Johnson wins for 10th time at Dover

DOVER, Del. – Jimmie Johnson took the congratulatory call from his boss, then flipped the phone for a selfie.

The six-time series champ and crew chief Chad Knaus sandwiched the 60-pound trophy and smiled for a familiar photo.

“You’ve only got 10 of ’em,” a fan yelled at the victory lane celebration.

Johnson said: “We’ll keep them coming!”

Johnson had already mastered the Monster Mile like no other driver. His latest win earned him a slice of NASCAR history that etched his name in the same class as five Hall of Fame drivers.

With his No. 48 Chevrolet on cold tires, Johnson got hot down the stretch Sunday to win at Dover International Speedway and become the fifth driver with 10 or more Sprint Cup victories at a single track.

“It was cool to have a track that I enjoyed so much turn into a track I could win at,” Johnson said. “We’ve been able to keep that feeling going for a lot of years.”

Unlike his other nine Dover wins when he led at least 175 laps in each race, Johnson led only 23 laps for this 10th victory. Johnson has 10 wins in 27 career starts on the concrete mile track. He needed five extra laps beyond the scheduled 400 because a late accident brought out the caution.

He has four wins this season, 74 in his career and has won at least four times in a season 11 times.

On deck, Johnson could catch Dale Earnhardt for seventh on the career wins list with 76.

“It’s right there in front of me, so I look at it and think, wow, this is incredible,” Johnson said. “Yes, it’s a priority for me and something I want to do. But I’m almost in shock that we’re there. Seventy-four race wins, 10 here, you can’t dream that big.”

Johnson drank a beer in victory lane and took a quick call from team owner Rick Hendrick.

“I know what I’m capable of and felt just fine doing it,” Johnson said. “And, I’ve got a great rhythm. I’ve got great support at home.”

No active driver owns a track like Johnson does Dover.

Johnson joined NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty (Martinsville-15, North Wilkesboro-15, Richmond-13, Rockingham-11, Daytona-10), Darrell Waltrip (Bristol-12, Martinsville-11, North Wilkesboro-10), Earnhardt (Talladega-10) and David Pearson (Darlington-10) as drivers to win 10 races at a single track.

The Hendrick Motorsports driver swept Dover in 2002 and 2009 and also won races in 2005, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Kevin Harvick was second, followed by Kyle Larson, Kasey Kahne and Aric Almirola.