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LOUDON, N.H. -- Jimmie Johnson is no stranger to tire issues at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, running just 11 laps last summer in the July race at the "Magic Mile" before exiting early for two blown Goodyears.
The cut tire he endured two-thirds of the way through Sunday's Sylvania 300 could've put the six-time Sprint Cup Series champion in a dire situation heading into the final race of the opening round of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup -- but it didn't.
The Hendrick Motorsports driver battled back from 23rd after the flat to regain his position on the lead lap -- despite three cars being ahead of him for the beneficiary position -- to muster an impressive sixth-place finish.
"Yeah, it was really weird ... I went into Turn 3 and got on the brakes and the car traveled and slowed down," Johnson said on pit road after the race. "It felt like something broke in the left-front, but they said there was a lug nut inside the wheel. I guess when I hit the brakes to slow down, a lug nut hit the valve stem and took the tire out.
"Fortunately some cautions fell in quick order to let us get back on the lead lap. We had a solid car and got up there to ninth or something and some guys ran out of fuel and got us to sixth. ... We had to deal with a lot of adversity today and overcame and got a great finish."
Johnson now sits in fifth place among Chase drivers -- third among those who haven't clinched a berth to the Contender Round via a victory -- as the series heads to his best track, Dover International Speedway.
Winner of four of the past seven races and a record 10 overall at the "Monster Mile," Johnson should have little problem advancing to the next round as long as he can stay out of trouble.
That said, with defending champion Kevin Harvick in 15th place and likely in need of a victory to move on, it would behoove "Six-Time" to keep his foot to the floor and do what he does best at Dover -- win.
"You can't put your guard down. You've got to go in and race," Johnson said. "Dover is a great track for us. A victory could be a huge shot in the arm for our team and really get some good momentum going for us.
"We'll go there and give 100 percent and hopefully it's a trophy; if not, hopefully it's an advancement to the next round."