NASCAR: Five Drivers Most Likely To Win At Charlotte

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Sep 25, 2016; Loudon, NH, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Jimmie Johnson during the New England 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports /

Contender No. 3: Jimmie Johnson

Stats at Charlotte:

Wins: 7
Top-5’s: 14
Top-10’s: 18
Laps Led: 1,740
Average Finish: 13.0

We can all agree on one thing: Jimmie Johnson is the best active driver at Charlotte. He’s proved that to us throughout the years.

Johnson has seven wins at the track to go along with 14 top-5’s and 18 top-10’s–the best among active drivers in each category. His first five wins at the track came in a span of just three seasons as he won five out of six races, including four straight, sweeping both the 2004 and 2005 seasons.

He’s led at least 100 laps in a race there five different times including totals of 263 in 2002 and 334 in 2004. In fact, Johnson had led laps at Charlotte in 24 out of 30 starts.

The issue for Johnson during this year’s Chase has been his pit road penalties. He’s had one in each of the first three races and has had a chance to win each weekend. His penalties at Chicagoland and Dover were particularly bad as they both happened at key points in the race.

If he can eliminate penalties this weekend, there’s no doubt he’ll be in the hunt for a win. Since the Chase started, he’s had a car capable of winning and he’s shown speed that we’re accustomed to seeing from Hendrick Motorsports cars.

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