Johnson could match track record with win this weekend at Dover

DOVER, Del. – In his nine-year history at Dover International Speedway, Jimmie Johnson has learned how to conquer the Monster Mile. He leads all active drivers at the one-mile concrete oval with six wins and is just one victory away from being tied with racing legends Richard Petty and Bobby Allison on the track’s all-time wins list. As far as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is concerned, another trip to Victory Lane would bump Johnson up to being tied with Rusty Wallace for eighth on the all-time career wins list.

Johnson has made 18 Sprint Cup appearances at the one-mile oval where he has finished outside the top-16 only twice. Along with his six trips to Victory Lane, Johnson also has earned eight top-five finishes, 12 top-10s and four pole positions.

“It's a fun racetrack,” Johnson said. “I think it's a track that really suits my style, and the stats show that. There's a certain rhythm there. I understand we're going back to the same tire as we had there in the fall; that tire laid a lot of rubber down and caused a lot of handling issues for teams. We did a good job of working around that. So I'm excited going back. I think it will be a strong race for the Lowe's team."

Johnson, currently ranked second in the driver standings, has won three of his last four Dover Cup events leading a combined total 1,005 laps. The defending five-time Cup champion is anticipating more success for the No. 48 Lowe’s team this weekend at the concrete track known for its wear on tires.

“You have to really manage your tires at Dover,” crew chief Chad Knaus said. “You can wear out your tires, especially at that track, (because) it rubbers up a lot and once you start to move and change your groove around the track you get that new unused concrete up there and it will wear out your tires really, really quick.”
 
Tune in to watch the No. 48 team go for history on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on FOX.