Chevy Driver Johnson Passes Racing Legend Earnhardt Sr. on NASCAR’s All-Time Wins List
Jimmie Johnson never had the chance to go head-to-head with Dale Earnhardt Sr. on the racetrack
Photo: © Darryl Moran
While seven-time NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt Sr. currently still has more titles than Jimmie Johnson, it can no longer be said that he won more races than the driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet SS.
Fellow Team Chevy driver Kevin Harvick led the most laps during Sunday’s race at Fontana. For a while, it appeared he was going to win his second consecutive event, but a late crash by defending Sprint Cup Series champion Kyle Busch brought out a caution and forced overtime. With the entire field bunched back together, Johnson took advantage and drove his Chevy racecar underneath’s Harvick’s with only two laps to go, and Johnson coasted the rest of the way to pick up his second win of the 2016 season.
Johnson’s Chevy sported a special Superman-inspired paint job meant to promote the upcoming movie Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Johnson even wore a Superman cape as he celebrated with his racing team in victory lane.
Johnson told reporters after the race that he wasn’t sure if he was going to be able to pass Harvick, but that he and his team, “Saved the best for last.”
Harvick held on for a second-place finish, followed by Dayton 500 winner Denny Hamlin in third. Drivers Joey Logano and Rick Stenhouse Jr. rounded out the top five, while fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. came in 11th place.
Johnson previously said that tying Earnhardt Sr. in career victories was special for him since he never got to race against him directly, so it gave him his own personal connection to the NASCAR legend.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will resume on April 3rd when the drivers will be circling Martinsville Speedway. The race is schedule to begin at 1 pm ET and will be broadcast on FS1.
Video: Jimmie Johnson Wins 77th Career Race
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