Before I get some sternly written email from an executive Vice President in charge of mucking fuss at some insurance company, I'm only kidding with that headline. Of course I know that the name of the race track is the Auto Club Speedway and the name of their February 21st NASCAR Sprint Cup race was the Auto Club 500. However, if unexpected circumstances prompted the speedway to consider a name change Johnsonville would probably be a very good choice.
"The four time NASCAR champion's racng legacy began with his first Sprint Cup win back in 2002 which occurred at the Auto Club Speedway."
Jimmie Johnson and his Chad Knaus led #48 NASCAR Sprint Cup team put on another stellar performance at the Auto Club Speedway and won their series leading fifth Sprint Cup race in Fontana-California. Johnson led the race eight times for a total of 101 laps.
But he'll be the very first to tell you that it was a piece of extraordinary luck that put his team in victory lane. On lap 224 of the race Johnson came onto pit road for fuel and tires in what was going to be his final pit stop of the race. A mere matter of seconds later the final yellow caution flag of the race came after Brad Keselowski spun out coming off of turn four . At first it appeared that Johnson was going to get caught on pit road by the yellow flag and was going to go a lap down. The saving factor here was the fact that, first, his car was already on the jack and being serviced and, secondly, he managed to get his car back onto the speedway ahead of the lead car.
Johnson lined up 16th on the starting field after rejoining the lead lap pack. One lap later the lead pack came onto pit road because they also needed gas and tires to finish the race. That mass exodus to the pits elevated Johnson to the lead with only ten laps left when the race resumed under the green flag.
However, the win wasn't locked up just yet. Kevin Harvick restarted second and launched a major offensive towards taking the race away from Johnson during the final laps. Johnson turned out to be on the receiving end of a second piece of good luck while fending off Harvick's charge. With three laps left in the race, Harvick brushed the fourth turn wall just enough for him to have to back off his pace a little. That's all Johnson needed to wrap up the win.
Commenting on the aftermath of his final pit stop, Johnson said " I figured that if the field cycled around we were going to be in pretty good shape. There's no doubt that was the situation that gave us the win today. We were just a little off, probably two thirds into the race, and we were trying to get things right. We got the car much better but we lost a lot of track position and there were some really fast cars that we had to deal with. By being on pit road we were able to make that up and take advantage of the situation. I knew the 29, (Harvick) was going to be tough and he certainly caught me before he got into the wall off of turn four and that slowed him down. All in all it was a great deal and a lot of good racing from where I was sitting."
With his good fortune came same impressive race numbers:
The Auto Club 500 marked Johnson's 48th Sprint Cup career win in car #48.
Even the Auto Club 500 trophy was adorned with a replica of an old Chevy Woody car from 1948.
The win places Johnson in a tie for 12th, with NASCAR pioneer Herb Thomas, on the series' all time winners list.
Johnson has also won five of the last 11 Sprint Cup races.
Last Sunday marked his series high fifth win at the Auto Club Speedway in 15 starts.
He's won four of the last six races there.
He gave team owner Rick Hendrick his series high ninth win at the speedway.
The four time NASCAR champion's racng legacy began with his first Sprint Cup win back in 2002 which occurred at the Auto Club Speedway.
All in all it was a very good day in "Johnsonville."
