CRANDALL: How Superman (sort of) found his cape

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By: Kelly Crandall | 7 hours ago


For 267 laps Sunday evening in Joliet, Illinois, it was business as it once always had been for Jimmie Johnson & Co.

There were no struggles, and no questions about what’s wrong. The disappointment that has enveloped the seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion for the last 758 days, or 76 races, didn’t exist.

Johnson’s No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet was fast. Fast enough to be a contender on the good side of the leaderboard, and to spend some laps at the front of the field, but most importantly, again be a relevant part of the race. Things that Johnson made a career doing from 2002 through Dover on June 4, 2017, which was the last time he won a Cup Series race.

For 267 laps and 400 miles at Chicagoland Speedway, Superman looked like Superman.

The performance left Johnson telling TV viewers that his team was smiling. He would later write on Twitter how it had felt good to be in the mix. Another post reminded everyone how the famed 48 “was rolling” in Chicagoland.

Considering that Johnson has had good days on and off during the last few seasons, it would be premature to declare all the problems in Camp 48 have been solved. That said, Johnson of course needed such a performance in the Camping World 400. And he wasn’t the only one.

The sport needed it. Its fans needed it. The competitors and media also needed it.

Everyone, even the critics, should be able to admit that deep down, seeing Johnson be Johnson was a welcome sight because watching his fall from grace has been sad. Once upon a time, the competition could merely tug on Superman’s cape. Now seeing it ripped off and repeatedly stomped on is painful.

Johnson hasn’t just been uncompetitive, he’s been terrible. Bottom of the basement, sometimes can’t get out of his own way, terrible. His often finishing as the worst of the four Hendrick cars isn’t how it’s supposed to be. Seeing Johnson getting lapped and left in the dust by drivers he used to go door-to-door with on a weekly basis makes you want to get your eyes checked.

During the years Johnson and then crew chief Chad Knaus looked like they could do no wrong, failure was something many hoped and rooted for. That was when winning was second nature to Johnson, was expected, and practically guaranteed at certain racetracks; back when Johnson was collecting championship after championship and piling on the wins, and embarrassing his rivals with how easy he made it look.

Johnson earned a career-low number of top-10 finishes the last two years with 11. Last year he went winless and finished the worst he has ever been in the point standings, 14th, after being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. Eliminated because, holy cow, Johnson made a mistake in the Charlotte chicane coming to the checkered flag.

This is not the same team that was once considered invincible, and the golden horseshoe that Kevin Harvick proclaimed they had “stuck up their ass” back in February 2010 is long gone. Yet there’s been no joy in continuously watching Johnson fail to be lucky or good.

Chicago wasn’t flashy or extraordinary, it was how it should be. A brief respite from what had become a Sunday routine of sadly wondering if seeing Johnson all too often flailing around outside the top 15 will be how the final years of his career play out.


Jimmie Johnson, Insights & Analysis, NASCAR

 

Seven-time Cup Series champ Johnson back in the mix

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By: Kelly Crandall | June 30, 2019 8:27 PM


Jimmie Johnson was back in the mix at Chicago for what was one of his best performances of the season.

For just the second time this year, Johnson finished inside the top five as he crossed the finish line fourth in the Camping World 400. It was his seventh top-10 finish of the season.

But Johnson’s No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet also led laps Sunday afternoon, and while it was for only 10 circuits at a track he still hasn’t won at, his time spent at the front marked only the fourth race this season he has led.

Most importantly, Johnson didn’t inherit the lead through strategy or other’s misfortune; he drove to the front early in the day after qualifying fourth.

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CRANDALL: How Superman (sort of) found his cape

“Just a solid performance for our Ally team; I’m really proud of everyone,” said the seven-time champion. “I just couldn’t clear the 4 car (Kevin Harvick) — I think his was probably the strongest car tonight.

“The way some of those restarts unfolded, the 88 (winner Alex Bowman) had a great opportunity with the draft and working very well, and got to the lead. Once he had that control, there was really no taking it from him.”

