Jimmie Johnson used a carefully planned strategy of driving his No. 48 Lowe’s Patriotic Chevrolet hard for the first and last segments, and coasting for the three in between, to capture his third NASCAR Sprint All-Star race plus a cool $1 million. With this third All-Star checkered, Johnson joined the late Dale Earnhardt and teammate Jeff Gordon as the only three-time winners of this annual non-points paying race on the NASCAR Sprint Cup tour.
The five-time champion won the first 20-lap segment of the event the then deliberately faded to the back for the next three 20-lap segments at Charlotte Motor Speedway. His plan was to keep the No. 48 Chevy out of trouble, then make his play for the win in the fifth and final segment. Johnson’s win in the first segment meant he was guaranteed to be the first driver down pit road. A nice bonus for him was that he had the first stall, which was the prize for his Hendrick Motorsports team winning Thursday’s Pit Crew Competition.
Full Story and Results – CALCULATED STRATEGY EARNS JIMMIE JOHNSON THIRD NASCAR ALL-STAR WIN
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NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race – NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Concord, North Carolina
Saturday, May 19, 2012
1. (6) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 90, $1071340.
2. (19) Brad Keselowski, Dodge, 90, $276340.
3. (15) Matt Kenseth, Ford, 90, $176340.
4. (1) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 90, $121315.
5. (21) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 90, $141315.
6. (5) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 90, $86315.
7. (18) Marcos Ambrose, Ford, 90, $81165.
8. (17) Kurt Busch, Chevrolet, 90, $80165.
9. (20) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 90, $79165.
10. (2) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 90, $88165.
11. (22) AJ Allmendinger, Dodge, 90, $77140.
12. (10) Regan Smith, Chevrolet, 90, $76140.
13. (8) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 90, $75140.
14. (12) Clint Bowyer, Toyota, 90, $74640.
15. (11) Trevor Bayne(i), Ford, 90, $74040.
16. (7) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 90, $73765.
17. (9) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 90, $73640.
18. (14) David Ragan, Ford, 90, $73535.
19. (23) Bobby Labonte, Toyota, 90, $73435.
20. (3) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 90, $78335.
21. (16) Mark Martin, Toyota, 90, $73235.
22. (4) Greg Biffle, Ford, Engine, 67, $73135.
23. (13) Carl Edwards, Ford, Engine, 25, $73034.
Full Story and Results – CALCULATED STRATEGY EARNS JIMMIE JOHNSON THIRD NASCAR ALL-STAR WIN
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