Johnson on Dover: You can’t take a track for granted – Nascar

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DOVER, Del. — The track that has brought Jimmie Johnson so much success is also the site of one of his biggest disappointments.

It was here at year ago at Dover International Speedway that Johnson’s No. 48 Chevrolet was felled by a broken axle seal, relegating the Hendrick Motorsports driver to a 41st-place finish.

RECAP: What plagued Johnson at Dover last year

One of the favorites in NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup suddenly found himself out of title contention. NASCAR’s only six-time champion would remain just that for another year.

That the failure happened at Dover, at track Johnson has 10 career wins at, was stunning.

“I think last year shows that you really can’t count on a race track always being kind to a driver or always working in their favor,” Johnson said Friday at DIS. “It’s part of racing. I’ve learned it through many different lessons over my racing career.

“Last year, I think, kind of showed everybody … that you just can’t take a race or a track for granted for anybody.”

That disappointment hasn’t lingered, however. Once again NASCAR’s Chase is underway and once again Johnson is a player. He isn’t a lock to advance to the Round of 12, but he is among those expected to remain above the cutline after Sunday’s Citizen Soldier 400 (2 p.m. ET, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) here at DIS.

After finishes of 12th and eighth in the first two Chase races, Johnson sits eighth in points, 18 ahead of the first driver outside the top 12 — currently, Jamie McMurray.

It also hasn’t changed his outlook toward Dover as he and his team prepare for the 400-mile race. Rain on Friday forced the cancellation of qualifying, leaving Johnson to line up eighth in the 40-car starting grid.

“We’re back with high hopes,” he said. “I love being here.”

And with good reason. In addition to his victories, Johnson has finished fifth or better at Dover in more than half of his career starts.

He has started from the eighth position three other times at Dover — winning twice (2009 and 2013) and finishing third once (2014).

Brad Keselowski (Team Penske No. 2 Ford) and Martin Truex Jr. (Furniture Row Racing No. 78 Toyota) will start first and second, respectively, on Sunday.