HAMPTON, Ga. – When Jimmie Johnson hit the track for Sunday's race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, he knew he had a long road ahead of him.
After failing to post a time in qualifying, he was slotted to start 37th.
But he was excited for the challenge.
"I felt like with the competition caution at 25 laps, I felt really confident that I could run hard and not worry," Johnson said. "Prior to (crew chief) Chad (Knaus) putting the window net up, he said, 'Just go. Go hard.'"
That's exactly what he did.
"I knew within about two sets of corners when the race started we were going to have an awesome day," Johnson said. "The car was just incredible."
In five laps, Johnson had gained 10 positions. By Lap 10, that number ballooned to 15, and before the 20-lap mark, Johnson had already passed 20 competitors.
"It was so much fun watching those guys the first 25 laps," Knaus said. "That was awesome. We're talking three-wide up at the top, down to the bottom, going through the middle. It was just fantastic."
By the time the yellow flag waved for the competition caution, Johnson was inside the top 15.
At Lap 43, Johnson had gained an even 30 positions, and he wasn't close to finished. Ultimately he led 92 laps to take home his 71st career Sprint Cup victory.
"When he's on, he's switched on, the car is in his comfort zone, it's amazing what he can do with a racecar," Knaus said. "Man, I'm telling you guys, the racing we have in our industry now is the best racing in the world, period. To see Jimmie do what he did today was just phenomenal."
Those first 25 laps set the tone for the entire day.
"To fly through the field like that, to feel those sensations in the car, the car create that much grip, be that friendly, be able to work traffic from my standpoint was surprising," Johnson said.
In the end, even in the midst of their 14th season together, Knaus was understandably impressed with Johnson – and vice versa.
"It is pretty wild after all these years we're able to do that and still impress one another, but we did it today," Johnson said.
And they'll look to carry that success throughout the rest of the season.
"I just know we're going to continue to work and do the best we possibly can," Knaus said. "That's the vintage 48 methodology. If you win, you just put your head down, keep digging, try to get the next one.
"That's kind of how we're going to approach the season."