Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports Again Looking For Auto Club Speedway Rebound

Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet) didn’t win last Sunday’s 51st Daytona 500.

In fact, the three-time and reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion didn’t come close, finishing 31st, the last driver on the lead lap behind eventual winner Matt Kenseth

But if you think that sounds an ominous note for 2009, don’t.

Since winning the 2006 Daytona 500, Johnson has finishes of 39th (2007) and 27th (2008) to pair with last week’s 31st. He also has three consecutive series titles from 2006-08, which mitigates the string of poor Daytona results.

“We knew that we weren’t up to speed then,” Johnson said of last season’s slow start. “We were trying to work on it and correct it then when we knew we were off.

“This year, we don’t have a clue. We haven’t tested. My fingers are crossed, but I have to have the mindset that we’re going to be off and just go to Fontana and learn from there.”

At least there’s consolation in a crowd: Johnson won’t be the only Hendrick Motorsports driver seeking a post-Daytona rebound.

Teammates Mark Martin (No. 5 CARQUEST/Kellogg’s Chevrolet), Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet) didn’t score their expected finishes, either.

Gordon, who won the first Gatorade Duel qualifying race last Thursday, finished 13th last Sunday. Martin, who started on the outside pole at Daytona, finished 16th.

Earnhardt’s eventful day on pit road and on the track led to a 27th-place finish, with Johnson’s 31st rounding out organizational frustration.

Auto Club Speedway could provide the perfect panacea, however.

Rick Hendrick leads all owners with seven wins there. Gordon and Johnson lead all drivers with three wins each at Auto Club. They also lead all drivers with eight top-10 finishes each there.

Johnson’s numbers are particularly luminous — three wins, one pole (Sept. 2007), four runner-up finishes and one third-place finish.

He’s also the most recent Auto Club Speedway winner, having captured the event there last August en route to his third consecutive title.

That win, the third of seven in 2008, saw Johnson finish with a perfect Driver Rating of 150.0, only the seventh perfect rating since the stat’s 2005 debut. He also led 228 of 250 laps and had an Average Running Position of 1.2.