Johnson, No. 48 team three-peat as Cup champions

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Jimmie Johnson and his No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet team put their name in the record books after finishing 15th in Sunday's 400-mile event at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Johnson captured his third straight NASCAR Sprint Cup championship, making him only the second driver ever to three-peat in NASCAR's elite series. Cale Yarborough earned three straight Cup titles in 1976, 1977 and 1978.

“It hasn’t sunken in yet, but I’m just to proud of this race team and the fight that this team has had in it over the course of the year," Johnson said. "There were times this season when we weren’t even in the ballpark, but these guys buckled down and worked hard. I’m so proud of this team effort, I mean, how cool. I mean growing up in El Cajon, Calif., acing motocross, I never thought I’d be in this position. I’m so thankful and so blessed and know how many people are a part of what makes this take place, the great people at Lowe’s, Kobalt, Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports, it’s been a total team effort and I’m very, very happy.”

Johnson scored three wins, six top-five finishes and eight top-10s during the 10-race Chase competition. Overall this season, Johnson recorded seven wins, 15 top-five finishes, 22 top-10s and led 1,959 laps.