HAMPTON, Ga. -- Hendrick Motorsports is no stranger to Atlanta Motor Speedway.
In fact, the 1.5-mile oval is one of 12 active tracks where the organization has claimed wins in the double digits. With 14 wins posted, it is currently tied with Daytona International Speedway and Darlington Raceway for the fifth-most wins all-time for Hendrick Motorsports.
Darrell Waltrip is credited with the first win in 1989 and Jimmie Johnson owns the title to the most recent win, which came just last season.
“This track is so fun and so interesting and so challenging," Johnson said Friday afternoon in the Atlanta Motor Speedway media center. "The practice session didn’t disappoint. It still threw plenty of challenges at the teams and certainly ours. We are learning as we go here with this new package, start of a new season. I’m ready to go collect some points and get some wins.”
Johnson actually holds the two most recent Atlanta wins for the organization, going back-to-back in 2015 and 2016.
However, the organization is actually looking for its fourth win in a row at Atlanta this Sunday, as Kasey Kahne claimed the 2014 trophy.
“It’s been a great track for me really when I look back over my career and when I think of Hendrick-related race cars and success from (Jerry) Nadeau running well here," Johnson said. "Jeff (Gordon) has obviously always been amazing here. Kahne, it has been a good track for (Dale Earnhardt) Jr. over the years. It is a good track for all of us."
Following Friday's first practice session, Johnson came away 21st fastest, although the driver said that is not necessarily an indication of how his No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet SS will perform on Sunday.
"I can say the last two races we have won here we didn’t really get our stuff situated until late in the going and been able to come out on top," he said. "Just because you might have a slow Friday or a slow start to the race, I don’t think you can count anybody out. We have a lot of chances to work on the car and can make stuff happen here, which is really neat.”
Sunday's race will begin at 2:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on FOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.