DOVER, Del. — Jimmie Johnson took the congratulatory call from his boss, then flipped the phone for a selfie.

The six-time series champ and crew chief Chad Knaus sandwiched the 60-pound trophy and smiled for a familiar photo.

“You’ve only got 10 of ’em,” a fan yelled at the Victory Lane celebration.

Johnson said: “We’ll keep them coming!”

Johnson had already mastered Dover International Speedway like no other driver. His latest win at the Monster Mile etched his name in the same class as four Hall of Fame drivers.

With his No. 48 Chevrolet on cold tires, Johnson got hot down the stretch Sunday and became the fifth driver with 10 or more Sprint Cup wins at a single track.

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“It was cool to have a track that I enjoyed so much turn into a track I could win at,” Johnson said. “We’ve been able to keep that feeling going for a lot of years.”

Unlike his other nine Dover wins when he led at least 175 laps in each race, Johnson led only 23 laps this time.

He has four wins this season and 74 in his career, and has won at least four times in a season 11 times.

On deck, Johnson could catch Dale Earnhardt for seventh on the career wins list with 76.

“It’s right there in front of me, so I look at it and think, wow, this is incredible,” Johnson said. “Yes, it’s a priority for me and something I want to do. But I’m almost in shock that we’re there. Seventy-four race wins, 10 here, you can’t dream that big.”

Johnson drank a beer in Victory Lane and took a quick call from team owner Rick Hendrick.

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“I know what I’m capable of and felt just fine doing it,” Johnson said. “And, I’ve got a great rhythm. I’ve got great support at home.”

No active driver owns a track like Johnson does Dover.

Johnson joined Hall of Famers Richard Petty (Martinsville-15, North Wilkesboro-15, Richmond-13, Rockingham-11, Daytona-10), Darrell Waltrip (Bristol-12, Martinsville-11, North Wilkesboro-10), Earnhardt (Talladega-10) and David Pearson (Darlington-10) as drivers to win 10 races at a single track.

Johnson swept Dover in 2002 and 2009 and also won races in 2005, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Kevin Harvick was second, followed by Kyle Larson, Kasey Kahne and Aric Almirola.

“I figured it would be tough to have a shot at Jimmie,” Larson said.

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Harvick held a comfortable lead until the field was bunched on a late caution. Kyle Busch, who was in the top five, connected with Brian Scott to end the race for each driver. Busch, who poked his head inside Scott’s window for a chat, was unhurt in his second points race since he suffered leg and ankle injuries at Daytona.

Busch needs a win and to reach the top 30 in the points standings to become eligible for the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.

Harvick and Johnson stayed out on cold tires during cautions. Knaus gambled that the No. 48 Chevrolet was as stout on four cold tires as others would be on two or four fresh ones.

He was right. Johnson never lost control, even with two more cautions.


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