NASCAR: Jimmie Johnson’s 16-year win streak on the line at Homestead

Jimmie Johnson’s streak of 16 consecutive NASCAR Cup Series seasons with at least one victory is in jeopardy heading into the 2018 season finale.

Hendrick Motorsports’ Jimmie Johnson entered the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series season, his 18th season in the sport and his 17th season as a full-time driver in the sport, having won at least one race in each of the last 16 seasons. In fact, he had won at least two races in each of the last 16 races, which were his first 16 seasons as a full-time driver in the sport.

This 16-year winning streak is the longest active streak, and it is the third longest streak in Cup Series history behind the 18-year winning streak of Richard Petty from the 1960 season through the 1977 season and the 17-year winning streak of the late David Pearson from the 1964 season through the 1980 season.

However, this 16-year winning streak is in jeopardy heading into the 2018 season finale, the Ford EcoBoost 400, at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

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The seven-time Cup Series champion is set to enter the 267-lap race around the four-turn, 1.5-mile (2.414-kilometer) Homestead-Miami Speedway oval in Homestead, Florida without having won a race so far this season.

Will he extend his winning streak to 17 consecutive seasons by winning this race?

While it is possible, it isn’t likely. This season has been by far the worst of Johnson’s full-time Cup Series career. He has earned a career-low two top five finishes and 11 top 10 finishes, which is tied for his career-low top 10 finish total. His previous career-low in top five finishes was four, which he recorded last season. He also recorded only 11 top 10 finishes last season.

The 43-year-old El Cajon, California native has only led 40 laps so far this season, which is by far his career-low laps led total. His laps led total of 217 from last season, a season during which he still won three races, was his previous career-low. Before that, his laps led total of 547 from the 2005 season was his career-low. He still won four races that season.

On top of that, Johnson’s average finish of 16.8 is tied for his career-low average finish. His average finish was also 16.8 last season. But as stated, he still managed to win three races last season, which is something that he has not managed to do yet this season. His best finish so far this season is his third place finish in the April race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Johnson is also in jeopardy of setting a new career-low in terms of his finish in the championship standings. His current career-low finish in the standings is 11th place, which is where he finished in the 2014 season. He currently sits in 14th in the standings.

As far as his history at Homestead-Miami Speedway is concerned, Johnson hasn’t exactly excelled there. He did win the race at the track in the 2016 season to clinch his seventh career championship, but he has not won any other races there. In his 17 starts at the track, he has earned five top five finishes, 11 top 10 finishes and 12 top 20 finishes.

Johnson’s average finish at the track is 14.06. He has taken two pole positions for races at the track in his career. He started from the pole position for the race in the 2007 season as well as the 2009 season.

Will Jimmie Johnson extend his winning streak to 17 seasons by winning the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series season finale, the Ford EcoBoost 400, this Sunday, November 18? Be sure to tune in to NBC at 2:30 p.m. ET for the live broadcast of this race from Homestead-Miami Speedway to find out.