Jimmie Johnson Preview -- Coca-Cola 600
CONCORD, N.C. (May 21, 2002) -- Jimmie Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse Chevrolet, is hoping that Saturday night's The Winston performance was a preview as to how well the No. 48 Lowe's Power of Pride race car will perform during Sunday's Coca-Cola 600, the longest race of the season, at its home track, Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. This season continues to exceed expectations for Johnson and Team Lowe's Racing. Johnson was the fourth fastest driver ever to win a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race in his career. Heading into Sunday's race, Johnson is seventh overall in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship standings, just 32 points out of third place. Johnson continues to lead the Raybestos Rookie of the Year competition by 17 points. Lowe's Motor Speedway is one of the three race tracks that Johnson has Winston Cup experience on. As an introduction to Winston Cup racing, Hendrick Motorsports and Lowe's had Johnson run three races last season, one being the fall race at Lowe's Motor Speedway. He qualified 15th for the race and ran in the top-five for much of the afternoon until engine trouble ended the Lowe's team's day early. Johnson went on to finish 39th. Jimmie Johnson Fast Facts * Ranks seventh in the Winston Cup Series Championship standings * Leads the Raybestos Rookie of the Year competition by 17 points (167-150) * Won his first Winston Cup race this season at California Speedway, his home racetrack * Has one win, two top-five and seven top-10 finishes * The seven top-10 finishes are tied for second most in the Winston Cup Series (Las Vegas - 6th, Atlanta - 3rd, Darlington - 6th, Bristol - 7th, Texas - 6th, Talladega - 7th and California - 1st) * Has two Bud Pole positions this season -- Daytona and Talladega * Is 10th in overall miles lead this season (154.28 laps) * Only the third rookie in history to win the Daytona 500 pole * Only the second rookie in history to win a pole at Talladega Superspeedway * Has led three Winston Cup Series races this season (Las Vegas, Talladega and California) * Won the first two segments of the 2002 The Winston * Won the inaugural NASCAR Busch Series event at Chicagoland Speedway in 2001 Jimmie Johnson at Lowe's Motor Speedway * His Winston Cup Series record at Lowe's Motor Speedway is: -- UAW-GM Quality 500 - 2001: started 15th and finished 39th * In the Busch Series, 19th was his average qualifying position and 20th was his average finishing position * His Busch Series record at Lowe's Motor Speedway is: -- CarQuest Auto Parts 300 - 2001: started 8th and finished 16th; 2000: started 43rd and finished 16th -- Little Trees/All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300 - 2001: started 16th and finished 22nd; 2000: started 11th and finished 28th No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet Fast Facts * Team Lowe's Racing will bring car 4868 * This is the same race car that won the first two segments of this year's The Winston and finished fifth overall. Jimmie Johnson on what is it like to race at Lowe's Motor Speedway "Lowe's Motor Speedway is one of my favorite tracks we race on. Granted we have a great home field advantage there with it being our home track and all, but we've always run well there in the past. In one of the three Winston Cup races we ran last season, I qualified in the top-15 and was running up front most of the day until we had some problems with the race car. In the 2001 Busch season, I qualified well there, especially in the Spring race, and I've always seemed to be competitive at Lowe's. "Last weekend in The Winston, the Lowe's Power of Pride Chevy was tremendous and we were able to win the first two segments of the race. We'll be using the same race car as we did in The Winston; it's the first Lowe's Chevy that Chad (Knaus) has built this season and I couldn't ask for a better race car. The entire Lowe's team is looking forward to getting back on our home track this weekend and running well for our fans." Broadcast Schedule Qualifying - Thursday, May 23 7 p.m. (ET) on FX 7 p.m. (ET) on PRN Race - Sunday, May 26 5 p.m. (ET) on FOX 4:45 p.m. (ET) on PRN