Team Lowe’s Escapes from Bristol with Eighth-Place Finish

Jimmie Johnson finished eighth in Saturday night’s Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway.  
 
Johnson started the event 21st and quickly drove to the top ten when the green-flag dropped. He remained there throughout the evening, leading 107 of 500 laps.

A pit road mishap on Lap 423 forced Johnson to come back down pit road and the Lowe’s Chevy returned to the track 21st.
 
Johnson barely escaped an accident on Lap 438 and moved to the eighth position by Lap 469. He remained there the final 31 laps and collected his 15th top-10 finish of the season.
 
“We were the fastest car out there,” said Johnson. “We should be in victory lane. It’s just a bummer, really disappointed.”
 
The result bumped Johnson back to second place in the driver point standings, 220 behind leader Tony Stewart.  Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin and Carl Edwards round out the top five.