Jimmie Johnson may have four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships and 50 checkered flags, but Jimmie Johnson keeps coming up empty at the two road courses on the schedule.
At least he’s in good company.
Other drivers who haven’t won a road course race in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series include two champions – Matt Kenseth (No. 17 Crown Royal Black Ford) and Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge), Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet), Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet), Carl Edwards (No. 99 AFLAC Ford) and five-time winner so far this season, Denny Hamlin.
Johnson is confident that after last year’s fourth-place finish, the tide could be turning.
“Every year since the start of the 48 team, we’ve tested more for road courses than any other specific race track. (I) continue to run road courses in the Grand-Am Series when I can to help,” Johnson said. “I’m ready mentally, physically.”
Jeff Burton said his Richard Childress Racing team’s been working on its road course program with a focus on getting the good finishes. “People talk about it being technical,” Burton said. “It’s about being precise.”
Despite earning a pole in 2006 at Infineon, former champion Kurt Busch hasn’t captured the elusive checkered flag.
“You have to be on your game,” Busch said. “The troublesome portion for us at Penske seems likes the fuel mileage is a big, big issue … that’s what we have to work on this time around.”
Ford driver Matt Kenseth has had a change of heart about road courses.
“For a long time I really dreaded the road course races, but I’ve learned that the more you do it, the more comfortable you become,” Kenseth said.
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NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: News & Notes - Sonoma
CAR DRIVER MAKE OWNER 0 David Reutimann Toyota Rob Kauffman 1 Jamie McMurray Chevrolet Teresa Earnhardt 2 Kurt Busch Dodge Walter Czarnecki 5 Mark Martin Chevrolet Mary Hendrick 6 David Ragan Ford John Henry 7 Robby Gordon Toyota Robby Gordon 9 Kasey Kahne Ford George Gillett, Jr 9 Jan Magnussen Chevrolet James Finch 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota J D Gibbs 12 Brad Keselowski Dodge Roger Penske 13 Max Papis Toyota Bob Germain 14 Tony Stewart Chevrolet Margaret Haas 16 Greg Biffle Ford Jack Roush 17 Matt Kenseth Ford John Henry 18 Kyle Busch Toyota Joe Gibbs 19 Elliott Sadler Ford George Gillett, Jr 20 Joey Logano Toyota Joe Gibbs 24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet Rick Hendrick 26 Boris Said Ford Bill Jenkins 29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet Richard Childress 31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet Richard Childress 33 Clint Bowyer Chevrolet Richard Childress 34 Kevin Conway* Ford Bob Jenkins 36 Brian Simo Toyota Tommy Baldwin 37 Travis Kvapil Ford Doug Yates 38 David Gilliland Ford Doug Yates 39 Ryan Newman Chevrolet Tony Stewart 42 Juan Montoya Chevrolet Chip Ganassi 43 A.J. Allmendinger Ford Richard Petty 46 J.J. Yeley Dodge Dusty Whitney 47 Marcos Ambrose Toyota Tad Geschickter 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Jeff Gordon 55 Michael Waltrip Toyota Randy Humphrey 56 Martin Truex Jr. Toyota Michael Waltrip 66 Dave Blaney Toyota Phil Parsons 71 Bobby Labonte Chevrolet Kevin Buckler 77 Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge Roger Penske 78 Regan Smith Chevrolet Richard Childress 82 Scott Speed Toyota Dietrich Mateschitz 83 Mattias Ekstrom Toyota Dietrich Mateschitz 87 Joe Nemechek Toyota Andrea Nemechek 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet Rick Hendrick 98 Paul Menard Ford George Gillett, Jr 99 Carl Edwards Ford Jack Roush 102 Brandon Ash Dodge Kenneth Wood 207 P.J. Jones Toyota Robby Gordon
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