When it came to deciding the race win, Johnson wasn’t in the picture, but he was a part of the race’s overall story. Johnson, who had an average running position of 4.2 in Chicago, spent 250 of the race’s 267 laps in the top 15, only falling out during green flag pit stops and varying strategies in Stage 1.

When breaking down such numbers, the only other race this year in which Johnson has been as competitive was Texas where he started from the pole, led 60 laps, and finished fifth. The other events where Johnson led laps were ISM Raceway (he finished eighth) and Dover (14th).

“I’m extremely happy for Hendrick Motorsports — I can’t wait to see Alex and congratulate him,” Johnson continued. “And [my] 48 team is smiling. It was a good night.”

On the playoff grid, Johnson went from being one point out of a spot entering the weekend to leaving sitting 14th, with a 20-point advantage on the cutoff line.


Chicagoland, Hendrick Motorsports, Jimmie Johnson, Monster Energy Cup, NASCAR

 

Jimmie Johnson, seven-time NASCAR champion, to retire after 2020 season

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Staff Report NASCAR.com November 20, 2019 at 12:44 PMJimmie Johnson, one of the most decorated champions in stock-car racing, announced the endpoint of his full-time driving career Wednesday, indicating 2020 will mark his final season in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Johnson has spent his entire career with the Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Chevrolet operation, which he has called home since his premier series debut in 2001. He announced the news with a heartfelt video on Twitter and is expected to address the media Thursday afternoon.

“I’m so thankful for 18 incredible years of racing in NASCAR,” Johnson says. “The sport has been good to me. It has allowed me to do something I truly love. I showed up chasing a dream and achieved more than I ever thought possible. I’m looking forward to next season and celebrating what will be my last year as a full-time NASCAR Cup driver. I know what this team is capable of, and I hope 2020 is one of the best yet.”

RELATED: Drivers react to news | Jimmie through the years

Johnson has won seven titles in NASCAR’s top division, tied for the all-time most with Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty — both members of the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s inaugural class. The 44-year-old driver ranks in a tie for sixth on NASCAR’s all-time win list, his 83 victories equaling the total of Cale Yarborough.

“NASCAR history will always hold Jimmie Johnson in the highest regard, for his hard-charging success on the racetrack and the way he conducted himself as a champion off the track,” NASCAR Chairman and CEO Jim France said in a statement. “This remarkable seven-time champion – through his competitive spirit, immense talent and sportsmanship – has made NASCAR a better sport. On behalf of my family and the entire NASCAR community, I thank Jimmie for his dedication to NASCAR and, along with his legions of fans, wish him all the best in his final season. I look forward to watching him race for wins and an eighth NASCAR Cup Championship in 2020.”

Johnson is a two-time winner of the Daytona 500, prevailing in The Great American Race in 2006 and 2013. He also won four times each in the Coca-Cola 600 and Brickyard 400, adding two Southern 500 crowns along the way, but his most distinctive achievement came in the form of an unprecedented streak.

Johnson won his first five championships consecutively from 2006-2010, adding titles in 2013 and ’16. That stretch of success surpassed the previous mark held by Yarborough, who won three straight titles from 1976-78.

The California native last won in June 2017, prevailing on friendly turf at Dover International Speedway, and the drought prompted two high-profile crew chief changes within the span of a year.

MORE: Every Cup Series victory

“I get to say when I’m done,” Johnson told reporters ahead of the 2019 season, noting his detractors who hinted he should place his driving gloves on the shelf. “It did weigh on me and I can’t wait to win and win often. I think that would be something really nice to say back to all those people that suggested that I was washed up and done.”

Johnson emerged from the world of motorcycle racing and off-road trucks, moving to asphalt — first in the American Speed Association (ASA) circuit and eventually to a brief stint in what is now the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Once there, he caught the attention of four-time champion Jeff Gordon, thanks to a fortunate seating arrangement at a drivers’ meeting in 2000.

“I went in looking for advice and I walked out with the opportunity of a lifetime,” Johnson recalled to the Associated Press in 2001.

