Once upon a time, Jimmie Johnson was one of the top drivers to beat in the season opening Clash at Daytona. In his first nine starts (2003-2011), Johnson had seven top 10 finishes. In fact, from 2005 through 2011, Johnson had five top five finishes including a win in 2005.

Unfortunately, in the seven races since, he’s crashed out in six of them.

Johnson, has finishes of 14th, 14th, 17th, 22nd, 22nd, 16th and 12th respectively in the Clash. He’s hoping for better luck in Sunday’s Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona (3 p.m. ET/FS1/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

He hasn’t led a lap since leading just one in 2012. If you go all the way back to 2007, the Hendrick Motorsports driver has led just 10 laps in the last 12 years.

If you go to all restrictor plate races, points paying including, since October 2015, he has just two top 10 finishes and no top fives.

Prior to Oct. 2015, he had three top two finishes and four top fives in as many starts that year at Daytona and Talladega.

So, it’s no secret that coming off of his worst two statistical seasons the last two years, Johnson wants to start 2019 with a better finish in the Clash.