You’ve Got To Hold On

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In: NASCAR Cup Series News

The band Alabama Shakes, founded in Athens, Ala., may have some good advice for Jimmie Johnson this weekend. If he wants to make it to victory lane after Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Aaron’s 499 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, he’ll have to “hold on” to his No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet. Contact during the fast-paced, inches-apart racing that characterizes the 2.66-mile high-banked tri-oval can make for a long day for competitors who aren’t able to keep their cars out of trouble.

Johnson was able to do just that last April when he won. And, as a two-time Talladega winner, he knows that sometimes “you’ve got to wait” for the right moment to make your move to the front. Practicing that patience could mean the difference between a visit to Gatorade victory lane and the post-race scrap pile.

That feast-or-famine type of racing has characterized Johnson’s runs in the 20 races in which he has competed at Talladega. The spring race has been slightly more successful for the California native. Johnson’s two victories came in April 2011 and May 2006. His win last year tied the Sprint Cup record for closest margin of victory (.002 seconds) as he beat Clint Bowyer to the line.

Anyone who says championships can be won or lost at the fall race may be correct if looking at Johnson’s record. During the 2007 to 2010 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Johnson never finished outside the top-10 as he went on to win the championship each of those years. The race in 2006 was the lone exception. Johnson was passing Dale Earnhardt Jr., for the lead on the final lap when Brian Vickers made contact with Johnson’s left rear, sending him into Earnhardt before both spun into the infield. Johnson would finish 24th and leave Talladega eighth in the standings, 156 points out of first. However, he would overcome what seemed like an insurmountable deficit in the remaining races. He finished in the top-two at the next five races to set up the season finale in Homestead, where Johnson finished ninth to earn his first career championship.

Johnson’s record on superspeedways more than 2 miles in length includes: 109 starts, 13 wins, 37 top-five finishes and 58 top-10s. He has finished on the lead lap 85 times. Of 20,458 laps, he has led 2,319. His highest starting average (9.6) comes on this track classification.

Johnson, however, is still looking for his first victory of the season and the historic 200th for Hendrick Motorsports. In nine races run this season, he has finished outside the top-10 only twice. Alabama may be where he “holds on” for his first win of the 2012 season.

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