Jimmie Johnson misses green flag at Dover to repair broken ball joint

DOVER, Del. — It’s been an arduous season for Jimmie Johnson and another mishap piled on to the year of struggle. During the parade laps of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Gander Outdoors 400 at Dover International Speedway, Johnson’s right front wheel began to wobble. Then he ducked onto pit road and to the garage.

Motor Racing Network’s Steve Post reported a broken right front ball joint for Johnson, who was set to start 13th. Johnson is an 11-time winner at the Monster Mile and remains mired in a 52-race winless streak, the longest of his storied career.

Johnson returned to the track 10 laps down. He sits 13th in points and was eliminated from the Round of 12 last week at the Charlotte Roval.

A major suspension failure for Jimmie Johnson during the pace laps at the @MonsterMile!

The field will start the race while the No. 48 sits in the garage. #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/wdaMCmyq6O

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 7, 2018