Jimmie Johnson continued his recent domination of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Texas Motor Speedway Saturday night, rallying after a late pit stop for a victory in the 19th annual Duck Commander 500.
Johnson, the six-time NSCS champion, took the lead on Lap 321 of the scheduled 334 when he drove under and past Jamie McMurray exiting the dogleg of TMS’ high-banked, 1.5-mile quad-oval. The final 14 laps turned into a battle between Johnson and reigning NSCS champion Kevin Harvick, who finished second despite scraping the Turn 4 wall on Lap 331. Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Lowe’s Pro Services Chevrolet SS, finished 1.108-seconds ahead of Harvick and his No. 4 Budweiser/Jimmy John’s Chevrolet SS.
Johnson scored his fifth win at TMS and third in his last six starts. But it was Johnson’s first win in the spring event.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., Johnson’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate, finished third in his No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet SS. Joey Logano, last year’s spring race winner here and the reigning Daytona 500 champion, finished fourth in the No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford Fusion. Brad Keselowski, Logano’s Team Penske shopmate, finished fifth in the No. 2 Miller Lite Ford.
Johnson led a race-high 128 laps to become the third driver to record wins in the spring and fall races at Texas, joining Denny Hamlin and Carl Edwards, both of Joe Gibbs Racing.