Jimmie Johnson: “Our team always performs best under adversity”

Loudon, N.H.
Jul 02, 2007

It might not equal its four victories in 2007, but the No. 48 Lowe’s team turned in one of its most impressive performances of the season Sunday at New Hampshire International Speedway.

With car chief Ron Malec and Lance McGrew stepping in for Chad Knaus, who is suspended for six races, the Lowe’s team performed well on the flat, one-mile oval throughout the weekend as driver Jimmie Johnson earned a fifth-place finish.

Johnson moved up to fourth in the points race, 381 behind leader and teammate Jeff Gordon.

“For some reason, our team always performs best under adversity, “ said Johnson. “Today was another example. We had a good weekend. It’s something we can build on. Ron and Lance did a great job, and everyone else stepped up and we gave a good effort. “

Johnson started Sunday’s race in 10th place and ran at the front of the field throughout the day. By lap 30 he drove by Martin Truex for eighth, and 30 laps later he was up to fourth.

A two-tire stop on lap 98 moved Johnson to second on a restart. On lap 123, Johnson pitted for fuel only and restarted the race in first on lap 130.

But the old tires took their toll, and Johnson began dropping through the field. He fell to eighth before he could come in for fresh tires.

Johnson then began making up the places he lost. He regained sixth place on lap 232 and climbed to fifth with about 50 laps remaining.

But that’s as high as Johnson could move up. During a pit stop sequence he fell back to sixth, then moved back to fifth before the checkered flag fell.

Denny Hamlin, driving an Impala SS, held off a charging Jeff Gordon by 0.068 seconds to capture his first victory of the season. Hamlin’s victory makes it the 14th of the season’s 17 races won by Chevrolet.

Martin Truex Jr., Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Johnson rounded out the top five finishers.

The Nextel Cup Series moves to Daytona International Speedway for Saturday night’s race. Johnson will drive the Lowe’s Pontiac on the Daytona road course in the Rolex Series race on Thursday night.