Full Throttle

After 18 tries, four-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson finally can add the half-mile, high-banked Bristol Motor Speedway to the list of Sprint Cup tracks he’s conquered. But Sunday’s win in the Food City 500 didn’t come at all easy.

Johnson went from sixth to first in the final 10-lap dash for his third win this year and 50th of his career. He passed Tony Stewart on the outside on lap 496 and easily drove away from Stewart, Kurt Busch, Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jamie McMurray, Kyle Busch and Jeff Burton.

Kurt Busch was in command until a late caution for debris ate away at his comfortable lead over Johnson. When everyone pitted, Biffle, Kenseth, Edwards and Stewart moved to the front of the line by taking only two tires. Busch and Johnson chose four and thus lined up fifth and sixth for the final restart. Biffle and Stewart each led briefly under green until Johnson took the point for good and drove away with five laps remaining.

His latest win moves the Hendrick Motorsports star into a tie with legendary drivers Ned Jarrett and Junior Johnson for 10th on NASCAR’s all-time win list. The late Lee Petty won 54 races and Rusty Wallace won 55, numbers Johnson almost certainly will pass this year. But it’ll be a while before he gets to the 76 of the late Dale Earnhardt.

“I worked so hard for this,” Johnson said, perhaps speaking about Sunday in particular, but just as likely speaking of those 17 other Bristol efforts. [His average starting spot before this weekend was 15.8, and his average finish was 15.9]. “It’s just awesome to finally win here. Getting four tires was everything, and being on the outside was helpful on the last restart. Man, it’s about time.”

“When we’re winning at tracks that we’re not supposed to, boys better look out,” Johnson warned. “Even that 2 car (Busch) that doesn’t want the 48 to win.”

Busch, a five-time Bristol winner who hasn’t been to Victory Lane at the bullring since 2006, was irate over his radio at the loss. He settled for third behind Johnson and Stewart, missing his chance to win his second consecutive win of the season and prove his Penske Racing team has made enough gains to run consistently with Johnson and the Hendrick Motorsports bunch.

“I’d rather lose to any of the other 41 cars out there than the 48 car,” Busch said. “I thought we had him beat. I gave it my heart today, but we came up short.”

Kurt Busch led a career-best 275 laps, more than three times the 84 Johnson led. Biffle led 77 laps, Juan Pablo Montoya led 30 and Brad Keselowski led 25. None of the nine the other leaders were out front for more than two laps.

Keselowski finished 13th, a solid and uneventful day compared to his infamous late-race crash two weeks ago near Atlanta. He and Edwards–who intentionally crashed him that day–raced in close proximity several times without incident. They spent about 10 laps side-by-side in the final laps, with each giving the other plenty of room.

The tour’s next stop is for 500 more laps next weekend at Martinsville Speedway.

For Jimmie’s detractors, including the frustrated Kurt Busch, he’s won at the so called Paper Clip 6 times in his career.

Jimmie Johnson Wins By Track
Track Wins
Charlotte 6
Martinsville 6
Auto Club 5
Dover 5
Las Vegas 4
Phoenix 4
Atlanta 3
Indianapolis 3
Richmond 3
New Hampshire 2
Pocono 2
Darlington 2
Texas 1
Daytona 1
Talladega 1
Kansas 1
Bristol 1