Jimmie Johnson was the surprise winner of the Daytona 500 to everyone but himself
By Lou Modestino
The Daytona 500 became another coup for Jimmie Johnson, his second 500 win. “We had a great fast car and our game plan worked very well. So now everyone can buy a Chevy!” he exclaimed sporting a wide grin in victory lane. JJ also wished all fans who were injured by flying debris at the finish of Saturday’s Nationwide event “a speedy recovery.” Sunday’s win for JJ was his 61st Sprint Cup victory.
Johnson’s crew chief Chad Knaus was all smiles too when he said, “The Daytona 500 is a great thing for us. Being able to do this race today pleases me. Not bad for a guy from Rockford Speedway (Illinois)!” Meanwhile Fox color analyst Darrell Waltrip seemed surprised at JJ’s performance. “He had limited practice at Daytona. You just can’t ever count out the strategy of Chad Knaus.” And Hollywood Hotel announcer Chris Myers quipped, “The Hendrick Team is tops!” (more…)
Jimmie Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, competed in a sprint triathlon with members of his team earlier this year. Johnson plans to compete in a full triathlon after next week’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series festivities in Las Vegas.
DOVER, Del. — The Hendrick Motorsports juggernaut is back — with a vengeance.
Driving away from Kevin Harvick and Matt Kenseth after a restart with 31 laps left in Sunday’s FedEx 400 at Dover International Speedway, Jimmie Johnson made short work of his NASCAR Sprint Cup rivals.
Johnson, who led 289 of the 400 laps, picked up his second victory of the season (in addition to a win in the May 19 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race) and his second victory in the last three points races. Hendrick drivers have now won four straight races, including the All-Star event. (more…)
After months of frustration, Jimmie Johnson gave Rick Hendrick his 200th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory, running away from the rest of the field on a green-white-checkered-flag restart that took the Bojangles’ Southern 500 one lap past its scheduled distance. (more…)
