Johnson fastest in Happy Hour at Bristol 3/20/10

Jimmie Johnson fastest during Happy Hour practice Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway.

photo credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR

Bristol hasn’t been one of the best tracks for the reigning series champion. Actually, his stats say that Bristol is second worst track behind Infineon Raceway. Johnson’s best finish at Bristol Motor Speedway to this date is 3rd – twice (August 2004 and March 2009). In sixteen starts, he has posted just three top-5 and 8 top-10 finishes at the track.

There are 6 tracks on the current cup schedule that Johnson has yet to win at: Bristol, Infineon, Michigan, Chicago, Watkins Glen and Homestead-Miami.

Johnson also posted the fastest speed during the first practice session Saturday. He starts fourth in Sunday’s Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Top 10 Happy Hour Chart (top speed/time)
1. Jimmie Johnson (122.287, 15.691)
2. Juan Pablo Montoya (122.046, 15.722)
3. Matt Kenseth (121.443, 15.800)
4. Jamie McMurray (121.305, 15.818)
5. Joey Logano (polesitter) (121.297, 15.819)
6. Mark Martin (121.129, 15.841)
7. A.J. Allmendinger (121.006, 15.857)
8. Denny Hamlin (121.006, 15.857)
9. Kasey Kahne (120.755, 15.890)
10. Jeff Gordon (120.748, 15.891)

TV coverage of the Food City 500 starts at Noon this Sunday on FOX.