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SPORTS Tuesday 25 april 2017

RAIN MAN

Jimmie Johnson celebrates his win of the Food City 500 auto race Monday, April 24, 2017, at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn.
Associated Press
Jimmie Johnson grabs rare Bristol win after Larson mishap

JENNA FRYER postponed a day by rain. a huge load off of your and Stewart-Haas Racing Jimmie and Clint were way
Associated Press “This track has been really shoulders,” said crew chief teammate Kevin Harvick faster than I was.
BRISTOL, Tenn. (AP) — It was difficult,” admitted John- Chad Knaus. “Being able was third. “They were over a straight-
just last month when peo- son, who last won at Bris- to come in here this week Matt Kenseth was the high- away ahead of us, I think,
ple were wondering what tol in 2007. But that Satur- confident, relaxed, we had est finishing Toyota driver at the checkered flag. Dis-
was wrong with Jimmie day find was “honestly, it’s a weekend off.” Johnson with a quiet fourth. Joey appointed in myself. I think
Johnson after he got off to what I’ve been looking for now has 82 career victories, Logano in a Ford was fifth I speed on pit road every
a slow start. for 16 years.” “We finally and is just one away from for Team Penske and Lar- single time I come to Bristol.
How silly it was to worry. figured it out. So, I’m very, tying Cale Yarborough for son rallied to sixth. He had So got to clean that up.”
Johnson grabbed a rare very happy,” he said. “I’ve sixth on the all-time wins list. been dropped to 29th in Chase Elliott finished sev-
victory at Bristol Motor loved this racetrack from Two more would put him the field after the penalty enth and the top 10 was
Speedway on Monday, afar ... and it’s been a jour- alongside Darrell Waltrip. and making it back to the rounded out by Martin
giving him consecutive ney since 2000 until now.” “That’s just mind-blowing,” top 10 was a victory in itself Truex Jr., Ricky Stenhouse
wins for the 11th time in his Johnson snapped his sea- Johnson said of his place in for Larson, who led a ca- Jr. and Denny Hamlin.
storied career. It was just son-starting slump on April 9 history. Johnson doesn’t like reer-high 202 laps. JUNIOR’S DAY
the second career win in at Texas Motor Speedway, Bristol, but had no trouble “I knew I gave the race Dale Earnhardt Jr. was run-
Thunder Valley for Johnson, NASCAR’s last event prior contending with Kyle Lar- away there,” Larson said ning 20th with just under
who considers it one of his to Monday. It ended any son, the points leader and of the speeding penalty. 300 laps remaining when
most vexing tracks. chatter that the seven-time most dominant driver of the “I was surprised that I was he wrecked during a re-
His Hendrick Motorsports and reigning champion day. A speeding penalty able to line up with an op- start after a mechanical is-
team hit on something dur- might not be up for a re- on Larson late in the race portunity there at the end. sue. He didn’t return to the
ing Saturday’s practice cord eighth title. allowed Johnson to make it I think even if I was able to track.
for his Chevrolet, and that “After securing a win last look easy in the end. Clint get to the lead, I don’t think Continued on Page 18
locked him in for the race week, it obviously takes Bowyer finished second I would have won because