RICHMOND, VA - SEPTEMBER 10: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's Pro Services Chevrolet, reacts after the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 10, 2016 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Seed: 8
Team: Hendrick Motorsports, No. 48 Chevrolet
Crew Chief: Chad Knaus
Best Finish: 1st, Atlanta and Auto Club
Age: 40
Hometown: El Cajon, California
From the Daytona 500 through the Duck Commander 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, Jimmie Johnson looked like he was in his usual six-time championship form. He had two wins, an average finish of 6.4, and was right there at the top of the points standings.
Then the struggles and inconsistencies started for the No. 48 team. Johnson finished 23rd at Bristol in April and then placed outside of the top-15 in eight of the next 12 races, including three finishes of 30th or worse. After bottoming out with a last place finish at Watkins Glen, Johnson scored back-to-back top-10s before spinning at Darlington Raceway and finishing 33rd.
Johnson posted an average finish of 18.7 in the final 14 regular-season races and has season struggles from pit road to driver error and everything in between.
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