Larson hurt by speeding penalty
Johnson snapped his season-starting slump April 9 at Texas Motor Speedway, NASCAR’s last event before Monday. It ended any chatter that the seven-time and reigning champion might not be up for a record eighth title.
“After securing a win last week, it obviously takes a huge load off of your shoulders,” said crew chief Chad Knaus. “Being able to come in here this week confident, relaxed, we had a weekend off.”
Johnson now has 82 career victories, and is just one away from tying Cal Yarborough for sixth on the all-time wins list. Two more would put him alongside Darrell Waltrip.
“That’s just mind-blowing,” Johnson said of his place in history.
Johnson doesn’t like Bristol, but had no trouble contending with Kyle Larson, the points leader and most dominant driver of the day. A speeding penalty on Larson late in the race allowed Johnson to make it look easy in the end. Clint Bowyer finished second and StewartHaas Racing teammate Kevin Harvick was third.
Matt Kenseth was the highest finishing Toyota driver with a quiet fourth. Joey Logano in a Ford was fifth for Team Penske and Larson rallied to sixth. He had been dropped to 29th in the field after the penalty and making it back to the top 10 was a victory in itself for Larson, who led a careerhigh 202 laps.
“I knew I gave the race away there,” Larson said of the pit row speeding penalty. “I was surprised that I was able to line up with an opportunity there at the end. I think even if I was able to get to the lead, I don’t think I would have won because Jimmie and Clint were way faster than I was.
“They were over a straightaway ahead of us, I think, at the checkered flag. Disappointed in myself.”