MARTINSVILLE, Virginia -- Nine-time Martinsville winner Jimmie Johnson will start from the rear of Sunday’s Cup race after a wheel hop caused him to spin during the second round of qualifying. The team made multiple unapproved adjustments to the car following the spin, forcing it to start from the rear.
Johnson’s No. 48 Chevrolet spun in Turn 4 and barely touched the outside wall with just under three minutes left in the session.
“You’re not going to get wheel hop because of rain,” NBCSN analyst Jeff Burton said after the spin. “What causes wheel hop? You’ve got too much rear brake ... driving into the corner just a little bit deeper, having to use a little more brake in order to find speed can get the rear wheels hopping.”
One of eight playoff drivers left, Johnson is the defending winner of the race.
Watch the above video to see Johnson’s spin.