Before their conversation, Gordon had already planted Johnson’s name as a possible prospect with Hendrick, who had designs on expanding his organization from three cars to four.

That newly created No. 48 team, which paired Johnson with budding crew chief talent Chad Knaus, became one of the most productive in stock-car racing history.

Johnson’s statistical prowess secures his spot among the all-time greats, but he also broke new ground in his approach to physical fitness. Johnson remains an avid cyclist and runner; in April, he ran his first Boston Marathon just two days after competing in a 400-lap race at Richmond Raceway.

 

Emotional Johnson ‘feels good’ about decision to step away

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emailBy: Kelly Crandall | November 21, 2019 4:08 PM

The feeling of retirement started to become real for Jimmie Johnson in October.

With his Hendrick Motorsports contract set to expire after 2020, Johnson had already been thinking plenty about his future through the spring and summer months. In his mind, Johnson felt he needed to make a decision by the end of this year.

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When the feeling of stepping away started to hit, “it felt good to think about” Johnson admitted Thursday afternoon at a press conference with Rick Hendrick by side.

“It was such a profound moment that I really take it back to the moment in time where I knew I wanted to buy a ring for (wife Chandra),” Johnson said. “It was just that strong in my stomach. It was like, ‘Wow, this is what I want to do.’”

Three weeks ago, Johnson sat down with Hendrick. But the Hall of Fame team owner didn’t have Johnson on the clock of when he wanted to know about next year, saying Johnson earned the right to take the time he wanted. The company would figure out its next steps after he had decided.

Of course, Hendrick felt “shock” when the seven-time champion informed him of his plans.

“Every time one of these drivers call me and want to come to my house, I know that’s not a good situation,” Hendrick said. “I knew the day would come, but I should be the one retiring. Not you.”

 

In the two or three times Johnson mentioned that the ’20 season would be his last, he said Hendrick never reacted. “And then the fourth time he said, ‘I guess you’re serious about this aren’t you?’”

“Everybody knows Jimmie, he processes everything, and then when he’s made up his mind, he’s not wishy-washy at all,” Hendrick said. “He’s done so much for us and for the sport. If you just said, I’m going to list what the perfect driver from the talent to the ability to working with sponsors, athlete, he’s just raised the bar at our company from fitness to charity; it’s unbelievable how perfect he is. So whatever he wanted, I wanted for him.”

Johnson was introduced at the press conference by his two daughters, 9-year-old Genevieve and 6-year-old Lydia. Wednesday morning, before the retirement video hit his social media channels Johnson shared it with his daughters over breakfast.

Lydia was unfazed and just wanted dad to pass the butter for her pancakes. Genevieve said Johnson is still processing and wants him to be happy.

“So excited to be where I am today and to be in this press conference today and tell everyone what my plans are,” Johnson said. “I’m very excited and just ready to get 2020 started. The process has been interesting. Telling friends, telling my team yesterday. To sit the team down, people who have worked on the 48 from the beginning, that was probably one of the harder moments I think that I had. … It’s been an interesting process and a day you never really can plan for, but it’s here, and I’m just thankful to be with family, friends, this man right here (Hendrick) and all that he’s done for my life.”

 

In attendance were Jeff Gordon, Chad Knaus, crew chief Cliff Daniels, plus friend and former NFL player Jason Sehorn. NASCAR vice chairman Mike Helton was also in the crowd, as was executive vice president and chief marketing officer Jill Gregory, and Speedway Motorsports Incorporated CEO Marcus Smith.

“I feel very, very good about my decision, and it’s just time,” Johnson said.

Next season will be Johnson’s 19th full year in the series. Struggles he and the No. 48 team have experienced in recent years had “very little” implication on his decision as Johnson reiterated he had been waiting for a feeling to appear.

Johnson also said a few times that he is stepping away from what it takes to compete 38 weekends a year in NASCAR, but he is not done driving race cars. He is “wide open” about the future and looks forward to what will develop in the future. The only thing not on the list is IndyCar and fast ovals.

