Jimmie Johnson preview
TEAM LOWE'S RACING EAGER FOR RETURN TO MICHIGAN Johnson hopes to replicate his strong run in June race at MIS BROOKLYN, Mich. (August 14, 2002) - For the past few weeks, Team Lowe's Racing has been faced with a multitude of questions about its "falloff" from its strong first half performance. Yet, Team Lowe's Racing's rookie driver Jimmie Johnson is currently third overall in NASCAR Winston Cup points, a mere 56 points behind leader Sterling Marlin, and right on the heals of Mark Martin, just three points out of second place. Over the course of the last six races, the Pepsi 400 in Daytona through last weekend's Sirius Satellite at The Glen, Johnson has tallied the third-most points of any driver, posting five top-15, three top-10 and one top-five finish. For a rookie in the middle of the championship hunt this late in the season, those stats speak volumes to the success this team has had the entire season. Team Lowe's returns to Michigan International Speedway with hopes of bettering its 14th-place finish just two months ago. With the Lowe's Monte Carlo comfortably in second place with just five laps remaining, NASCAR official's red flagged the race because of an accident. Following the restart with just three laps to go, Johnson was forced to avoid making contact with another race car, shooting the Lowe's Chevy up the track and narrowly missing the wall in turn one. As a result, Team Lowe's lost its momentum and was forced to settle for a 14th place finish. Jimmie Johnson on Michigan International Speedway "Team Lowe's is looking forward to returning to there this weekend. We had a really good run there in June, and if it wasn't for the red flag at the end of the race, we would have had another top-five. We were able to lead a few laps during that race, and I was able to get a feel for the track in a Winston Cup race car. The Lowe's Monte Carlo should be as strong, if not stronger, as we were in June, and we're planning to be really competitive. "During my stockcar career, Michigan (MIS) has always been a good track for me. Besides the 14th-place finish we had in June, I don't think I've finished outside of the top-10 in my other races at the track, so I've always been fond of Michigan. This should be a good weekend for the Lowe's Team." Jimmie Johnson Fast Facts * Ranks third in the Winston Cup Series championship standings, 56 points out of first * Has won two NASCAR Winston Cup races this season (California and Dover) * Is tied for the fastest modern day driver to reach two wins * Has two wins, five top-five and 13 top-10 finishes in 22 races * Has been the highest finishing rookie 11 times this season * The 13 top-10 finishes are tied for the most in the Winston Cup Series (Las Vegas - 6th, Atlanta - 3rd, Darlington - 6th, Bristol - 7th, Texas - 6th, Talladega - 7th, California - 1st, Lowe's Motor Speedway - 7th, Dover - 1st, Pocono - 3rd, Daytona (Pepsi 400) - 8th, Chicagoland - 4th and Indianapolis - 9th) * Has three Bud Pole positions this season, second most in NASCAR Winston Cup (Daytona, Talladega and Lowe's Motor Speedway) * 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 * Holds the NWC qualifying record at Lowe's Motor Speedway * Has led eight Winston Cup Series races this season (Las Vegas, Talladega, California, Lowe's Motor Speedway, Dover, Michigan, Chicago and Pocono) * Won his first Winston Cup race of his career at California Speedway, his home racetrack Jimmie Johnson at Michigan International Speedway * In the Winston Cup Series, he has raced once and started 14th and finished 14th * In the Busch Series, 17th was his average qualifying position and 5th was his average finishing position * His record at Michigan International Speedway is: * NAPAonline.com 250 - 2000: Started 8th and finished 6th * NAPAonline.com 250 - 2001: Started 26th and finished 4th * Sirius Satellite Radio 400 - 2002: Started 14th and finished 14th No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet Fast Facts * Team Lowe's Racing will bring car 4853 * This is the same Lowe's Monte Carlo that Johnson drove during the last Michigan race, to victory lane in Fontana and his first career top-10 finish in Las Vegas (6th place finish) earlier this season Broadcast Schedule Qualifying - Friday, Aug. 16 3 p.m. (ET) on PEE 3 p.m. (ET) on MRN Race - Sunday, Aug. 18 1:30 p.m. (ET) on TNT 1:30 p.m. (ET) on MRN