CONCORD, N.C. – Last weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, Jimmie Johnson earned his milestone 75th career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory.
No. 48 team crew chief Chad Knaus said it “speaks volumes about where the 48 is, the no-give-up attitude that we've got."
And now, Johnson is on the verge of another milestone.
The Texas win put the driver within one race of tying Dale Earnhardt’s 76 career wins.
“I’m just so happy to be where we are at right now,” Johnson said. “I’m so honored and have been so fortunate with great cars, a great sponsor and great teammates and look forward to that day we can tie such an incredible talent.”
Johnson’s 75 wins are currently eighth all-time – one more trip to Victory Lane would tie him with Earnhardt for seventh behind Cale Yarborough’s 83 wins in sixth place. The all-time wins leader is Richard Petty with 200.
His first opportunity to move to 76 wins comes this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway.
That just so happens to be the site where Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon’s 76th career win in NASCAR’s premier division occurred.
On April 21, 2007, Gordon’s trip to Victory Lane in Arizona tied him with Earnhardt for what was at that time sixth on the sport’s all-time wins list.
Johnson said he appreciates what his next win will represent.
“There are really no words to describe how that will feel if it happens,” he said. “I never could have dreamed this up.”