Jimmie Johnson got a break on pit road and turned it to his advantage winning the California 500
After a disappointing Daytona reigning NASCAR champion, Jimmie Johnson , is back to his winning ways with his 48th career Sprint Cup win as he held off a determined charge from Kevin Harvick.
“Oh, yeah, California style,” Johnson screamed as took the checkered flag, and added “we’re back,” he said adding we won our first race here and now our 48th so it’s a cool day.” He also won the fall race here last year.
Brad Keselowski brought out the final yellow flag after Johnson was pitting, under green, and the four-time champion didn’t lose a lap “today fortune came our way, we hit pit road and the caution came out and …I’m not going to lie, the fact that we were on pit road gave us track position and I drove my butt off,” Johnson explained. That enabled him to leave the pits ahead of Harvick and Burton who had been leading before the caution. Johnson would lead the final 24 laps.
Still there was Harvick to worry about “I had a feeling we’d race together I knew he was going to be tough,” said Johnson.
Was he thinking about five titles in-a-row? “I’m excited we have a little work to do work hard to adjust the car in the middle of the race.”
For awhile it was a battle of the Californians at Auto Club Speedway, but, after Kevin Harvick had a big wiggle on lap 247 the race was all but over.
Harvick explained “I got tight, struck the wall, and it knocked in the fender and that did it.” They’re good but they’re lucky, too Harvick said “they’ve got a golden horsehoe up their ass,” said a frustrated Harvick talking about the #48 team.
Harvick faded back to finish 1.524 seconds behind in a drag race with teammate Jeff Burton. Mark Martin finished fourth in a sweep of the top-four by Chevrolet.
Joey Logano was fifth in a Toyota and Kurt Busch was sixth in a Dodge and Matt Kenseth with his first race with crew chief Todd Parrott was seventh in a Ford.
Overall Richard Childress could be satisfied with Clint Bowyer finishing eighth to put all of his cars in the top ten.
Other than snow and sleet, the Auto Club Speedway had virtually every type of weather. The stock car boys raced hard to finish the before the threat of rain came true, but, the race did end under the green.
Burton, one the most intelligent of the Cup drivers said “we ran really well in the second half of the race, got up to sixth really quickly.”
Talking about the final pit stop which determined the race he added “when the caution came out I slowed down the 48 (Johnson) beat us out. They got a break there. They got a break but they executed on. We lost a spot to Kevin on pit road on don’t know if it was my fault we were a little loose at the end.”
Kevin Harvick takes over the points lead and said “only 34 (races) to go.”
Daytona 500 winner, Jamie McMurray finished 17th as his teammate, Juan Pablo Montoya blew an engine as did Ryan Newman. Dale Earnhardt Jr., who finished second at Daytona had his momentum stopped as he finished 32nd 12 laps back.
After a disappointing Daytona reigning NASCAR champion, Jimmie Johnson , is back to his winning ways with his 48th career Sprint Cup win as he held off a determined charge from Kevin Harvick.
“Oh, yeah, California style,” Johnson screamed as took the checkered flag, and added “we’re back,” he said adding we won our first race here and now our 48th so it’s a cool day.” He also won the fall race here last year.
| |
Brad Keselowski brought out the final yellow flag after Johnson was pitting, under green, and the four-time champion didn’t lose a lap “today fortune came our way, we hit pit road and the caution came out and …I’m not going to lie, the fact that we were on pit road gave us track position and I drove my butt off,” Johnson explained. That enabled him to leave the pits ahead of Harvick and Burton who had been leading before the caution. Johnson would lead the final 24 laps.
Still there was Harvick to worry about “I had a feeling we’d race together I knew he was going to be tough,” said Johnson.
Was he thinking about five titles in-a-row? “I’m excited we have a little work to do work hard to adjust the car in the middle of the race.”
For awhile it was a battle of the Californians at Auto Club Speedway, but, after Kevin Harvick had a big wiggle on lap 247 the race was all but over.
Harvick explained “I got tight, struck the wall, and it knocked in the fender and that did it.” They’re good but they’re lucky, too Harvick said “they’ve got a golden horsehoe up their ass,” said a frustrated Harvick talking about the #48 team.
Harvick faded back to finish 1.524 seconds behind in a drag race with teammate Jeff Burton. Mark Martin finished fourth in a sweep of the top-four by Chevrolet.
| |
Joey Logano was fifth in a Toyota and Kurt Busch was sixth in a Dodge and Matt Kenseth with his first race with crew chief Todd Parrott was seventh in a Ford.
Overall Richard Childress could be satisfied with Clint Bowyer finishing eighth to put all of his cars in the top ten.
Other than snow and sleet, the Auto Club Speedway had virtually every type of weather. The stock car boys raced hard to finish the before the threat of rain came true, but, the race did end under the green.
Burton, one the most intelligent of the Cup drivers said “we ran really well in the second half of the race, got up to sixth really quickly.”
Talking about the final pit stop which determined the race he added “when the caution came out I slowed down the 48 (Johnson) beat us out. They got a break there. They got a break but they executed on. We lost a spot to Kevin on pit road on don’t know if it was my fault we were a little loose at the end.”
Kevin Harvick takes over the points lead and said “only 34 (races) to go.”
Daytona 500 winner, Jamie McMurray finished 17th as his teammate, Juan Pablo Montoya blew an engine as did Ryan Newman. Dale Earnhardt Jr., who finished second at Daytona had his momentum stopped as he finished 32nd 12 laps back.