NASCAR Jimmie Johnson

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Despite Last Year’s Failure, Johnson Likes his Chances at Dover

NASCAR NASCAR Wire Service Sprint Cup Series Track News
Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, sits in his car during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Citizen Solider 400 at Dover International Speedway on September 30, 2016 in Dover, Delaware. Photo - Chris Trotman/Getty Images
Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, sits in his car during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Citizen Solider 400 at Dover International Speedway on September 30, 2016 in Dover, Delaware. Photo – Chris Trotman/Getty Images

On a rainy morning at Dover International Speedway, Jimmie Johnson was hopeful lightning wouldn’t strike twice—figuratively speaking, of course.

A year ago, in the third race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, the failure of a rear-axle seal eliminated the six-time series champion from NASCAR’s ten-race playoff.

Never mind that Johnson has owned the Monster Mile with ten victories in 29 starts. Last year’s 41st-place finish in the Chase race reminded the Dover dominator that freakish bad luck can strike at any time and dramatically change the course of a season. Continue reading →

Harvick Gets Stress-Relieving Chase Victory at New Hampshire

NASCAR NASCAR Wire Service Sprint Cup Series Track News

Remember last week, when Kevin Harvick was trapped a lap down at Chicagoland Speedway, finished 20th and fell out of the top-12 in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings?

Remember last year, when Harvick crashed at Chicagoland and ran out of fuel while leading at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and had to win at Dover to advance in the Chase?

That’s all moot, now that Harvick redeemed himself with a victory in Sunday’s Bad Boy Off Road 300 at New Hampshire, the second race in the Chase. Continue reading →

Jimmie Johnson Hopes Practice Makes Perfect

NASCAR NASCAR Wire Service Sprint Cup Series Track News
JOLIET, IL - SEPTEMBER 18: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, leads Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 18, 2016 in Joliet, Illinois. Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images
JOLIET, IL – SEPTEMBER 18: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, leads Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 18, 2016 in Joliet, Illinois.
Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images

It’s bad enough to make a mistake, but it’s unforgivable to make the same one twice.

That seemed to be Jimmie Johnson’s philosophy during Saturday morning’s first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice session at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Last week at Chicagoland Speedway, in the opening race of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Johnson led a race-high 118 laps, only to be bamboozled by a pit road speeding penalty that dropped him to 12th at the finish. Continue reading →

Carl Edwards Wins Pole at New Hampshire, his Sixth this season

NASCAR NASCAR Wire Service Sprint Cup Series Track News
LOUDON, NH - SEPTEMBER 23: Carl Edwards, driver of the #19 Comcast Business Toyota, poses with the Coors Light Pole board after qualifying for the pole position for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bad Boy Off Road 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 23, 2016 in Loudon, New Hampshire. Photo by Chris Trotman/NASCAR via Getty Images
LOUDON, NH – SEPTEMBER 23: Carl Edwards, driver of the #19 Comcast Business Toyota, poses with the Coors Light Pole board after qualifying for the pole position for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bad Boy Off Road 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 23, 2016 in Loudon, New Hampshire.
Photo by Chris Trotman/NASCAR via Getty Images

Carl Edwards never had the reputation as a spectacular qualifier – until this year.

On Friday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Edwards ran 135.453 mph (28.119 seconds) in the money round of knockout qualifying to earn the top start spot in Sunday’s Bad Boy Off Road 300 (2 p.m. ET on NBCSN), the second race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Continue reading →