Lowe's team eyes redemption at Richmond

RICHMOND, Va. (Sept. 5, 2008) -- Jimmie Johnson doesn’t have to worry about making the Chase during this weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway. The driver of the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet has recorded three wins, eight top-five finishes and 13 top-10s this season en route to making the NASCAR postseason for the fifth straight year. But Johnson, the two-time reigning Sprint Cup champion, wouldn’t mind redeeming himself at Richmond on Saturday. After sweeping the track in 2007, he came up short in May when he was involved in an 11-car accident. The No. 48 team finished the race in 30th place. For that reason, Johnson is looking forward to returning to the track he counts unique among the NASCAR circuit. “They’ve done an amazing job with the transitions into the corners so you can run side-by-side,” Johnson said. “Yes, you’re a little tight especially off of (Turn) 2, but it’s kind of what a D-shaped racetrack will deal. They’ve done a great job working this track, and it’s always been one of my favorites.” Johnson recorded wins this season at Phoenix International Raceway, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Auto Club Speedway. With the most recent win in Fontana, Calif., Johnson scored his 36th win and broke the tie with Mark Martin for 17th-place on NASCAR’s all-time wins list. Johnson, who has made the field for the Chase every year since its inception in 2004, will be competing for his third consecutive Sprint Cup Series championship. Cale Yarborough is the only other driver in NASCAR history to accomplish a three-peat.