NASCAR SNCS (DAYTONA) - IN THE LOOP

Johnson Laps The Field At LMS

During Saturday night’s Bank of America 500, the top 12 might need to guard more against the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series’ second-place driver than the first-place one.

If they’re not careful, Jimmie Johnson could use Lowe’s Motor Speedway – a place he’s turned into his personal playground – to vault to the top of the standings and stay there until the Champion’s Banquet in New York City.

With five career LMS wins and two runner-up finishes in 2006, Johnson has racked up easily the most impressive stats at the 1.5-mile Concord track.

Since 2005, Johnson’s the only driver in the series with an average Driver Rating above 100 (121.0), the only one with an Average Running Position under 10 (7.5) and the only one who has spent more than 80% of the total laps run at LMS in the top 15 (89.6%).

Stewart and Bowyer have also struggled at LMS since 2005 (or 2006 in Bowyer’s case). In the four LMS races prior to his sixth-place finish this May, Stewart failed to crack the top 10: