2013 Nascar: Jimmie Johnson Looks For Daytona Double

Jul 4, 2013; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Jimmie Johnson addresses the media before practice for the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway.Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /

Sprint Cup points leader, Jimmie Johnson brings his 38 point lead over Carl Edwards to the Daytona International Speedway for The Coke Zero 400, and is looking for a season sweep at the famous track in Central Florida. The five-time Cup champ won the Daytona 500 here back in February, and if he can overcome his late-race restart problems, has to be the favorite to take the checkered flag again on Saturday night.

The Lowes Chevrolet team has won three races this season, and two Daytona 500’s, but has never won in the summertime at Daytona. They have two top five finishes here, and five top ten’s, but no checkered flag in July. Jimmie Johnson has won twice on each of the restrictor-plate tracks, but they are not his forte’.

I would keep my eye on the Home Depot Toyota Saturday Night. Matt Kenseth won the Daytona 500 back in 2012, and has four wins on the 2013 season. Kenseth took advantage last week when Johnson blew a late race restart at The Quaker State 400 in Kentucky to notch his fourth win.

Kenseth is 82 points off the Sprint Cup pace, but seems to run strong every week since he joined Joe Gibbs Racing for the 2013 season. Like the rest of the team, which gets their engines from TRD Racing, Kenseth has had mechanical problems at times that have taken him out of races, and has cost him a legitimate run at a title this year.

Other than getting caught up in a wreck with Jeff Gordon at Bristol where the #24 cut a tire and drove him into the wall, Kenseth has had engine problems that have taken him out, including the season opener at Daytona.

The Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca Cola drops the green flag at 7:49 PM Eastern time on Saturday night. It will be on TNT, and Tony Stewart is your defending champion. The race that used to be called The Firecracker 400 is a great wrap-up for a weekend filled with BBQ, Fireworks, and Cold Beer. Good old Saturday night racing at Daytona…..It don’t get any better than that!

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