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| Jimmie Johnson is 8/1 to win All-Star Race Saturday night. |
"This race is all about the money – no points on the line. It’s usually a crazy night and a fun night where the pit crews get a chance to be in the spotlight more than usual, as well. Last year we were leading on the final restart and our strategy didn’t work out. There are a few different rules for this one, so I am sure (No. 48 team crew chief) Chad (Knaus) will come up with something good.”
ALL-STAR STATS: According to NASCAR’s loop data, Jimmie Johnson has the second-best driver rating in the All-Star Race with a score of 96.5. The driver rating is a formula that combines wins, top-15 finishes, average running position while on the lead lap, average speed under green, fastest lap, most laps led and lead-lap finishes. The maximum a driver can earn in each race is 150 points.
FOUR TIMES AN ALL-STAR: Johnson has won the storied All-Star Race a record four times. His first win came in 2003 when the race was called “The Winston.” He won again in 2006 before earning back-to-back wins in 2012 and 2013. Last year at the event, Johnson and No. 48 team crew chief Chad Knaus tried strategy to win but ultimately finished 12th.
ALL -STAR INDICATOR?: Johnson is one of only two drivers to have ever won consecutive All-Star events, joining Davey Allison with the accolade. He is also one of just five drivers who have won the All-Star Race and the NASCAR Cup Series championship in the same year.
BACK-TO-BACK WINNERS: Johnson is one of seven drivers to have accomplished the feat of winning the All-Star Race and going on to win the 600-mile event at Charlotte Motor Speedway the following weekend. Johnson won the 2003 All-Star race and backed it up with his first win in the 600 the very next weekend.
RON MALEC PRESENTED WITH BRIAN LUNNISS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Mechanix Wear recently announced No. 48 team car chief Ron Malec is the 2017 recipient of the Brian Lunniss Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is given to mechanics in motor sports who demonstrate remarkable achievements during their career. The inaugural award in 2016 was given to Lunniss himself, making Malec the first person to take home the honor other than the award’s namesake. For more information, click here.
CLIMBING MT. MITCHELL: On Monday morning, Johnson and a few others from the NASCAR garage cycling community participated in the “Assault on Mt. Mitchell” race. Johnson completed the 102.7-mile cycling event that started in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and finished at Mt. Mitchell in 6:01:36 – besting his time from last year by almost 29 minutes. The elevation gain was 11,492 feet and Johnson took to Twitter afterwards thanking the race coordinators for such a "challenge." He placed 30th overall out of 531 cyclists.
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