Jimmie Johnson finally cracks Bristol's victory lane

BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Jimmie Johnson crossed another NASCAR milestone Sunday.

But is he getting his due?

Johnson ran down five drivers during the final 10 laps to win the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway, his first Sprint Cup victory on one of NASCAR's most challenging and popular tracks.

Johnson has won four consecutive series championships, but he had never visited Victory Lane at Bristol. His previous best finish was third (twice) and during 10 of his previous 16 starts at the .533-mile highly banked oval, Johnson never led.

"It's been a real downer to walk through the gates, look around and say, 'Man, I'm going to suck today, wreck in Lap 5,'" he said. "I've really had that mindset coming here.

"When a track kicks your butt for so long and you finally win at that track, there's just something really unique about that. I've wanted to be excited for this track and just haven't been until now."

The win is Johnson's third this season in five races. He also earned his 50th series victory, one of only 12 NASCAR drivers to accomplish that feat. Of the others, three will be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame's first class during May and six others were nominated.

Yet Johnson still has his detractors. Criticism covers a broad spectrum - from his personality to claims he is just lucky.

"If you look at the stats and you look at the talent and you look at the dedication, just look at his record," said team owner Rick Hendrick. "I mean I don't understand why it's not written now he's one of the best that's ever done this.

"I've watched a lot of guys from Richard Petty on up to current day. When you look at the level of competition since he's been in the sport, what he's done, what he's accomplished, I mean, I don't know what he's go to do."

Johnson was strong during practice all weekend and led 77 of the first 96 laps Sunday. He was running second to Kurt Busch when a caution came out on Lap483 of 500 for debris on the track.

All of the lead-lap cars pitted for tires with Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart coming out first - all after two-tire stops. Busch restarted fifth and Johnson sixth.

On Lap494, Johnson made his away around Stewart for the lead, the last of the five cars in his way.

The race-ending battle drew respect from Busch, who could not dice through the other competitors as fast as Johnson and ended up third.

"I'd rather lose to any of the 41 cars out there than" Johnson, Busch said. "I thought we had them beat. I gave it my heart today, but came up short.

"We had it won, but we didn't drive our car into Victory Lane. I poured my heart out trying to beat (Johnson) and then to lose to them, that's what is upsetting."

During a postrace radio interview, Busch even tried to fan the discontent of the crowd by claiming he knew fans didn't want to see Johnson win again, either.

Johnson took the dig as a compliment toward him and his No.48 Hendrick Motorsports team.

"I've watched from afar before I was in the sport and people would say, 'Anybody but the No.3, anybody but the No.24,'" Johnson said, referring to the late Dale Earnhardt and teammate Jeff Gordon, among the sport's most successful drivers.

"I'm awfully proud to be in that category where they're saying, 'Anybody but the No.48.' I think it's awesome."

As far as Johnson's crew chief, Chad Knaus, is concerned, competitors won't be changing their tune anytime soon.

"Somebody said a while ago, 'Your bucket is almost full.' I say as far as I'm concerned, we dump it out every week and start over. That's the mentality we have," he said.

"I can promise you, there's no switch that's going to flip anytime soon - no matter what happens - that's going to make us not want to go to the race track and win races."