Johnson is actually trying to succeed a record sixth consecutive championship in NASCAR 's Sprint Cup Series, but he could be in issues while race resumes Sunday with Dover International Speedway .
After two backrounds with NASCAR's 10-race Chase intended for this Cup playoff, Johnson is actually tenth on the list of twelve month period Chase drivers, your sizable twenty nine items behind head , a new two- time champion who won both equally races.
It's a minimal Johnson has previously already been throughout the Chase standings, and also this individual desires a solid demonstrating with Dover to further improve his or her placement because whenever he doesn't, this El Cajon native nicknamed "Five Time" could find themselves outstanding simply just that at season's end.
"I never consider we're ready where by it's win and also nothing," Johnson shared with reporters at Dover on Friday, but your dog additional that will "we want to get your top-three function here."
There is usually cause to believe Johnson could possibly boost their Chase work Sunday.
Johnson has more benefits at Dover (six) compared to almost every other effective Cup driver, and overall he / she tracks only NASCAR stories Bobby Allison , which every experienced seven.
Johnson, 36, also is near behind many owners within the Chase and can leapfrog a lot of them having a formidable run Sunday. Jeff Gordon , a four- time champion and Johnson's teammate by using Hendrick Motorsports, is fifth inside the particular standings although exclusively six details ahead of Johnson.
The drivers sixth through ninth inside standings Matt Kenseth (the 2003 string champion), Dale Earnhardt Jr. as well as (the 2005 champion) will be only three items well before Johnson.
"I don't think this Jimmie can be outside of that by means of every means," claimed , who will be third in the standings. "He's seriously not that far back." But, Keselowski added, "He undoubtedly aren't able to have anylonger poor races."
Under a new tips process NASCAR enforced that year, a drivers could gain up to 48 items by profitable your contest as well as leading by far the most laps as you move last-place finisher gets a single point.
"We've been in this situation ahead of and get also been behind," Johnson said. "I surely believe I can be quite a a part of this tournament battle in the number of months in case we venture out as well as perform what we know you can easlily do."
But Dover, dubbed "The Monster Mile," may be a dangerous one-mile speedway which will spawn a number of wrecks. One mishap could ending Johnson's race whether or not his No. 48 Chevrolet will get trapped in another person's mistake.
At Dover's springtime race in May, Johnson led some sort of race-high 207 laps. But Kenseth won right after adjusting a pair of tires with their last pit stop when some others procured four, plus Johnson finished ninth.
Johnson's only victory this time emerged monthly earlier, whenever he nipped Clint Bowyer by way of a feet from Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.
To win a sixth Cup title, Johnson also is required to conquer your quick impetus enjoyed by Stewart with his a couple Chase victories.
Stewart seemed to be the last drivers to earn the actual Cup shining ahead of Johnson started his talent in 2006, yet another season during which Johnson going the actual Chase the wrong way but rallied.
james.peltz@latimes.com
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