Race 2 Win: Checker Auto Parts 500 - WIX Filters Lap Leader Notes

Nextel Cup Series

WIX FILTERS LAP LEADER NOTES FOR THE CHECKER AUTO PARTS 500 NASCAR NEXTEL CUP SERIES RACE AT PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2006.

Jimmie Johnson led three times for 28 laps to win the WIX Filters Lap Leader of the Race award in the Checker Auto Parts 500. Johnson claimed the honor for the third time this season. He has now led 52 times in 17 races for a total of 852 laps.

Johnson finished second in today’s race, .250 seconds behind race winner Kevin Harvick.

Johnson leads the NEXTEL Cup Series championship standings by 63 points over Matt Kenseth entering the final race of the season next week at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway. He will clinch the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series championship with a 12th-place finish.

Johnson has led at least one lap in each of the last SEVEN consecutive races.

JOHNSON QUOTES: “We had a good day. We finished second and led some laps and won the WIX Filters Lap Leader Award. We’re happy. We had a great race car. I had a lot of confidence over the last couple of days after our qualifying effort knowing that we would be able to race strong today. We had a bad draw in qualifying and paid the price for that, but I took my time to drive a smart race and get up through the field and race for the win at the end.”

WIX FILTERS LAP LEADER AWARD STANDINGS
Tony Stewart 7 
Greg Biffle 5
Matt Kenseth 4
Jeff Gordon 3
Jeff Burton 3
Kasey Kahne 3
Jimmie Johnson 3
Denny Hamlin 2 
Kyle Busch 2
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2 
Jamie McMurray 1 

WIX FILTERS LAP LEADER AWARD WINNERS BY RACE 
EVENT DRIVER
Daytona 500 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (32 laps)
Auto Club 500 Greg Biffle (168 laps)
UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 Matt Kenseth (146 laps)
Golden Corral 500 Greg Biffle (128 laps)
Food City 500 Tony Stewart (245 laps)
DIRECTV 500 Tony Stewart (288 laps)
Samsung/RadioShack 500 Tony Stewart (99 laps)
Subway Fresh 500 Greg Biffle (151 laps) 
Aaron’s 499 Jeff Gordon (62 laps)
Crown Royal 400 Greg Biffle (54 laps)
Dodge Charger 500 Greg Biffle (170 laps)
Coca-Cola 600 Kasey Kahne (158 laps) 
Neighborhood Excellence 400 Jamie McMurray (95 laps)
Pocono 500 Denny Hamlin (83 laps)
3M Performance 400 Jeff Gordon (50 laps)
Dodge/Save Mart 350 Jeff Gordon (44 laps)
Pepsi 400 Tony Stewart (86 laps)
USG Sheetrock 400 Matt Kenseth (112 laps) 
Lenox Industrial Tools 300 Kyle Busch (107 laps)
Pennsylvania 500 Denny Hamlin (151 laps)
Allstate 400 at the Brickyard Jeff Burton (87 laps)
AMD at the Glen Tony Stewart (seven laps)
GFS Marketplace 400 Matt Kenseth (87 laps)
Sharpie 500 Jeff Burton (263 laps)
Sony HD 500 Kasey Kahne (130 laps)
Chevy Rock & Roll 400 Kyle Busch (248 laps)
Sylvania 300 Jeff Burton (52 laps)
Dover 400 Matt Kenseth (215 laps)
Banquet 400 Jimmie Johnson (105 laps)
UAW-Ford 500 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (37 laps)
Bank of America 500 Kasey Kahne (134 laps)
Subway 500 Jimmie Johnson (245 laps)
Bass Pro Shops 500 Tony Stewart (146 laps) 
Dickies 500 Tony Stewart (278 laps)
Checker Auto Parts 500 Jimmie Johnson (28 laps)