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Bristol, Tenn. • It was just last month when people were wondering what was wrong with Jimmie Johnson after he got off to a slow start.

How silly it was to worry.

Johnson grabbed a rare victory at Bristol Motor Speedway on Monday, giving him consecutive wins for the 11th time in his storied career. It was just the second career win in Thunder Valley for Johnson, who considers it one of his most vexing tracks.

His Hendrick Motorsorts team hit on something during Saturday's practice for his Chevrolet, and that locked him in for the race postponed a day by rain.

"This track has been really difficult," admitted Johnson, who last won at Bristol in 2007. But that Saturday find was "honestly, it's what I've been looking for for 16 years."

"We finally figured it out. So, I'm very, very happy," he said. "I've loved this racetrack from afar ... and it's been a journey since 2000 until now."

Johnson snapped his season-starting slump on April 9 at Texas Motor Speedway, NASCAR's last event prior to Monday. It ended any chatter that the seven-time and reigning champion might not be up for a record eighth title.

"After securing a win last week, it obviously takes a huge load off of your shoulders," said crew chief Chad Knaus. "Being able to come in here this week confident, relaxed, we had a weekend off."

Johnson now has 82 career victories, and is just one away from tying Cal Yarborough for sixth on the all-time wins list. Two more would put him alongside Darrell Waltrip.

"That's just mind-blowing," Johnson said of his place in history.

Johnson doesn't like Bristol, but had no trouble contending with Kyle Larson, the points leader and most dominant driver of the day. A speeding penalty on Larson late in the race allowed Johnson to make it look easy in the end. Clint Bowyer finished second and Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Kevin Harvick was third.

Matt Kenseth was the highest finishing Toyota driver with a quiet fourth. Joey Logano in a Ford was fifth for Team Penske and Larson rallied to sixth. He had been dropped to 29th in the field after the penalty and making it back to the top 10 was a victory in itself for Larson, who led a career-high 202 laps.

"I knew I gave the race away there," Larson said of the speeding penalty. "I was surprised that I was able to line up with an opportunity there at the end. I think even if I was able to get to the lead, I don't think I would have won because Jimmie and Clint were way faster than I was.

"They were over a straightaway ahead of us, I think, at the checkered flag. Disappointed in myself. I think I speed on pit road every single time I come to Bristol. So got to clean that up."

Chase Elliott finished seventh and the top 10 was rounded out by Martin Truex Jr., Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Denny Hamlin.

Junior's day • Dale Earnhardt Jr. was running 20th with just under 300 laps remaining when he wrecked during a restart after a mechanical issue. He didn't return to the track and finished 38th. NASCAR's most popular driver was second in this race a year ago, but this year he's still trying to find his way back into contention. NASCAR's last race, at Texas, was his first top-five finish of the season.

Busch stuck at No. 5 • Kyle Busch is still seeking his first win of the season after an accident led to a 35th-place finish.

He had been hoping to win his sixth career Cup race at Bristol, and had the speed all weekend to do so.

Up next • NASCAR travels to Richmond, Virginia, for another short-track showdown. The show will lack defending race winner Carl Edwards, who is not racing this year. —

NASCAR results

Monster Energy Cup Food City 500

Monday

At Bristol Motor Speedway, Tenn., length: 0.533 miles

(Start position in parentheses)

1. (11) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 500 laps, 54 points.

2. (9) Clint Bowyer, Ford, 500, 35.

3. (10) Kevin Harvick, Ford, 500, 41.

4. (22) Matt Kenseth, Toyota, 500, 33.

5. (5) Joey Logano, Ford, 500, 48.

6. (1) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 500, 45.

7. (2) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 500, 35.

8. (3) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 500, 48.

9. (19) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford, 500, 29.

10. (16) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 500, 33.

11. (12) Trevor Bayne, Ford, 500, 28.

12. (8) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 500, 35.

13. (21) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 500, 24.

14. (13) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 500, 23.

15. (24) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 500, 22.

16. (26) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 499, 21.

17. (14) Erik Jones, Toyota, 499, 33.

18. (23) Daniel Suarez, Toyota, 498, 19.

19. (32) Matt DiBenedetto, Ford, 498, 18.

20. (17) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 498, 17.

21. (31) Cole Whitt, Chevrolet, 498, 16.

22. (18) Aric Almirola, Ford, 497, 15.

23. (33) David Ragan, Ford, 497, 14.

24. (35) Corey LaJoie, Toyota, 497, 13.

25. (15) Kurt Busch, Ford, 494, 12.

26. (28) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, 494, 11.

27. (37) Jeffrey Earnhardt, Chevrolet, 491, 10.

28. (34) Reed Sorenson, Chevrolet, 490, 9.

29. (36) Gray Gaulding, Toyota, 487, 8.

30. (25) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 482, 9.

31. (39) Derrike Cope, Chevrolet, 465, 6.

32. (30) Landon Cassill, Ford, 458, 5.

33. (6) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 452, 4.

34. (4) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 433, 3.

35. (7) Kyle Busch, Toyota, accident, 383, 3.

36. (29) Danica Patrick, Ford, accident, 320, 1.

37. (38) Timmy Hill, Chevrolet, suspension, 234, 0.

38. (20) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevy, accident, 218, 1.

39. (27) Chris Buescher, Chevrolet, accident, 53, 1.

Average Speed of Race Winner: 86.685 mph.

Time of Race: 3 hours, 4 minutes, 29 seconds.

Margin of Victory: 1.199 seconds.

Wins: J.Johnson, 2; B.Keselowski, 2; Ku.Busch, 1; K.Larson, 1; R.Newman, 1; M.Truex, 1.

Top 16 in Points: 1. K.Larson, 360; 2. C.Elliott, 333; 3. M.Truex, 323; 4. J.Logano, 291; 5. B.Keselowski, 277; 6. J.Johnson, 244; 7. J.McMurray, 244; 8. C.Bowyer, 239; 9. K.Harvick, 239; 10. R.Blaney, 228; 11. Ky.Busch, 214; 12. T.Bayne, 192; 13. E.Jones, 192; 14. R.Newman, 186; 15. D.Hamlin, 184; 16. R.Stenhouse, 168.