Johnson, Team Lowe’s Finish 6th in Michigan

For the second week in a row, Jimmie Johnson climbed through the field on four fresh tires during a final dash to the checkered flag to earn a top-10 finish, moving from 12th to sixth in the 14 laps following the final restart of the race.

Johnson fought a variety of conditions throughout the 200-lap event, but mainly reported a loose Lowe’s Chevrolet as the day went on.

With only four cautions for a total of 14 laps, crew chief Chad Knaus relied on a combination of yellow and green-flag pit stops to make changes to the No. 48 Chevrolet, allowing Johnson to maintain a top-15 position throughout the afternoon.

After the third and final round of green-flag stops took place around Lap 178, a yellow flag waved on Lap 181 with Johnson running 12th.

The top eight cars stayed on the track while ninth-place and back opted to pit for two or four tires. Johnson piloted his machine down the pit lane where the Lowe’s team went to work bolting four fresh tires on the Lowe’s Impala.  Johnson returned to the track and restarted 12th on Lap 186.

In the ensuing laps, the four-time champion slowly and steadily picked off contenders ahead of him, collecting six positions as the laps wound down and crossing the finish line sixth, earning his ninth top-10 result of the season.

Denny Hamlin took home the victory, earning his second win in as many weeks and his fifth of the season.  Johnson maintains sixth in the driver point standings, now 170 points behind leader Kevin Harvick.