A Look at Jimmie Johnson's Career at Dover
By Richard Tix
Dover International Speedway is nicknamed the "Monster Mile" for a reason, it is no easy feat to win here. Since 1995 this mile round track has been a rough and tough concrete surface that frustrates drivers, teams, and tire makers alike. One thing is for sure when you leave Dover, you earned your finish. Heck, even Miles the Monster is a bit scary just to look at, especially the 46 foot monument of him.
Over the course of time a few drivers in NASCAR have tamed the mile long track at Dover. Richard Petty and David Pearson both have 7 career wins at Dover, but both are tied for second and behind a current driver for most wins. Only Jimmie Johnson can truly be considered the Monster Tamer as all of his 8 wins have come during the Monster Mile (concrete surface) era at Dover.
Jimmie Johnson started out his career at Dover in 2002 as a rookie by sweeping the two Monster Mile races. Not a bad start for just a kid Jeff Gordon recommended Hendrick bring in. Beginers luck right? Wrong, Jimmie has gone on to win 6 more times to date with 5 Pole awards to go with them.
Dover International Speedway
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Jimmie Johnson Career Stats
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Year
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Start
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Finish
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Laps Led
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2002
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10
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1
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188
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2002
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19
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1
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170
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2003
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5
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38
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36
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2003
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4
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8
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0
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2004
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14
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32
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1
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2004
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9
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10
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0
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2005
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1
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4
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24
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Dover Totals
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2005
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5
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1
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134
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Races
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24
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2006
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42
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6
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0
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Wins
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8
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2006
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18
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13
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0
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Top 5
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12
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2007
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27
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15
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0
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Top 10
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17
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2007
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1
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14
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1
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Top 15
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20
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2008
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4
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7
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2
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Top 20
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22
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2008
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20
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5
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81
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2009
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8
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1
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298
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2009
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1
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1
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271
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2010
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5
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16
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225
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2010
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1
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1
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191
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2011
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1
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9
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207
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2011
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6
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2
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157
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2012
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2
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1
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289
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2012
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11
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4
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43
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2013
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24
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17
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143
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2013
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8
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1
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243
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Averages
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10.25
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8.67
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112.67
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After taking a break to look at some of Johnson's Dover statistics it is interesting to note that he has a 8.67 career average finish. Of active drivers, he is the only one who is sub 10 in this category (Next closest is Carl Edwards at 10.0). Johnson is also second only to Ryan Newman (9.0) in career average starting position.
If you didn't know before you now know after looking at these stats that over a full career he is untouched by current drivers. Its crazy to think he has on average led 112.67 laps a race in his career at Dover. In his last 9 races at Dover he has lead on average 195.27 laps a race!
Jimmie has had two stretches -one of 5 races and one of 6 races- between wins at Dover and since then has only had to wait two races between wins. In his 12 years in Cup he has won at Dover 6 of those years, so half of the time. In his 24 career races he only has two finished outside the top 20 and both of those were early in his career and resulted because he got into a wreck. So its safe to say Jimmie Johnson will find away to finish well at Dover.
So, this week NASCAR heads to the Monster Mile and we all know Jimmie Johnson has tamed and figured out Miles the Monster, but can any other driver tame and slow down the Monster Tamer Jimmie Johnson?
**Edit: Once again Jimmie Johnson won the first race at Dover in 2014. Now its Chase time, will he do it again?**
**Edit: Once again Jimmie Johnson won the first race at Dover in 2014. Now its Chase time, will he do it again?**
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