Jimmie Johnson: "We are getting our cars going the right way"

That Johnson – who owns 11 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victories at Dover (Del.) International Speedway – was in the mix for a win shouldn’t come as a surprise, but it was a welcome change from the summer months during which he and his No. 48 Chevrolet team struggled to find speed.

There has been an air of inevitability surrounding Johnson entering the playoffs, even if he and his team were struggling. He is after all a seven-time series champion and only last season seemed to save his best for late in the playoffs when he went on to collect his seventh championship.

“I think when we unloaded on Friday, we realized how much speed all of our Hendrick cars had,” said Johnson, who finished third in Sunday’s Apache Warrior 400. “As we look back over the summer, it just seems like tracks with more banking, our combination works well, and we were able to exploit that this weekend. 

“I wished I would have qualified better (he started 17^th). I really think we had a shot at winning the race, and at times I was better than (Chase Elliott) and (race winner Kyle Busch) and was catching them at the end.

“I just never really had track position to race for the win. I finally got to the top 3 there on the last run and we were out of laps.”

Johnson’s third-place finish Sunday was his best in the three races of Round 1 of the playoffs and he easily advanced to Round 2 based on points. With points reset, is he seeded fifth (of 12 drivers) entering Round 2’s opening race next weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Two of Johnson’s HMS teammates – Elliott and Dale Earnhardt Jr. – had strong runs Sunday as well. Elliott was in position for his first series win until he was passed by Busch with one lap remaining.

Earnhardt’s seventh-place finish was his best since the road course race at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway in June.

Johnson even spent a few moments with Elliott immediately after the race to console him on what was clearly a disheartening loss.

“I feel for him,” Johnson said of Elliott. “I feel for that No. 24 team, great group of guys and man, they have been so close and I know today stinks. But, we are getting our cars going the right way and I know he is going to be a factor in Charlotte.”

As will Johnson, who owns eight series victories at the track, including a victory last season in the Charlotte fall race.

“Charlotte is a great track for us and typically when we run well at Dover, it carries over to Charlotte,” Johnson said. “We’re optimistic about next week.”