UAW-GM Quality 500 - Jimmie Johnson Notes

Team 48 Lowe’s Motor Speedway Preview

Jimmie Johnson and Team 48 race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway Saturday night for the fifth of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series’ 10-race “Chase For The Championship.” Johnson’s 32nd-place finish Sunday at Kansas kept him ninth in the title race. Johnson trails leader Kurt Busch by 247 points. Johnson’s car will carry a special silver paint scheme Saturday in honor of Hendrick Motorsport’s 20th anniversary in NASCAR.

Johnson also makes his first return to the Busch Series since 2001 when he races on Friday in the “Lowe’s Presents The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie 300.” Johnson, winner of the 2001 Chicago Busch race, posted one of the fastest speeds in testing last month at LMS. Jimmie’s car will carry the SpongeBob SquarePants paint scheme while Hendrick teammate Kyle Busch will carry the paint scheme of SpongeBob’s buddy Patrick on his Lowe’s Chevrolet.

Jimmie Johnson:

POINTS SYSTEM: “I think you're going to see a different type of points racing take place for the years to come with this, I would assume with this points system staying in place. I wouldn't see it leaving. I've been against it. But, you know, in the big picture, it spreads the love out further throughout all the race teams. You have more people being focused on throughout the season, more exposure for everyone as a whole, which is only going to help our sport. So I see the positives to it. And knowing that, I know it's going to be around next year and for years to come. You're going to entirely change your season based on where you're at in points. If you're looking like a shoo-in for the cut, it's time to experiment, time to try, to do new things, recoup your guys, build that energy up, and get everybody up for that final 10 shoot-out so you can be the champion. I really think you're going to see things changing as time goes on.

RETURN TO BUSCH SERIES IN SPONGEBOB RACE ON FRIDAY: “That’s going to be a lot of fun. Having SpongeBob on the hood of your car is a lot of pressure. I know Kyle is going to have Patrick on his car so that should be a pretty interesting battle. My little brother is doing a kids race broadcast and I had to do an interview with him the other day. So it’s going to be something fun to do Friday night. With all the intensity in the “Chase For The Championship” getting to do something fun this weekend is kind of nice. Plus, as good as we tested there I think we have a decent shot of doing well. Hey if Joe Nemechek is going to sweep weekends why shouldn’t the rest of us try as well.”

TERRY LABONTE’S ANNOUNCEMENT THAT HE WILL RUN A REDUCED SCHEDULE IN 2005 & 2006: “Terry is an incredible driver and looking at how long he has been with Rick (Hendrick) says a lot. Even looking at Kellogg's and how long everyone has stuck together all these years is saying a lot about the kind of driver and person he is. You don't find that kind of relationship very often in our sport or any sport for that matter.”

RACE STATS

HENDRICK 20TH ANNIVERSARY PAINT SCHEME – Jimmie Johnson’s Lowe’s Monte Carlo along with the four other Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolets will sport a special silver paint scheme Saturday night in honor of Hendrick’s 20th Anniversary in NASCAR.

CHASSIS INFORMATION - Team Lowe’s Racing will bring car No 4859 to LMS this weekend. This car won there in May leading 334 of 400 laps. It has posted top-10 finishes at Atlanta, Texas and Michigan.

STATS & FACTS

Busch Info