Jimmie Johnson Snags Atlanta Race In OT For 76th Career Win

Jimmie Johnson celebrated another victory on Sunday. The No. 48 Chevrolet SS driver used pit strategy and a late yellow to claim the 76th win of his career, pulling even with the late Dale Earnhardt on the NASCAR career list. Only six drivers have won more.

Jimmie Johnson Snags Atlanta Race In OT For 76th Career Win

“This is special for sure,” said Johnson, who began his Cup career shortly after Earnhardt was killed in a wreck on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500. “There was a big void in my mind not having a chance to race against him. I was literally a handful of months away from having the opportunity. To tie him today, for me personally, gives me a little bit of attachment to the great Dale Earnhardt.”

Teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr., Earnhardt’s son, was the runner-up. “If he’s gonna tie that record, I’m certainly glad I got to run second,” Junior said. “I think my dad would’ve thought the world of him.”

At first, Kevin Harvick led 131 laps, but lost the lead after making his last green-flag pit stop nine laps after Johnson. Johnson then ended up with about a 14-second lead, but quickly watched it disappear as Harvick chased newer tires.

Johnson credited crew chief Chad Knaus for calling the early pit stop, a strategy that allowed him to get past Harvick following the only crash of the day, which took out four cars on the backstretch.

“It was definitely a gutsy call,” Johnson said. “The 4 car (Harvick) was awfully tough. It was going to take strategy to get by him.”

The race proved to be another Atlanta heartache for Harvick, who ended up placing a disappointing sixth, which did not reflect the way he ran most of the race.

The first 210 laps of the race were run under green before a yellow came out for debris on the track.

The victory also marked Johnson’s fifth Cup victory in Atlanta.

Kyle Busch, who posted the fastest time in qualifying but had to start from the back of the field after his car failed inspection, rallied to take third — just ahead of his brother Kurt.

Matt Kenseth also received a two-lap penalty for illegal fueling: a crew member was caught placing a wedge wrench on the deck lid of the No. 20 car during fueling, a violation of the rule that prohibits the fueler from performing “any adjustments or other pit stop procedures while the fuel can coupler is engaged.”

Caption: HAMPTON, GA – FEBRUARY 28: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, races during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on February 28, 2016 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)