Johnson solves Bristol for his 82nd career victory

BRISTOL, Tenn. -- It was just last month when people were wondering what was wrong with Jimmie Johnson after he got off to a slow start.

How silly it was to worry.

Johnson grabbed a rare victory at Bristol Motor Speedway on Monday, giving him consecutive NASCAR Cup victories for the 11th time in his career. It was just the second career Bristol victory for Johnson, who considers the high-banked, half-mile oval one of his most vexing tracks.

His Hendrick Motorsorts team hit on something during Saturday's practice for his Chevrolet, and that locked him in for the race postponed a day by rain.

"This track has been really difficult," said Johnson, who last won at Bristol in 2007. But he said that Saturday find was "honestly, it's what I've been looking for for 16 years."

"We finally figured it out. So I'm very, very happy," he said. "I've loved this racetrack from afar ... and it's been a journey since 2000 until now."

Johnson snapped his season-starting slump on April 9 at Texas Motor Speedway, NASCAR's last Monster Energy Cup event prior to 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," crew chief Chad Knaus said. "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 Cup's all-time 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 against Larson late in the race allowed Johnson to make it look easy in the end. Clint Bowyer finished second and is Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Kevin Harvick was third.

Matt Kenseth was the highest finishing Toyota driver with a 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 career-high 202 laps.

"I knew I gave the race away there," Larson said of the 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. I think I speed on pit road every single time I come to Bristol. So got to clean that up."

Chase Elliott finished seventh and the top 10 was rounded out by Martin Truex Jr., Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Denny Hamlin.

Sports on 04/25/2017

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