Autos: Johnson accepts his role

It’s been almost five years since Jimmie Johnson finished lower than third at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., a streak spanning eight races – five of them victories at the track he calls “my house.”

All that success has irritated fans, who will undoubtedly boo Johnson if he finds his way to the winner’s circle in today’s Coca-Cola 600.

But the defending Nextel Cup champion is used to it, and doesn’t spend a minute fretting about his spot in the sport.

Johnson knows he’ll never be the most popular driver, or the sport’s biggest star. He gladly defers to Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart for those roles.

“I’ve never had that witty personality like Tony, you put him on the spot, wham, he’s got a response,” Johnson said. “Junior, he’s the same way. In a personal setting, he’s not as outgoing and he’s more reserved, but in the public persona, he’s God. And Jeff, he’s the veteran, with four championships he can say or do anything he wants.

“But me? I just go out there and try to do my best, do my job, and let the results speak for themselves.”

Ryan Newman will start on the pole for today’s race.

Notes

Dennis Setzer ran the entire rain-delayed Ohio 250 without a pit stop to earn a NASCAR Truck Series victory at Mansfield Motorsport Park in Mansfield, Ohio. Jack Sprague took second followed by Ken Schrader. … Fernando Alonso was fastest in qualifying and will start today’s Monaco Grand Prix in Monte Carlo, Monaco, ahead of Lewis Hamilton, who leads the standings. … Kasey Kahne raced to his first victory of the season, pulling away on a late restart to win the Busch Series race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. Casey Mears was second. Clint Bowyer was third and was followed by Jeff Burton, Regan Smith, Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch as Cup drivers took the top eight spots.