Subscibe to our feedJimmie Johnson takes on Lowe's Motor Speedway
It’s race time at Lowe’s Motor Speedway and Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 team are ready for some under-the-light action as they look to Saturday night’s Sprint All-Star Challenge.
Johnson finished fourth in last year’s non-points event and has one the race twice, in 2003 and 2006. This year’s field will include 22 drivers, consisting of
2008/2009 race winners, past champions, two transfers from the All-Star Open and the winner of the fan vote
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Johnson says that’s just about right.
"It's an all-star event so in my opinion you need to do something exceptional to get into it,” said the three-time Sprint Cup champion. “I think our system now works. There's a high car count so that's exciting. But in my opinion, it's a little forgiving. I think that you've got to make it special and unique. We have fan votes, which is a good thing; we need to have the fans involved. But it is pretty forgiving on how people are able to get into the show."
The All-Star format consists of one 50-lap s
egment with a mandatory green-flag pit stop on Lap 25, at which time teams must pit and take on four tires. Following the first segment, the caution flag will be displayed for an optional pit stop. Next are two 20-lap segments, with a caution flag and optional pit stop after segment two and a 10-minut break following segment three. The final segment is a 10-lap shootout where only green flags count.
Qualifying for the event, which takes place Friday night, will be three laps, including a four-tire pit stop.
But before the Lowe’s pit crew can start looking toward Saturday’s race, it must face other Sprint Cup crews in Thursday night’s pit crew competition.
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It's definitely a team-building opportunity,” said Johnson. “The guys have been working real hard on the techniques needed for that particular event, which is unlike a normal pit stop as we all know. So they're trying to figure out exactly how to shave time and the steps and techniques; the way they push the car and the points and how they push the car across the finish line, I guess, in that respect. They're working hard on it. I certainly hope our guys can come through and win the thing.”
Thursday’s NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge will be broadcast on SPEED beginning at 9 p.m. The Sprint All-Star events will be broadcast on SPEED beginning with the All-Star Open at 7 p.m Saturday night.
RACE NOTES
Lowe’s Motor Speedway – All-Star Events
In seven All-Star Race starts, Johnson has collected six top-five finishes, including two victories (2003, 2006).
Chassis
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Johnson has driven primary chassis No. 502 five times in his Sprint Cup Series career. He last piloted the machine to a ninth-place finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway in March.
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Johnson finished 13th at Darlington last year in the backup chassis, No. 465.
NEWS & NOTES
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Jimmie Johnson, Chad Knaus and special Lowe’s representatives will announce Memorial Day plans
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Friday, May 15 at 4 p.m. at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway media center auditorium.
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In honor of the Memorial Day holiday, LowesRacing.com is offering fans the opportunity to thank the military members who mean the most to them. Fans can submit photographs and stories of themselves, friends or family serving our country on the site. Visit lowesracing.com now through June 1 to submit pictures and stories (150 words maximum).