CONCORD, N.C. - Jimmie Johnson was no stranger to Victory Lane in 2015.
The driver of the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet SS took home five victories in an exciting season at the track.
Let’s take a look back at the moments that defined Johnson’s 2015 season.
Dominating Atlanta
When the green flagged dropped at Atlanta Motor Speedway for the second race of the 2015 season, Johnson rolled off the grid near the back of the field in the 37th position. But that didn’t stop the No. 48 Chevrolet SS from racing its way to the front. In fact, Johnson led 92 laps at the 1.5-mile track and took home his first of five checkered flags of the season. That was Johnson’s fourth win in the Peach State and his first since 2007.
Taming the monster mile
Johnson knows how to win at Dover International Speedway -- often. Johnson started the spring race at Dover looking for a record-breaking win, and he did just that. After crossing the finish line first, Johnson became the winningest driver at the Monster Mile with 10 wins. He also became only the fifth driver to acquire 10 or more wins at at least one track.
The only one
The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup was established in 2004, and Johnson is the only driver who has made every Chase since its inception. He has also wheeled his No. 48 Chevrolet to Victory Lane in at least one Chase race since 2004. This season, Johnson entered the Chase as the No. 1 seed, with four wins in the regular season. After a few tough races during the first round of the Chase, Johnson’s championship dreams came to an end for 2015 after the Challenger Round. He ultimately finished the season 10th in the standings.
Texas sweep
Johnson’s second win of the season came during the spring race at Texas Motor Speedway. He rolled off the grid fifth and led 128 laps to the checkered flag. With only three races left in the season, Johnson returned to Texas in the fall in hopes of bringing home his second cowboy hat of 2015 to sweep the track. And after taking the lead with only six laps left, Johnson was celebrating in Victory Lane. The six-time champion has now won at least one race at Texas since 2012.
Double digits
On the track, Johnson’s numbers show how dominant he is behind the wheel of his No. 48 Chevrolet SS. In every single one of his 14 full-time seasons racing, Johnson has earned at least 20 top-10 finishes. And for 13 consecutive seasons he has earned double-digit top-five finishes. The 40-year-old driver finished the 2015 season with five wins, 14 top-five finishes and 22 top-10s, and he will be vying for his seventh championship in 2016.