144.451 24.922 6 laps
28
#98 Josh Wise Chevrolet 33 390 0 143.604 25.069 10 laps
29
#38 David Gilliland Ford 32 388 0 142.569 25.251 12 laps
30
#32 Blake Koch Ford 43 388 0 140.884 25.553 12 laps
31
#31 Ryan Newman Chevrolet 14 387 0 145.572 24.730 13 laps
32
#83 Ryan Truex Toyota 41 387 0 141.354 25.468 13 laps
33
#77 Dave Blaney Ford 42 383 0 141.165 25.502 17 laps
34
#40 Landon Cassill Chevrolet 36 382 0 142.704 25.227 18 laps
35
#7 Michael Annett Chevrolet 39 378 0 144.092 24.984 22 laps
36
#34 David Ragan Ford 34 350 0 143.822 25.031 50 laps
37
#33 David Stremme Chevrolet 40 297 0 36.868 97.645 103 laps
38
#16 Greg Biffle Ford 12 292 0 144.823 24.858 108 laps
39
#144 J.J. Yeley Chevrolet 37 232 0 84.626 42.540 168 laps
40
#23 Alex Bowman Toyota 35 208 0 48.871 73.664 192 laps
41
#17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Ford 26 131 0 145.861 24.681 269 laps
42
#18 Kyle Busch Toyota 2 125 81 34.164 105.375 275 laps
43
#55 Brian Vickers Toyota 9 73 0 72.674 49.536 327 laps
Remember the slow start to the season that Jimmie Johnson was off to? Forget about it.
After ending his 13-race winless streak last week in Charlotte, Johnson won his second consecutive race on Sunday, drubbing the field in the FedEx 400 benefitting Autism Speaks to win his record ninth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway.
The six-time Sprint Cup champion won easily on this beautiful late spring afternoon, leading 272 of 400 laps in his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet and having no serious challenges over the second half of the race. The victory was the 68th of Johnson's career.
Johnson said his pursuit of a sixth championship last year, coupled with off-season hernia surgery and inclement weather that cancelled several off-season tests, put the No. 48 Hendrick team a little behind the field at the start of the year.
A new car for the Dover race showed just how far the team has come in speed.
"We're getting closer," Johnson said. "We brought out a new-generation car that Chad (Knaus, crew chief) just had a lot of faith in, put a lot of time and effort into. He told me I'd love the car, and sure enough, we unloaded and got on the track and it was right."
Second behind Johnson was 2012 series champ Brad Keselowski in a Team Penske Ford, followed by the Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota of Matt Kenseth and Clint Bowyer in a Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota. Denny Hamlin completed the top five in a second JGR entry.
"We were pretty equal to Jimmie there but never got a crack at him," Keselowski said. "I would have liked a shot. It was a decent day for us finishing second and that is something to be proud of but we want one spot more."
Concrete barrier: Broken chunk of track halts race for more than 22 minutes at Dover
Keselowski started from the pole, his eighth front-row start of 2014. Kyle Busch, the winner here on Friday and Saturday, went from the outside of Row 1 into the lead on the opening lap ahead of the Team Penske Fords of Keselowski and Joey Logano.
Busch dominated the early going, leading the first 81 laps. But his chance for a triple ended abruptly on Lap 124, when Bowyer drifted up into him and put the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota into the wall and out of the race.
Then, on Lap 134, AJ Allmendinger triggered a multi-car crash that brought out a red flag and took out Roush Fenway Racing teammates Greg Biffle and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
On the restart on Lap 142, Kevin Harvick took his first lead of the day, going under Johnson and into the lead.
The mayhem continued on Lap 158, when a piece of concrete came up in Turn 2 and hit Jamie McMurray's splitter, which sent him into the backstretch wall. On Lap 161, the red flag flew a second time as track workers had to patch the hole, which took 22 minutes and 22 seconds.
Harvick's shot at another victory ended on the Lap 165 restart, when a valve stem came off one of his tires. That turned the lead over to the JGR Toyotas of Kenseth and Hamlin.
By Lap 178, Johnson was back out front, easily wheeling to the outside of Kenseth for the lead.
At the halfway point, Johnson led his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon by 1.855 seconds, followed by Kenseth, Hamlin and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
And really, from there on out, Johnson was in command, surrendering the lead only briefly during his final pit stop on Lap 323.
On Lap 361, there was a caution for debris on the backstretch. Under the ensuing caution, Bowyer took the lead by virtue of a two-tire pit stop while the rest of the leaders all took four fresh Goodyears.
