By: Sarah Handy, Staff Writer
In his final NASCAR Cup Series start at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Jimmie Johnson brought home the No. 48 Ally Chevy to a seventh-place finish.
Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500
There’s a first time for everything pic.twitter.com/1pCHNornV1
— Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) June 8, 2020
After giving the command to start engines, Johnson started the 325-lap event in 15th due to a random qualifying draw, he worked his way up to the 12th as the competition caution waved on lap 25.
Sunday’s race proved to be an uneventful day for the seven-time champ who made his way into the Top-10 following the first round of pit stops following the comp caution.
That’s where Johnson would spend a majority of this day, except for a short time when he lost a few positions, but he continued to run around the Top-12.
Solid pit stops all day would see Johnson take the checkered flag in the seventh position, with Kevin Harvick taking the win.
His seventh-place finish was his fifth Top-10 on the season and 17th Top-10 at Atlanta in his Cup Series career.
Johnson was asked post-race about [Kevin] Harvick having Atlanta figured out in recent years, having it compared to his success at Dover and what it feels like to have a [leg up] on the competition entering race weekend.
“Yeah, it’s a great feeling, especially for the team when they know that they’ve hit on something that works,” he said. “And what’s impressive is when a team and driver are able to continue for a long stretch of time at a track.”
Atlanta names Grandstand after JJ
On Friday, Atlanta Motor Speedway announced it was renaming one of its grandstands in Johnson’s honor. The grandstands previously known as Winners Grandstand are now known as Johnson Grandstand.
“It takes a great driver to succeed at our track and an even greater one to win a championship,” said AMS Executive Vice President and General Manager Brandon Hutchison. “But only the greatest can win seven titles and [Jimmie] Johnson is undoubtedly one of the greatest.”
He joins fellow seven-time champions, [Richard] Petty and [Dale] Earnhardt as NASCAR drivers with grandstands named after them at Atlanta.
I can’t explain how cool it is to have my name on the @amsupdates grandstands next to Petty and Earnhardt. I just wish my girls where with me for the picture. pic.twitter.com/mKBlNrVBrD
— Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) June 7, 2020
Atlanta Success
He may have not captured his sixth win at the 1.5-mile track on Sunday, but Johnson did see success there in the past.
In 29 NCS starts he amassed five wins, 14 top-five, 17-top ten finishes and led for 586 laps. Johnson won back-to-back on two occasions, as he swept both events in 2007 and then went on to win two in a row winning the race there in 2015 and again in 2016.
His first win at the track came all the way back in 2004, a special yet emotional win for all of Hendrick Motorsports.
A week prior to the 2004 event, nine from the HMS organization and one member of Tony Stewart’s company were tragically killed in a plane crash on their way to the race at Martinsville Speedway.
With his No. 48 Chevy adorning a special scheme with the faces of those lost, a late race caution worked in Johnson’s favor. With fresh tires, he was able to cruise past his competitors [Kasey Kahne] and [Joe Nemechek] and claim the lead.
Even with a hard-charging Mark Martin in his rear view mirror, Johnson held on to earn the victory.
Throwback Thursday: Jimmie Johnson wins Atlanta with special scheme
Next up on the schedule: Martinsville Speedway
The NASCAR Cup Series will now head to Martinsville Speedway for a mid-week Wednesday race at the track known as ‘The Paper Clip’.
With Johnson still seeking his first win of the season – and his first win since 2007 at Dover, Martinsville could be the place. After all, it’s a track that he has seen a multitude of success throughout his career.
In 36 NCS starts there, Johnson has nine wins, 19 top-five, and 24 top-10’s with 2,862 laps led.
His last win at the track came back in 2016 after starting the event in third.
Heading into Martinsville, Johnson currently sits 13th in the driver standings, 165 points behind first-place Kevin Harvick.