Team Lowe’s Earns 5th-Place Finish in Pocono
Jimmie Johnson drove from 22nd to fifth in the final 22 laps of Sunday’s Sprint Cup Series event at Pocono Raceway to secure his eighth top-10 finish of the season.
Following an approximate one hour and 45 minute rain delay, Johnson began the scheduled 200-lap race 25th after he fought a loose car during Friday’s qualifying session.
Johnson quickly showed the field how strong the Lowe’s Chevrolet was, driving to 10th by Lap 53, sixth by Lap 100 and second by Lap 138.
When the third yellow flag of the day waved on Lap 154, Johnson and the rest of the field came down pit road for service. Just a few laps later another yellow flag was displayed and the leading cars, including Johnson, stayed on the track while drivers deeper in the field took advantage of the chance to fill up on fuel.
When the fifth caution period arrived, Johnson and the other leading drivers who hadn’t pitted before headed to pit lane for gas, forcing them to the back of the field when they returned to the track. Johnson found himself restarting 20th.
Five short laps later debris in Turn 3 forced another yellow and Johnson came down pit road for four fresh tires and fuel. He restarted 22nd.
When the green flag waved on Lap 179, Johnson once again showed how good the No. 48 machine was, shooting through the field, picking off 16 cars in 20 laps by the time a Lap 199 accident caused a green-white-checker finish.
Johnson lined up sixth for the two-lap shootout and picked up one spot in the final dash to bring home the top-five finish.
“We had a great race car,” said Johnson. “We got up to second and were running with the No. 11 (Denny Hamlin) on pace. And then the pit strategy stuff started coming into play and I was maybe a little cautious on some of the restarts trying to take care of myself and not tear up another race car. And maybe it cost me a little bit. But in the end, great performance. We had a top car, a top speed car all day long and I brought it home in fifth.”
The most dramatic moment of the race took place when contact between A.J Allmendinger and Kasey Kahne sparked an eight-car accident on the final lap of the event.
“There’s so much to lose and so much chaos on the track,” said Johnson. “It’s one thing when you’re at Bristol going 100 mph; but when you’re running 200 mph and seeing some of these moves, it was pretty crazy and I hope everybody is all right on the back stretch.”
Denny Hamlin earned his fourth win of the season. Kyle Busch, Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick and Johnson rounded out the top five.
Johnson moved up one spot in the driver point standings to sixth, now 214 points behind leader Harvick.
