It’s still early, but seeing his name absent from the top 12 must be a growing concern for three-time defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson.
There’s good news and bad news for Johnson where his points position is concerned.
The good news: It’s nothing new. After four races last year, he was 13th in points. This season, he is again in 13th after four races.
Also, his performances have been strong despite lackluster finishes. In the last three races, Johnson has scored a Driver Rating above 100.0, though his best finish is just ninth.
The bad news: Johnson may need to wait yet another week before returning to the top 12.
Johnson, usually brilliant anywhere he races, has struggled at Bristol Motor Speedway, the site of Sunday’s Food City 500.
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His last four Bristol finishes have been outside the top 10, and four of his last seven have been outside the top 20.
Statistically, Bristol is one of his worst tracks. In terms of average finish, it’s his fourth worst track. Johnson has an average Bristol finish of just 17.4. Only at Richmond (17.5), Infineon Raceway (19.3) and Indianapolis (20.3) is Johnson worse.
But in terms of Driver Rating, Bristol is Johnson’s worst track. Johnson has a Bristol Driver Rating of 73.0, which ranks 17th in the series. At only one other track does Johnson have a Driver Rating lower than 80.0 – Infineon (75.2).
One more piece of good news, though. After Bristol comes Martinsville, a track at which Johnson has won four of the last five races.
Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford)
• Four top fives, seven top 10s
• Average finish of 9.8
• Average Running Position of 11.0, fourth-best
• Driver Rating of 100.7, fifth-best
• 185 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most
• 257 Green Flag Passes, fourth-most
• Average Green Flag Speed of 114.300 mph, third-fastest
• 3,176 Laps in the Top 15 (79.2%), fourth-most
• Series-high 166 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green)
Kyle Busch (No. 18 Snickers Toyota)
• One win, three top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 12.5
• Average Running Position of 14.8, 11th-best
• Driver Rating of 97.4, sixth-best
• Series-high 254 Fastest Laps Run
• 242 Green Flag Passes, seventh-most
• Average Green Flag Speed of 114.236 mph, seventh-fastest
• 2,403 Laps in the Top 15, 59.9%, 10th-most
• 140 Quality Passes, sixth-most
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet)
• One win, seven top fives, 10 top 10s
• Average finish of 11.7
• Average Running Position of 13.6, seventh-best
• Driver Rating of 91.3, ninth-best
• 88 Fastest Laps Run, 14th-most
• Series-high 317 Green Flag Passes
• Average Green Flag Speed of 114.084 mph, eighth-fastest
• 2,614 Laps in the Top 15 (65.2%), seventh-most
• 146 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), fourth-most
Carl Edwards (No. 99 Aflac Ford)
• Two wins, three top fives, four top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 11.6
• Average Running Position of 13.2, sixth-most
• Driver Rating of 92.0, eighth-best
• 211 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
• 2,724 Laps in the Top 15 (67.9%), fifth-most
Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
• Five wins, 13 top fives, 19 top 10s; five poles
• Average finish of 11.5
• Series-best Average Running Position of 8.2
• Driver Rating of 103.2, third-best
• 145 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most
• Average Green Flag Speed of 114.276 mph, sixth-fastest
• 3,454 Laps in the Top 15 (86.1%), second-most
• 148 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), second-most
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Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Chevrolet)
• One top five, three top 10s
• Average finish of 14.3
• Average Running Position of 13.8, eighth-best
• Driver Rating of 96.4, seventh-best
• 179 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most
• Average Green Flag Speed of 114.365 mph, second-fastest
• 2,097 Laps in the Top 15 (69.7%), fifth-best percentage
Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet)
• One win, nine top fives, 11 top 10s
• Average finish of 9.6
• Average Running Position of 9.7, third-best
• Driver Rating of 103.7, second-best
• 165 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most
• 235 Green Flag Passes, eighth-most
• Series-fastest Average Green Flag Speed of 114.367 mph
• 3,243 Laps in the Top 15 (80.9%), third-most
• 147 Quality Passes, third-most
Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford)
• Two wins, seven top fives, 11 top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 12.2
• Average Running Position of 8.4, second-best
• Series-best Driver Rating of 105.5
• 223 Fastest Laps Run, second-most
• Average Green Flag Speed of 114.287 mph, fifth-fastest
• Series-high 3,534 Laps in the Top 15 (88.1%)
• 135 Quality Passes, eighth-most
Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot Toyota)
• One win, five top fives, seven top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 16.4
• Average Running Position of 11.2, fifth-best
• Driver Rating of 102.3, fourth-best
• 208 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most
• 2,715 Laps in the Top 15 (67.7%), sixth-most
• 143 Quality Passes, fifth-most
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