NASCAR: Johnson on edge ahead of Dover cutoff

Jimmie Johnson knows better than to take anything for granted this weekend at Dover International Speedway.

The "Monster Mile" is the six-time champion's favorite venue and he enters the Citizen Soldier 400 with an 18-point advantage over the cutoff line in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Dover represents the third race of the first round of the playoffs and a still-fresh memory will keep Johnson tense until the checkered flag on Sunday.

He entered this event last September needing just a 26th-place finish to advance but his No. 48 Chevrolet broke an axle seal, which forced him to finish 41st and miss the cut by 12 points. It still stings a little bit.

"I'm excited to be back to my best racetrack, without a doubt," Johnson said. "I think last year shows that you really can't count on a racetrack always being kind to a driver or always working in their favor. It's part of racing. I've learned it through many different lessons over my racing career.

"Last year, I think, we kind of showed everyone once again that you just can't take a race or a track for granted. We're back with high hopes. I love being here."

As he should. Johnson has 10 wins at the one-mile Delaware oval, including sweeping his first two starts in 2002 as a Sprint Cup rookie. Even in one of his most underwhelming overall seasons, Johnson has to be counted among the favorites.

In short, he should advance to the second round unless lightning strikes twice.

"I'm glad to see the weather moving out so that we can get on the racetrack today," Johnson added. "I think it's going to be a tricky day on the track. The track will be very green, very fast; and then these winds are definitely going to give us a hard time on the race course."