The 2011 season's most memorable moment occurred at Talladega, when Johnson used a push from teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. to beat Clint Bowyer by just .002 seconds, the closest finish in Cup Series history. However, Johnson failed to win a sixth consecutive championship, winning only two races, and his sixth-place points finish was the first time he finished outside the top five in his career. The No. 48 team's performance improved in 2012, winning five races, but late-season mishaps at Phoenix and Homestead relegated them to third in points.