MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
O’REILLY AUTO PARTS 500
TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER RACE NOTES & QUOTES
APRIL 9, 2017
JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S CHEVROLET SS – Race Winner:
THEY SAY EVERYTHING IS BIGGER IN TEXAS. HOW BIG WAS THIS WIN?
“I guess I remembered how to drive; and I guess this team remembered how to do it! I’m just real proud of this team. What a tough track and tough conditions. We were really in our wheelhouse and we were just able to execute all day. Thanks to everybody at Lowe’s and Chevy and the fans and a ton of sponsors. Oh, it was hot in there. I got cooked in the car today. I didn’t have any fluids so I’m not feeling the best, but we got into Victory Lane. I’m so proud of the fight in this race team. I can’t wait to celebrate during this off-weekend with my family and friends and really enjoy this.”
YOU WENT THROUGH THE ADVERSITY OF SPINNING IN QUALIFYING AND HAD TO START IN THE BACK OF THE FIELD TODAY. AT WHAT POINT DID YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAD SOMETHING AND COULD POSSIBLY WIN THIS ONE TODAY?
“Oh, probably on the second or third run I knew we were in good shape. From there, off we went. It was so tough those first 23 laps in traffic. The air was very turbulent, the track wasn’t very clean, and just the way it finished now, I think we could start with what I could show. It will just take a little time for this track to age. It’s nothing out of the ordinary. But, it was an awesome day for this Lowe’s team. A big thank you to all the employees at Lowe’s. If you’re not busy this afternoon, head over to Lowe’s and pick up some stuff for your house and let’s celebrate.”