Johnson went smartly to the lead on the restart, passing Bowyer immediately.
Then, with nine laps to go, a tire came unraveled on Casey Mears' car to bring out another caution. The top five cars stayed out, with the cars in positions six to 15 pitting for tires.
But Johnson again pulled away on the final restart and won easily.
"It was an awesome race car," Johnson said. "The first run I wasn't sure we were really going to have the normal Dover magic here. Once the track rubbered in our car came to life and it was so good. It's amazing that we can stay on top of things here with the different generation car, different rules, different tires. This place just fits my style and Chad Knaus' style."
Pos Driver Trk Mfg Start Laps Led Speed Time Behind
1
#48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 4 400 272 151.184 23.812 Leader
2
#2 Brad Keselowski Ford 1 400 1 150.213 23.966 0.885
3
#20 Matt Kenseth Toyota 21 400 17 148.920 24.174 2.008
4
#15 Clint Bowyer Toyota 10 400 5 149.074 24.149 2.325
5
#11 Denny Hamlin Toyota 7 400 0 149.894 24.017 2.744
6
#78 Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet 16 400 0 149.007 24.160 3.445
7
#14 Tony Stewart Chevrolet 20 400 0 148.051 24.316 3.738
8
#22 Joey Logano Ford 3 400 0 146.276 24.611 4.176
9
#88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 13 400 0 147.203 24.456 4.284
10
#27 Paul Menard Chevrolet 15 400 0 148.234 24.286 4.643
11
#42 Kyle Larson Chevrolet 5 400 0 147.735 24.368 4.986
12
#43 Aric Almirola Ford 25 400 0 147.275 24.444 5.113
13
#1 Jamie McMurray Chevrolet 19 400 0 147.917 24.338 5.359
14
#99 Carl Edwards Ford 29 400 0 147.197 24.457 6.036
15
#24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 6 400 0 146.610 24.555 6.747
16
#9 Marcos Ambrose Ford 27 400 0 146.318 24.604 6.839
17
#4 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 8 399 24 147.342 24.433 1 lap
18
#41 Kurt Busch Chevrolet 24 399 0 147.856 24.348 1 lap
19
#5 Kasey Kahne Chevrolet 17 399 0 146.801 24.523 1 lap
20
#3 Austin Dillon Chevrolet 23 398 0 143.135 25.151 2 laps
21
#47 A J Allmendinger Chevrolet 11 397 0 140.460 25.630 3 laps
22
#66 Brett Moffitt Toyota 18 396 0 147.011 24.488 4 laps
23
#10 Danica Patrick Chevrolet 28 396 0 146.234 24.618 4 laps
24
#36 Reed Sorenson Chevrolet 38 396 0 146.431 24.585 4 laps
25
#13 Casey Mears Chevrolet 22 395 0 145.637 24.719 5 laps
26
#51 Justin Allgaier Chevrolet 30 395 0 144.306 24.947 5 laps
27
#26 Cole Whitt Toyota 31 394 0 144.451 24.922 6 laps
28
#98 Josh Wise Chevrolet 33 390 0 143.604 25.069 10 laps
29
#38 David Gilliland Ford 32 388 0 142.569 25.251 12 laps
30
#32 Blake Koch Ford 43 388 0 140.884 25.553 12 laps
31
#31 Ryan Newman Chevrolet 14 387 0 145.572 24.730 13 laps
32
#83 Ryan Truex Toyota 41 387 0 141.354 25.468 13 laps
33
#77 Dave Blaney Ford 42 383 0 141.165 25.502 17 laps
34
#40 Landon Cassill Chevrolet 36 382 0 142.704 25.227 18 laps
35
#7 Michael Annett Chevrolet 39 378 0 144.092 24.984 22 laps
36
#34 David Ragan Ford 34 350 0 143.822 25.031 50 laps
37
#33 David Stremme Chevrolet 40 297 0 36.868 97.645 103 laps
38
#16 Greg Biffle Ford 12 292 0 144.823 24.858 108 laps
39
#144 J.J. Yeley Chevrolet 37 232 0 84.626 42.540 168 laps
40
#23 Alex Bowman Toyota 35 208 0 48.871 73.664 192 laps
41
#17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Ford 26 131 0 145.861 24.681 269 laps
42
#18 Kyle Busch Toyota 2 125 81 34.164 105.375 275 laps
43
#55 Brian Vickers Toyota 9 73 0 72.674 49.536 327 laps