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NASCAR: Hendrick Motorsports Spring Break Update

By Trevor Grasso

Jul 10, 2015; Sparta, KY, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Jimmie Johnson (48) talks with Sprint Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr (88) during practice for the Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 10, 2015; Sparta, KY, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Jimmie Johnson (48) talks with Sprint Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr (88) during practice for the Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 9, 2017; Fort Worth, TX, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Jimmie Johnson (48) celebrates winning the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 9, 2017; Fort Worth, TX, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Jimmie Johnson (48) celebrates winning the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

Jimmie Johnson

  • Wins: 1
  • Standings: 11th- 197 points (125 behind leader)
  • Top 10’s: 2
  • Avg Finish: 15.7
  • Stage Wins: None
  • Poles: None

Seven time series champ Jimmie Johnson was having a less than satisfying start to his 2017 campaign. And then Texas Motor Speedway rolled around. The bid for his record breaking eighth Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship officially began when Johnson fought through the field to win the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500.

Call it a hangover if you’d like. That may be an accurate description to the first six races. Especially when in the Daytona 500, Jimmie Johnson found himself in a backup car and starting in the back of the pack. Daytona didn’t end any better as the 48 was caught in “The Big One” which ended his day with a 34th place finish.

Over the next five races, Johnson finished 19th, 11th, 9th, 21st and 15th in that order. That span included poor qualifying (including Fontana, where he chose to skip qualifying) and a run of backup cars.

That trend looked like it would continue as he was set to start at the rear of the field again at Texas. However, the 48 made its way to the front and came out with a victory that could be the first step towards that historical eighth championship.

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