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The winningest driver at Dover International Speedway in NASCAR history started Sunday’s race from the rear of the field — and won anyway.
Hendrick Motorsports’ Jimmie Johnson, who had won 10 races at the 1-mile concrete oval coming into Sunday, moved to the back for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race. His team changed a rear gear in the No. 48 Chevrolet on Sunday morning.
Johnson had qualified 14th.
A seven-time Monster Energy Series champion, Johnson has proven in the past his ability to charge through the entire field and still contend for a victory. He demonstrated that again at Dover, notching his 11th win at the track in a frenetic finish that saw him pass race leader Kyle Larson on the final NASCAR Overtime restart.
Johnson led just seven laps, but he ran in the top five all day — once he got up there — and outdueled Larson and series points leader Martin Truex Jr. for his third victory of the year and 83rd of his career.