Jimmie Johnson: Dover Salutes A Monster Mile Master

DOVER SALUTES A MONSTER MILE MASTER

By Michael Lewis Manager of Communication Dover International Speedway

Through more than 50 years of racing at Dover International Speedway, one driver clearly claims the crown as the best alltime at the Monster Mile.

Jimmie Johnson, the 11-time Dover winner and seven-time NASCAR champion, announced last November that 2020 would be his last full-time season as a Cup Series driver.

From sweeping Dover’s two Cup Series races during his rookie year in 2002, to locking down Dover win No. 11 in a green-white checkered duel in 2017 for career victory No. 83, Johnson has eclipsed some of NASCAR’s legends in his climb up Dover’s record books.

Johnson’s 11 wins are four more than Bobby Allison and Richard Petty, who earned seven Monster Mile trophies apiece.

“I love that track,” Johnson says on Dover International Speedway’s 50th Anniversary Track History Video, which can also be found on DoverSpeedway.com. “It’s a place I took to my very first time. I love making laps there. I go in optimistic. I know how to drive the car and manipulate it and squeeze a bit more out of it.”

Johnson has been saluted throughout NASCAR in 2020, including leading the field for a ceremonial pace lap before this year’s Daytona 500.

JIMMIE BY THE NUMBERS AT DOVER

NASCAR Cup Series Starts: 36 Wins: 11 (All-time leader) Laps Led: 3,110 (All-time leader) Laps Completed: 14,165 or 14,419 (98.2%) Pole Positions: 3 Top 5 Finishes: 17 Top 10 Finishes: 25 Season Sweeps: 2 (2002, 2009) Average starting position: 10.9 Average finish: 9.92

“This remarkable seven-time champion – through his competitive spirit, immense talent and sportsmanship – has made NASCAR a better sport. On behalf of my family and the entire NASCAR community, I thank Jimmie for his dedication to NASCAR and, along with his legions of fans, wish him all the best in his final season. I look forward to watching him race for wins and an eighth NASCAR Cup Championship in 2020.”

During Dover’s massive NASCAR weekend on Aug. 21-23, Johnson will be honored in several areas around the Monster Mile.

Earlier in August, Dover announced that Johnson’s primary sponsor, Ally, as the presenting sponsor of the Monster Monument at Victory Plaza and the Monster Bridge overlooking Turn 3. With that sponsorship, an Ally-wrapped No. 48 car was placed in the famous right hand of the Monster Monument, the 46-foot statue that is the unmistakable symbol for Dover International Speedway throughout the sports and entertainment landscape.

“I can’t think of a better situation for my final year than going to the Monster Mile and having Miles stand up front, holding that 48 car,” Johnson said. “It’s my favorite track. Ally and Hendrick Motorsports are doing amazing things together. To go [to Dover] and hopefully win the race and experience the ultimate of highs would be really special.” From dominant days to clever calls on pit road to sharp overtime finishes, each of Johnson’s Dover wins came in different forms. Below is a short recap of all of Johnson’s Monster Mile triumphs.

June 2, 2002-MBNA Platinum 400 (1): Led 188 laps in first Dover Cup Series race. Topped Bill Elliott by almost half a second and led final 38 laps.

Sept. 22, 2002-MBNA All-American Heroes 400 (2): Completed yearly sweep after leading 170 laps, including final 80. Runner-up Mark Martin was half a second behind.

Sept. 25, 2005-MBNA RacePoints 400 (3): Edged Kyle Busch in one of closest finishes in track history - .080 seconds – following overtime restart. Led 134 laps.

May 31, 2009-Autism Speaks 400 presented by Heluva

Good! Sour Cream Dips & Cheese (4): Passed runner-up Tony Stewart on Lap 398. Led race-high 298 laps.

Sept. 27, 2009-AAA 400 (5): Completed yearly sweep and earned first Dover win from pole. Led race-high 271 laps, including final 225. Topped runner-up Martin by almost two seconds.

Sept. 26, 2010-AAA 400 (6): Won from pole. Led race-high 191 laps, including final 35. Won by more than 2.5 seconds over Jeff Burton. Registered his fastest Dover average speed at 131.543 mph.

