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2016 Season In Review: Jimmie Johnson

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400

HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 20: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, poses with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship trophy in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 and the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 20, 2016 in Homestead, Florida. Johnson wins a record-tying 7th NASCAR title. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)

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Jimmie Johnson

CREW CHIEF: Chad Knaus

TEAM: Hendrick Motorsports

POINTS: 1st

WINS: 5

LAPS LED: 737

TOP 5s: 11

TOP 10s: 16

POLES: 1 (Loudon 1)

WHAT WENT RIGHT: Won 7th Cup championship (2006-2010, 2013, 2016), tying him for most titles with NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. … Earned wins at Atlanta, Fontana, and three in the Chase for the Championship: Charlotte 2, Martinsville 2 and Homestead. … His five wins gives him 80 in his Cup career, seventh on NASCAR’s all-time wins list.

WHAT WENT WRONG: It’s hard to say anything went wrong for a driver who ultimately won the championship. But Johnson did have a few struggles along the way, including four DNFs (all crash-related, with finishes of 32nd or lower) in nine-race stretch from Pocono 1 through Watkins Glen. … Johnson’s route to the championship wasn’t easy: he had to overcome two bad finishes in the Chase – 23rd at Talladega 2 and 38th at Phoenix 2.

WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2017: Now that he’s conquered the unique Chase elimination format and earned his elusive seventh championship, tying him with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, attention now turns to whether Johnson can break that record in 2017 (or . The nucleus of his team remains intact, Johnson is in excellent physical shape and remains as motivated to win more races and titles as he ever has.

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