Valdosta Daily Times

Local News

October 18, 2009

Sports Extra: Johnson ends 4-year losing streak at Lowe’s

By JENNA FRYER

AP Auto Racing Writer

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — One by one, the championship contenders struggled to stay out of trouble at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

Not Jimmie Johnson, though.

In a career of impressive feats, he grabbed yet another one Saturday night by completing a “perfect weekend” to take control of the Chase for the Sprint Cup standings. The three-time defending series champion led every practice session, started from the pole and then held off his challengers over several late restarts for his third victory in five Chase race this season.

“We just completed the biggest goal of our lives: Perfect weekend,” crew chief Chad Knaus radioed as Johnson crossed the finish line for his sixth win at Lowe’s, but first since 2005.

The win, his sixth of the season and 46th overall, moved the Lowe’s-sponsored driver into a tie with Buck Baker for 13th on the career victory list.

More importantly, it extended his lead in the standings to 90 points over teammate Mark Martin at the halfway point in the 10-race Chase.

And in more bad news for the competition? They head next to Martinsville Speedway, where Johnson has won five of the last six races.

“It’s definitely not over,” third-place finisher Kasey Kahne said. “I mean, anything can happen the rest of the year. But if it doesn’t, I think Jimmie is the guy to beat.”

So does everyone else.

Matt Kenseth was second, followed by Kahne and Jeff Gordon, Johnson’s teammate at Hendrick Motorsports.

Martin, who started the race 12 points behind his teammate in the standings, finished 17th in part because of front-end damage received when he ran into the back of Juan Pablo Montoya on an early restart.

It was that kind of night for several title contenders, as eight of the 12 finished outside the top 10 in a rare off night for the Chase drivers.

Montoya, who was third in the standings and just 58 points out of the lead at the start of the race, dropped to sixth and is now 195 points out. He damaged the front and back ends of his car on the restart problem with Martin and Clint Bowyer, and fell two laps down trying to get pit road for repairs.

Denny Hamlin and Carl Edwards both blew motors, Greg Biffle was in a late spin and Tony Stewart never contended.

That left it up to Kahne and Gordon to chase down Johnson, and despite some thrilling late restarts, neither came close.

Gordon finished fourth, but lost ground to Johnson in the standings and is now 135 points out as only Martin is within shouting distance of the champion.

It’s not the championship race NASCAR had hoped for, but nobody seems to have anything for the champion. Even though Hendrick drivers hold down the top three spots in the standings, it doesn’t seem as if even Martin or Gordon have anything for their teammate.

Montoya hung tight through the first four races, bringing in an average finish of 3.5 through the Chase. But he wound up 35th.

“We had one of the fastest cars (but) there’s not much we can do,” Montoya said. “We worked as hard as we could, we did all we thought was possible and here you go. Today the best we could was 35th.”

Hamlin was in contention until last week, when driver error crashed him out of California. He could have rebounded at Lowe’s, where he led 54 laps early only to wind up 42nd after an engine failure. He’s now 11th in the standings and 372 points out.

Hamlin was long gone from the track when he posted an apology on his Twitter stream with 60 laps remaining.

“A championship just isn’t meant to be for this year,” he tweeted.

Edwards, the preseason favorite to dethrone Johnson, remained winless on the season when he struggled the entire race and also retired with an engine problem while running 38th.

“That’s a mercy killing there,” Edwards said from the garage.

Local News
  • EPD tests 2.jpg Feds descend on park

    There may be merit to allegations of illegal dumping of hazaradous wastes at Reed Bingham State Park. Federal authorities dropped a backhoe into one suspected area Thursday afternoon, and there was an immediate sound of scraping metal. Two drums had been unearthed by 4 p.m. and the digging had only just begun.

    March 19, 2010 2 Photos

  • School Bus Ad_2.jpg Could school bus ads save school budgets?

    School districts have imposed all sorts of drastic cuts to save money during the down economy, canceling field trips and making parents pay for everything from tissues to sports transportation. And some have now resorted to placing advertisements on school buses. School districts say it’s practically free money, and advertisers love the captive audience that school buses provide.

    March 19, 2010 2 Photos

  • thorogood.jpg Bad to the funny bone

    Ask George Thorogood how he’s doing, the rocker answers, “Bad.”

    March 19, 2010 1 Photo

  • wagner mug shot.jpg Growth for House of Hope

    A one-year residential program for women struggling with drugs, alcohol and abuse, South Georgia House of Hope announced plans to create a chapel and educational space Thursday.

    March 19, 2010 3 Photos

  • Authority discuss improving parks

    The Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority approved an extensive list of park improvements at its meeting Thursday.

    March 19, 2010

  • 100317 Ian willis one.jpg Students raise funds for MDA

    Students at Perimeter Christian School celebrated with an ice cream party after raising money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

    March 18, 2010 2 Photos

  • Fire damages Berrien house

    Emergency personnel responded Wednesday night to a residential fire and sounds of explosions coming from inside of the residence.

    March 18, 2010

  • Night Moves for tonight

    Here’s what’s happening tonight, March 19, according to items submitted.

    March 19, 2010

  • 100318 Habitat RWU2.jpg Students help Habitat for Humanity

    Some 23 students from Roger Williams University in Rhode Island spent the past week constructing a home at 609 Cypress Street.

    March 18, 2010 2 Photos

  • ‘Remember Me’ worth remembering

    “Remember Me” (Drama: 1 hour, 53 minutes); Starring: Robert Pattinson, Emilie de Ravin, Chris Cooper, Lena Olin, Tate Ellington, Ruby Jerins and Pierce Brosnan; Director: Allen Coulter; Rated: PG-13 (Violence, Sexual content and profanity) Movie Review: Numerous critics are denouncing this film, save a few like Roger Ebert who liked this film except for one incident in it. That one incident is perhaps most viewers’ reasons for objecting to this film. Conversely, movies should leave an impression. “Remember Me” does.

    March 18, 2010

Featuring Today

Business Marquee

AP Video

VDT Twitter

Follow me on Twitter

Hyperlocal Search

Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide

Choose your subscription:

Sports Team Tracker

More

Weather Radar

Seasonal Content

Community Calendar

Loading…
Events by eviesays.com

Poll

Do you feel the 2010 Census questions are:

necessary?
too intrusive?
ridiculous?
     View Results