(WOMR file photo)
Jimmie Johnson passed Matt Kenseth for the lead at the halfway point of Sunday’s AAA 400 Sprint Cup race at Dover International Speedway, led most of the rest of the way, and captured his first race in this year’s Chase.
The AAA 400 had two “firsts”. It was the first victory for Jimmie Johnson in the 2013 Chase, and it was the first loss for Matt Kenseth in the 2013 Chase. Up to this point, it had been a Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch Show, finishing first and second, respectively, in the first two Chase races.
The win for Johnson, who only gave up the lead during green-flag pit cycling in the second half of the race, won for the fifth time this season, and more importantly, the eighth time at the Dover Monster Mile. With this victory Johnson now holds the record for the most victories at Dover, surpassing Richard Petty.
“All these things are great,” the five-time Cup champion said. “When you put the #18 (Kyle Busch) and #20 (Kenseth) up there, it’s going to make it a very difficult deal. And I think it’s going to be fun for the fans to watch. We came to a good track and we got what we needed to, done. I know that No. 20 is going to be awfully strong for the rest of the stretch, and I look forward to racing with him.”
The win and bonus point for leading the most laps, moved him to within eight (8) points of Kenseth in the points column.
Some interesting Johnson facts:
Johnson has won eight (8) of the twenty four (24) races he has participated in his career. That is a whopping 33%! Further, he has seventeen (17) top ten finishes in twenty four (24) races. That means that Johnson finishes in the top ten 70.8% of the time!
Additionally, Johnson has won 24% of all of the Chase races, since its inception!
As I have said all season, the road to Homestead goes directly through the cockpit of the HMS #48 Lowe’s Chevy!
TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!
