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Although it was not glamorous, Jimmie Johnson now joins NASCAR’s greatest with his seventh championship after becoming the NASCAR Sprint Cup champion by winning the playoff race in Florida on Sunday. Johnson joins Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt Sr. as the only drivers to win seven championships in a career. Johnson led the race for only one lap–the last lap–but that got him the victory. Johnson had to beat Carl Edwards, Joey Logano and defending champion Kyle Busch to win the title, and he did just that. Johnson says he was calm and collected at the start of the final lap.
Witnessed history tonight. What an insane, phenomenal race!! This @Gatorade bath by the @LowesRacing guys was incredible. #se7en –@LizKreutz pic.twitter.com/CKTadQaEps
— Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) November 21, 2016
It took a little luck and a lot of focus for Johnson to pull this win off. Prior to the race on Thursday during Media Days, Johnson was ruled the least likely to win out of the four Chase finalists. In sixth place with 15 laps to go, it looked as though Johnson had no shot of pulling out of Homestead with a championship. However, luck was on Johnson’s side. With 10 laps to go, Kyle Edwards wrecked his car attempting to block Joey Logano and Johnson drove through the wreckage to take the lead.
Another accident lead to NASCAR’s version of overtime; a two-lap dash to the finish line. Johnson took the lead and never lost it, becoming the NASCAR Sprint Cup champion. Johnson gives all the credit for the win to his crew chief Chad Knaus.
#SE7EN!!! pic.twitter.com/tFUitLQDta
— Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) November 21, 2016
