Jimmie Johnson has dominated the track the bears his sponsor's name. Credit: Autostock

Johnson's success at LMS wasn't foreseeable

Lowe's demanded results of new driver, and things have paid off

CONCORD, N.C. -- Jeff Gordon and Rick Hendrick were anxious five years ago as they tried to convince former Lowe's CEO Bob Tillman to sponsor a young driver named Jimmie Johnson.

The anxiety increased when Tillman stared them in the eye and asked if Johnson could win in the Nextel Cup Series right away.

	Jimmie Johnson said he struggled with speed at LMS but qualified third for Sunday's race. Credit: Autostock
	COCA-COLA 600 •   1st Practice Speeds •   Complete Coverage •   TV Schedule Coca-Cola 600 Lineup Pos. Driver Speed 1. S. Riggs 187.865 mph 2. J. Mayfield 187.292 mph 3. J. Johnson 186.651 mph 4. J.J. Yeley 186.213 mph 5. B. Labonte 186.111 mph 6. M. Kenseth 186.021 mph 7. G. Biffle 185.912 mph 8. D. Hamlin 185.720 mph 9. K. Kahne 185.695 mph 10. J. Green 185.618 mph • Complete lineup, click here

"None of us really knew," said Gordon, the co-owner of Johnson's car. "But we said yes."

So did Johnson, although he stumbled to get the words out.

"I knew what to say in that instance, but I wasn't expecting a loaded gun to be pointed at my head," he said. "I'm glad I've been able to go out and back it up."

And then some.

Johnson enters Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 gunning for his fifth consecutive win and sixth in seven races on the track bearing the same name as his sponsor.

The 30-year-old California native will start third after Thursday's qualifying run at Lowe's Motor Speedway, which is a stone throw from Hendrick Motorsports.

But starting position really isn't important to Johnson at LMS. He won from a 37th starting spot in 2003, the pole in 2004 and several positions in between.

Track surface also doesn't appear to be a factor. Johnson won on the bumpy old surface in 2003 and 2004 and the smoother "levegated'' surface in 2005.

He won Saturday's Nextel All-Star Challenge on the newly paved surface that forced Goodyear to go with an extraordinarily hard tire and NASCAR to mandate smaller fuel cells.

"We've got a great track record here," said Johnson, who has 21 Cup wins since 2002. "You can't argue with that. The all-star event went really well for us and we brought that car back. We feel like we're a little smarter with this car. We understand it."

Jimmie Johnson won last weekend's all-star race. Credit: Autostock

Inside the Numbers Jimmie Johnson at LMS Year Start Finish Status 2001 15 39 crash 2002 1 7 running   3 6 running 2003 37 1 running   3 3 running 2004 1 1 running   9 1 running 2005 5 1 running   3 1 running Average 8.6 6.7 Note: Does not include all-star wins in 2003 and 2006 Victory LaneJimmie Johnson celebrates his All-Star Challenge win Final lapsJimmie Johnson holds off the field down the stretch Sign up for TrackPass now BUY THE NEXTEL i836

And most understand Johnson is the driver to beat.

"There's no question," said Kasey Kahne, who will start ninth. "He may not be there until 20 laps to go, but he'll be there at the end of the 600. That's just the way it is.

"The track is different now, but it still drives the same and you're still looking for the same kind of feeling, and Jimmie knows it and he gets it."

Matt Kenseth said Johnson's ability to win with all the surface changes makes his accomplishment "phenomenal."

"To change the track twice and still be the guy to beat is pretty amazing," he said.

Johnson's five LMS wins are one short of the track record shared by Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip, and tied with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. He's also won two of the last four all-star races.

"There is no doubt that he's got this place down," said Gordon, who has four LMS victories. "Anybody who puts a string of races together like they have ... From a competitor's side all you want to do is beat that string."

Five years ago, all Gordon wanted to do was hold his breath as Tillman pondered whether his company would back an unproven driver.

"I believed in Jimmie and in the organization that we could put together a strong team and that Jimmie was going to be a great driver," Gordon said. "I had no idea that he was going to do what he has done."

Neither did Hendrick.

"We were all nervous about that situation and Lowe's was in a situation where they wanted to win," he said. "It's good to see a company take a chance on a young guy and then have him do well."