THROWBACK: Watch Jimmie Johnson Pulling Off an Incredible Save During the 2006 Dover 400

This weekend, the NASCAR paddock heads to the Dover International Speedway for a double-header. At the same time, NASCAR veteran Jimmie Johnson will return to the scene of one of his wildest rides in a stock car.

During the qualifying session of the 2006 Dover 400, he lost control and got sent into a wild spin. Somehow, the driver managed to stay off the walls, even though it ruined his lap and he had to start near the back.

As he came around the final corner to start the lap, he got a little loose on the exit and spun. What made the incident all the more amazing was the fact that the car performed two 360° spins and still stayed away from the wall. The #48 car came close to getting wrecked on at least three occasions during that spin.

How did Jimmie Johnson perform in the race?

Admittedly, Johnson was aware that he had a mountain to climb when the race came around. However, he was relishing the challenge and was eager to claw his way up.

Astoundingly, Jimmie Johnson managed to finish in 6th place, right behind Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Kyle Busch. Busch was the first of the Hendrick Motorsports cars, while Jeff Gordon and Brian Vickers finished 12th and 23rd, respectively.

Roush Racing’s Matt Kenseth won the race from 19th on the grid, but Johnson’s comeback was spectacular. Unfortunately, pole man Ryan Newman dropped like a stone and finished at 14th place.

When he spoke to NASCAR, owner/driver Jeff Gordon rated the save as a 10. He said, “I knew Jimmie was on the track. I’ve never seen anybody not hit the inside wall.

“He was driving it going backwards and that was unbelievable. Call it luck or skill, I don’t know, but that was pretty awesome to stay out of the wall.”

Gordon confessed that he was disappointed that Johnson spun, but glad that he did not hit the wall. Later on, Jimmie Johnson admitted that he was quite proud of that epic save. However, he loathed the fact that the lap got ruined.

At the end of the day, Johnson simply got lucky.

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