Late-Race Accident Relegates Team Lowe’s to 30th-Place Finish

It was typical Talladega for Team Lowe’s Racing and driver Jimmie Johnson Sunday as a late-race accident relegated the championship team to a 30th-place finish in the second restrictor-plate race of the season.

“It’s tough to race here,” said Johnson. “I mean it’s just disappointing how many hours go into these cars and then we come out here and tear them up like we do.

“We were smart all day long and I think the field in general did a pretty good job of using their heads. Then there at the end some guys were beat and were trying to cram their way back in the line and caused a wreck. It’s too bad that it happened.”

Like most other cars in the field, Johnson’s Kobalt Tools Impala SS shuffled its way up and down the scoreboard throughout the 188-lap, 500.8-mile race. But in the later stages of the event, Johnson looked to be closing in a solid finish.

“I felt like I had a car that could do something at the end,” explained Johnson. “It was really a matter of the momentum and when your group of cars surged to the front. I think there were probably 30 cars that could have won that race. It’s just about when it’s your turn to be up front and make a move.”

But before he could make his move, two cars got together on the racetrack, triggering a 10-car incident with only eight laps remaining and collecting Johnson in the carnage.

“I just saw a bunch of guys trying to fight back into line that didn’t have a spot,” explained Johnson. “When they did, they came across another car’s nose and tore up a bunch of racecars in the process. It’s unfortunate to go that long and get to the end of the race and waste a day like that.”

Johnson brought his Kobalt Tools Chevrolet down pit road, but the damage was too severe to repair with just six laps remaining.

“I’m just disappointed,” Johnson said. “It looked to me like some guys were beat and didn’t have the position and tried to force their way into the outside and that started that wreck. It’s just too bad. I wish this Kobalt Tools Impala was out there at the end.”

Lowe’s Chevrolet Earns Fourth-Straight Top-Five at Phoenix

Jimmie Johnson earned his fourth top-five finish in as many weeks Saturday night by crossing the finish line fourth at Phoenix International Raceway.

He finished third, first and second at Bristol, Martinsville and Texas, respectively.

Johnson started the 312-lap race 10th, but fought a loose race car early. As the evening went on and the sun set over the track, Johnson’s Lowe’s Chevrolet got better and he was able to tick off times close to the leader.

But a lug nut issue on pit road was the setback Johnson didn’t need while seeking a fourth-consecutive win at the one-mile oval.

“We had some issues with lug nuts falling off due to the glue that was used,” explained Johnson. “Every time we would make up a bunch of spots and get up there in the thick of things, we would come down pit road and have a problem with those lug nuts falling off.”

“We drove up to the top-five, top-three a few times, came down pit road and had something going wrong,” added Johnson. “It happened like three times. Track position is so important here. I’d work my way all the way back up there and then it would happen again.”

Johnson fell as far as 26th but managed to drive back to a fourth-place finish, allowing him to remain second in the driver standings, and almost halving his point deficit to leader Jeff Gordon.

“We had a decent car at the start, it maybe faded a little, but after that we were really strong,” said Johnson. “That time we got up to fourth I really think we had a shot at winning if we didn’t have the lug nut issue, but this is racing and everything and anything will happen. Fourth is where we ended up.”

“At the end of the day, it was a good day in the points,” continued Johnson. “We fought hard for it all night. It says a lot to have a great race car like we did and pass that many cars. It is too bad we didn’t get our fourth, but our teammate got a victory.”

Hendrick Motorsports grabbed its sixth straight win at Phoenix International Raceway with Mark Martin picking up the victory. It was Martin’s first win since Kansas in 2005.

Hendrick Motorsports has also won the last three races - Martinsville (Johnson), Texas (Jeff Gordon) and Phoenix (Martin).

Johnson finishes second to Gordon at Texas

It looked like deja vu for Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 team Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway, where they started ninth, fell back through the field and then climbed to the front in the closing stages of the race.

The only difference between this weekend and last was this time Johnson didn’t have enough laps to get past leader Jeff Gordon and finished runner-up to his teammate at The Great American Speedway.

“Five more (laps) and we would have had a shot at him,” said Johnson, who jumped to second in the point standings. “But we were both driving as hard as we could. It was nice to get our car up to the front and get some clean air on it. We had to work really hard all day long to get the car right. So, I’m very proud of the team.”

Last week at Martinsville, Johnson started ninth and fell back to 27th while crew chief Chad Knaus worked on the car’s handling. The No. 48 Chevrolet got better and Johnson slowly made his way back to the front, taking the lead with 16 laps remaining and going on to win.

In Sunday’s 334-lap race, Johnson fought a tight-handling machine and fell back to 18th, pitting at every opportunity to allow Knaus to work his magic.

As the laps wound down, Johnson got better. He worked his way back into the top 10 and was running fifth when he came in for his final pit stop.

The Lowe’s crew had a strong showing and sent the three-time champion back to the track third. Johnson chased Gordon down to challenge for the win, but came up .378 seconds short.

“In another five laps we would have been racing with him,” said Johnson, who has collected top 10 finishes in his last four events. “I’m not sure what would have happened, but it was a great race all together and I’m very happy for Jeff.”

Johnson added, “We have our old style back where we just keep plugging away and we’ll get it right come the end of the race. If we look at what took place during the course of the day and how we made the car better and got to the front, we’re very proud of that.”