Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Johnson wins for 11th time at Dover

- By Dan Gelston Associated Press

DOVER, Del. — Hooked on NASCAR as a kid, there was something about Cale Yarborough that made a fan out of Jimmie Johnson.

Johnson was glued to the set as he sat on an old couch at home in El Cajon, Calif. He loved Yarborough’s fearlessne­ss and the way the Hall of Fame driver reminded Johnson of his grandfathe­r.

Johnson even stopped at a Hardee’s on a road trip because he believed the fastfood joint and Yarborough’s sponsor was the race shop. There was one more part of Yarborough that Johnson admired:

“His winning,” Johnson said.

Oh, Yarborough won — 83 times.

The same number in the record book as that California kid who grew up to become better than his idol.

Johnson sped off on the final restart Sunday and earned another slice of NASCAR history, winning in overtime at Dover Internatio­nal Speedway for the 11th time and moving into a tie for sixth on the career victories list.

He then tipped his cap — more like, his tribute helmet — toward Yarborough.

“Cale, you’re the man,” Johnson said.

Johnson again made an impact at his favorite track — and he worked hard to take this checkered flag. He was forced to start from the rear of the field because of a gear change, then zipped past Kyle Larson in overtime on the restart.

Johnson and Yarborough are tied for sixth on the career wins list.

Johnson might have had a sense history was ahead in the No. 48 Chevrolet. He wore a helmet in tribute to Yarborough. He tweeted this weekend, “Growing up in El Cajon I never imagined I would have a chance to tie Cale in wins.”

Johnson, the seven-time NASCAR champion, plopped his helmet on top of the Chevy in victory lane and swapped it out for a throwback No. 28 Hardee’s Chevrolet Yarborough hat.

Johnson and the 78-yearold Yarborough are the only drivers in NASCAR history to win three consecutiv­e championsh­ips.

Johnson, who won for the third time this season, is on a drive for a record eighth. With more wins like this one, Johnson just might pass Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty and get No. 8.

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