NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
AUTO CLUB 400
AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY POST RACE NOTES AND QUOTES
MARCH 20, 2016
JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S/SUPERMAN CHEVROLET SS – RACE WINNER
WALK US THROUGH THAT INCREDIBLE RESTART AND HOW YOU SET-UP KEVIN HARVICK:
“Man, this is cool. First off all I ‘hi’ to my family at home, I can’t wait to see you guys. I knew we had great car and that caution fell at a bad time the run before. I just didn’t have the tires on the car to race with those guys. To go there at the end and have good tires on the car, Harvick and I got by I guess Joey there at the start. I got a great run off of Turn 2 and I thought ‘man I’ve got a shot at this thing’. Which I didn’t expect to have, Harvick has been so fast. I cleared him and kind of got away. We saved our best for last for sure. I told everybody Superman kicked Batman’s butt and it happened. I’m very thankful for Lowe’s and the amazing relationship we have had over the years, Chevrolet, everybody at Hendrick Motorsports, this is going to be a good time.”
WHAT KIND OF STATEMENT DOES THIS SEND TO THE OTHER COMPETITORS KNOW THE PACKAGE WE ARE COMPETING WITH NOW AND HOW WELL YOU HAVE STARTED THE YEAR?
“I mean it might send a statement. It’s a long year. We need to keep doing this all year long, especially late in the season. Right now this Lowe’s Chevrolet is awfully fast and a lot of fun to drive.”
ON THE LAST RESTART:
“The caution kind of fell at a bad time when we hit pit road two stops from the end. I just didn’t have anything for those guys on a lap or two fresher tires. We got a little disappointed in that, but still worked our way towards the top five. An amazing pit stop on pit road got me right there in contention. An awesome start with the No. 4 and myself getting going. I got a great run off of Turn 2 down the back and at that point I thought I had a good shot at it. I cleared him in (Turns) 3 and 4 and just had to bring it back at that point. We had our best at the last there and really strong on the short run which wasn’t necessarily our strong suit earlier in the day. Chad (Knaus, crew chief) made some great adjustments there to get me tuned up for that dash at the end.”
YOU ARE NOW SEVENTH ON THE ALL-TIME NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES WIN LIST PASSING DALE EARNHARDT WHAT ALL DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU?
“Man, it’s hard to believe. I grew up out in the desert as a desert rat having fun and going to the river a little bit and having some fun over there too. To have those early childhood memories kind of shape me into the racer I am today and to be here in Victory Lane is pretty awesome.”