Jimmie Johnson preview

Martinsville

JIMMIE JOHNSON:

WHERE DO YOU FEEL YOU ARE HEADING TO MARTINSVILLE?: "The spring race did not go as we had hoped (last year). The fall race, we ran really well although I guess we didn't lead a lap. I remember the 29 (Kevin Harvick), the 11 (Denny Hamlin) and us racing real hard all day. I feel like we're close. We probably don't have the dominant car that we've had there in years past or other teams have caught us. I feel like I should have been second or third, but I don't recall the end of that run and why we ended up sixth. The track has been good to us and we just need to find a little something there — a little bit goes a long way on that small of a track like that."

WHAT IS THE CHALLENGE FOR YOU AT MARTINSVILLE?: "For me, it's just a fun place to race. I encourage friends and family to come to that track and watch. It's a great snapshot of NASCAR in the old days where you're right on top of the action whether you're on pit road or in the grandstands. I just personally enjoy the challenge that track brings and I think it's a cool venue. Outside of that I guess I'm a competitor and every time I'm in the car I want to win and I want to be as fast as I can."

Chassis
• Johnson will pilot brand new chassis No. 653 in Sunday's Sprint Cup Series event.
• Backup chassis No. 540 crossed the finish line fifth at Phoenix International Speedway in Nov. 2010.