He wasn’t the dominant car all day, but Jimmie Johnson took the lead with 16 laps to go Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to win the Shelby American.
It was his 49th career victory, his forth at Las Vegas and his second consecutive win of the young three race season.
Jeff Gordon looked to be in position to win. Johnson’s teammate and car co-owner, led the most laps on the day 218 but couldn’t hold Johnson off after a final round of pit stops that saw Gordon elect to take two tires, while Johnson took four.
“I'm disappointed,” Gordon, who finished third, said. “But at the same time, you know, we haven't dominated like this in a very, very long time. So, you know, I'm disappointed that the opportunity got away that we dominated so much and that we had the car to win the race. Very disappointed in that.”
Johnson now has two wins on the season. It’s the kind of momentum that could continue or come back to haunt the No. 49 team.
“I'm kind of hoping they peak early this year and that some of us can gain the momentum as we get to the Chase,” Gordon said. It's gonna make us all work really, really hard, you know. But who knows. They're very good. They're the team to beat.”
For Johnson, the thought of peaking too early is something he said he’s thought about.
“That's legit,” Johnson said. “I mean, from my standpoint, I love to play devil's advocate. I just don't want us to be comfortable as a race team. Even though we've won these two races, we can't let it affect anything because there's still 23 races to go until the Chase starts. So, yes, that could be the case. Only time will tell. We're certainly going to do everything in our power to make sure it's not the case.”
While Johnson and the No. 48 team have looked strong over the course of the first two races, he certainly knows he can’t let his guard down. Because there’s one factor that can steal all the momentum he’s gained and that comes in the form of Richard Childress Racing’s Kevin Harvick. Harvick was Johnson’s tormentor in California and finished second Sunday.
“I feel like the beginning of the run they got out from us,” Harvick said. “I felt like at the end of the run we were just as good as they were. It's just a matter of we got a little bit looser than we had been all day long the last two runs.”
The message Harvick sent to Johnson didn’t just come on the track, but in his comments after it was over as well.
“We can run with them,” Harvick said,” And they know it.”
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Comments
As I woke from my "Cookie-Cutter Race Track" slumber, Johnson was taking the checkers. I should've stayed asleep. Yawwnn!
Keep 'em coming Jimmie and the 48 team. I LOVED the race yesterday. Awesome for sure.
sick and tired of the jimmy johnson race. wish he would just go away.
Nascar is getting boring and losing alot of fans because of Jimmie winning everything. What's the point in watching if he is going to win every race? I am ready for that team to be taken down a notch or two and have other teams dominate. Well, we do know Chad is a cheater. He may have cheated his way to two victories this year. I am so sick of team 48.
Linda "Nascar is getting boring and losing alot of fans because of Jimmie winning everything. What's the point in watching if he is going to win every race?"
What's the point, ow about rooting for whatever underdog you desire to unseat him?
Linda "I am ready for that team to be taken down a notch or two and have other teams dominate."
I bet the other teams/drivers wish the same. I guess they bet raise their game.
Linda "Well, we do know Chad is a cheater. He may have cheated his way to two victories this year. I am so sick of team 48."
Geesh, you couldn't come up with something more original than he's a cheater? When was the last time that happened? If I recall it was 2007. You need another excuse that one's worn out.
And BTW, which two races did Johnson cheat in this year? Mighty easy to say, but DAMN hard for you to substantiate isn't it?
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