June 3, 2012-FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks (7):

Tied record for Dover Cup Series wins. Led race-high 289 laps, including final 76. Topped runner-up Kevin Harvick by more than 2.5 seconds.

Sept. 29, 2013-AAA 400 (8): Passed Bobby Allison and Richard Petty for most Cup Series wins at Dover. Led race-high 243 laps. Edged runner-up Dale Earnhardt Jr. by less than half a second.

June 1, 2014-FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks (9): Led race high 272 laps, including final 34. Topped runner-up Brad Keselowski by almost one second.

May 31, 2015-FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks (10):

Only led race’s final 23 laps but edged Harvick in an overtime finish. Remained out on track on old tires during final round of pit stops.

June 4, 2017-AAA 400 Drive for Autism (11): Outdueled Kyle Larson in green-white-checkered finish that ended under caution. Led only 7 laps, by far the fewest in one of his Dover wins.

In the middle of race weekend, Johnson will also be honored in several locations around the track, including plaques honoring his stature as “The Monster Mile Master” and listing his Dover triumphs at Victory Lane. In addition, a road outside the frontstretch grandstands previously known as Finish Line Drive has been renamed Jimmie Johnson Drive and a billboard overlooking Turn 2 proclaims “Thanks, Jimmie.”

Johnson’s first racing experience at Dover came in 1999, as part of the ASA National Tour. Johnson started from the pole in the “Greased Lightning 150,” led 55 laps, eventually finished eighth, and gained a lot of confidence moving forward.

“It was the first big track that I ran on,” Johnson said. “There’s kind of a mental hurdle to get over that all drivers on short tracks are looking for: ‘Can I run on a big track. Will it intimidate me? Will it bother me?’ I was able to check that box early in my career.”

From there, Johnson never looked back at Dover when he entered the NASCAR Cup Series, sweeping two Dover events in his rookie year in 2002, completing another sweep in 2009 and gaining confidence for several championship runs.

“I was able to win there twice in my rookie year and really get the momentum I needed to start my career. The fall race has always been a great springboard for me on my championship years to put me in a position to win a championship. I’m really thankful that Dover is on the schedule and where it has been placed on the schedule, especially in the playoff era, has served me very well.”

Johnson comes into this weekend on the edge of making the playoffs, with only three more regular season races remaining before the final cutoff. While he did leave the door open for a possible return behind the wheel at the Monster Mile, Johnson recognizes this weekend is special as he makes one final push for a NASCAR Cup Series title.

“Just a big thank you to all the fans for their support,” Johnson said. “I’m not sure this will be my last time to Dover. If it is, just thank you for the memories and the support. The track has meant so much to me. I love that area as well. I really enjoyed my time cycling or going out to eat at the various restaurants around town. So, thank you for welcoming me to your area and I’ve truly enjoyed all the success that I’ve had there.”

66TIMMYHILL @TimmyHillRacer

Car Make: Toyota Team: MBM MotorsportsExperience: Ninth year Born: Feb. 25, 1993 Age: 27 Hometown: Port Tobacco, Md. - Made eight NASCAR Cup Series starts at Dover - 2011 NASCAR Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year

88ALEXBOWMAN @AlexBowman88

Car Make: Chevrolet Team: Hendrick MotorsportsExperience: Sixth year Born: April 25, 1993 Age: 27 Hometown: Tucson, Ariz. - Two top-5 finishes in eight NASCAR Cup Series starts at Dover - Earned first NASCAR Cup Series victory in 2019 at Chicagoland - Made NASCAR Cup Series playoff in 2018 and 2019 - 2011 ARCA Menards Series East Rookie of the Year

95CHRISTOPER BELL @CBellRacing

Car Make: Toyota Team: Leavine Family RacingExperience: Rookie year Born: Dec. 16, 1994 Age: 25 Hometown: Norman, Okla. - Racing for NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year honors in 2020 - 2017 NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series champion - Two wins in four NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Dover - Wins in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series

96DANIELSUAREZ @Daniel_SuarezG

Car Make: Toyota Team: Gaunt Brothers RacingExperience: Fourth year Born: Jan. 7, 1992 Age: 28 Hometown: Monterrey, Mexico - 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion - One top-five and four top-10 finishes in six NASCAR Cup Series starts at Dover - One win and five top-10 finishes in six NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Dover - 2015 NASCAR Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year