Jimmie Johnson has to feel good about his Chase chances. Not only did he take the points lead on Sunday, he’s heading next weekend to race track that’s arguably his best.
Johnson has seven victories and an average finish of 8.9 at Dover. Among the five drivers immediately behind him in the standings, Tony Stewart has the best average finish — 13.4. Johnson, however, added a cautionary note.
“You’ve still got to run the race and run well,” said Johnson, who has four wins and eight top-10 finishes in his last nine Dover races. “I certainly look at good tracks and want to capitalize. I think the 11 (Hamlin) had that on their mind this weekend and came in here (New Hampshire) and executed and did a great job.
“When you get to the Chase, you need to execute on your great tracks and get the results you should there, and then on the tracks that aren’t your best, you still have to have good days.”
If the rivals of the five-time champion are looking for a source of optimism, they can point to Talladega two weeks hence. Johnson has failed to finish all three restrictor-plate races this season.
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