Superman lives: Jimmie Johnson earns 77th win, passing Earnhardt
Superman has defeated every supervillain he’s ever faced, and more than a few heroes too. He’s beaten gods and monsters, demons and dictators. But he’s never beaten Jimmie Johnson … and the way Johnson wheels a car, even Superman would be at a disadvantage.
Johnson won his 77th career race on Sunday, capturing the Auto Club 400 after a late restart allowed him to slip around the otherwise-dominating Kevin Harvick. The win was Johnson’s second on the year and 77th for his career, passing Dale Earnhardt on the all-time Cup wins list.
The race marked the 14th time Johnson and Harvick have finished 1-2. Johnson has won the last nine of those, and now looks fully ready to make that charge for a seventh championship.
One driver ready to leave California behind in a hurry: Kyle Busch, who suffered another last-second tire failure on a second straight day. Saturday’s failure cost him a win in the Xfinity race; Sunday’s destroyed any chance of catching Harvick, and set up the restart where Johnson eventually claimed victory.
One of the race’s notable moments came shortly after halfway, when Kasey Kahne and Danica Patrick collided. Kahne appeared to turn down into Patrick, and she spun into the wall:
“I saw him chase me down the track,” Patrick said. “The next thing I know I’m getting spun up the track … I don’t know what kind of day he was having … I feel bad if he was that desperate being a lap down. He must be having a bad time.”
The series now takes off Easter weekend before heading to Martinsville.
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Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports and the author of EARNHARDT NATION. Contact him at [email protected] or find him on Twitter or on Facebook.