To begin though, Johnson will take a deep breath and put his family first for once instead of racing. Maybe there will be bucket list items like traveling they will cross off the list, although no one knows what ’21 will look like.

Hendrick signed Johnson in 2001, and he ran his first three races with the team late in the year. In ’02, Johnson came up short to Ryan Newman in the Rookie of the Year battle. The championships began rolling in ’06. Johnson and former crew chief Chad Knaus became the first to win five straight titles in 2010 and tied the historic mark of seven championships in 2016.

“Jimmie was a good friend of my son Ricky, and Ricky told me he was going to be a champion,” Hendrick said.

Johnson was not just a driver but family according to Hendrick. An unbelievable person and friend, Hendrick noted on top of it all Johnson was one of the greatest ever to get behind the wheel. Additionally, he believes that people are going to remember the man, Jimmie Johnson.

“I just don’t know how to thank you, buddy, for being the champion and the leader and friend, everything you meant to this company,” Hendrick said. “And giving us all the championships and done some unbelievable things. We’ll always be grateful, and we’ll always be appreciative, and I’ve got your number.”

 

In his final remarks, Johnson said he was trying not to cry. At the end of the 36-race season next year, Johnson will have made 687 career starts.

“I’m just so thankful to literally have chased a dream since I was a kid to race,” Johnson said. “Just thankful. Very, very thankful. Thankful for the relationships that I built in the sport. Just thank you.”

Hendrick Motorsports, Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR, Monster Energy Cup, NASCAR

 

Johnson decision ‘bittersweet’ for Knaus

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emailBy: Kelly Crandall | 13 hours ago

Chad Knaus described the feeling as “bittersweet” as he sat in one of the first few rows at Jimmie Johnson’s press conference in which he explained his decision to retire.

“All of you know how much I love that man,” said Knaus.

Knaus was the crew chief who guided Johnson to seven NASCAR Cup Series championships and 83 wins. Coming into the series together in 2002, Knaus and Johnson (pictured above in 201 felt they had one opportunity to prove their abilities, and Knaus said Johnson rose to the occasion.

“He did a phenomenal job as the pilot of our car, and we grew together,” said Knaus. “We grew families together; we did a lot of things together. It’s emotional for me for sure, but man, it’s just so great. I’m so excited to have this next avenue in his life and see what he’s going to do. There’s a lot of potential in him still — he’s got an opportunity to go drive a lot of other series and have fun, and what he’s got to do with his children and his wife. It’s just the beginning for him.

“I think it’s great. He’s still doing this while he’s young enough that he can experience a lot of life; a lot more than any of us ever will.”
Johnson, Knaus and company did this 83 times together. Image by Logan Whitton/LAT

Knaus and Johnson split after 17 years together following the end of the 2018 season, but their bond has only strengthened. In their time together, the duo won every major race on the schedule, tied Cale Yarborough with three consecutive titles in ’08, and then took it further by becoming the first ones to win five straight. A seventh, improbable title came in ’16.

Along the way, there have been fights and trust issues. Before their dominance began, Rick Hendrick even had to sit them down for a meeting complete with milk and cookies — served on a Mickey Mouse plate. Knaus and Johnson have gone through suspensions, winless droughts, and history together.

Even though Johnson was an unproven talent who only had one Xfinity Series win before getting the job at Hendrick, Knaus said he knew “pretty early” he had a good driver on his hands.

“Really early,” Knaus admitted. “We went to Las Vegas in the beginning of 2002, in February I think it was, and what we did was we went through a whole series of runs on the racetrack. We had data acquisition on the car but what I was doing was not using the data acquisition, I was using Jimmie to tell me what the car was doing and then I would go back and look at the data to see if the information was truly in parallel — and he was spot on with everything that he said.

“At that point I said, man, this guy is going to be good to work with because he’s able to describe to me what’s going on with the race car and I can see that. It was pretty impressive.”
Jimmie Johnson, Chad Knaus and their families before their final race together at Homestead in 2018. Image by Nigel Kinrade/LAT

The two have been gone on vacation together, attended each other’s wedding, and were among the first to see each other’s children after they born. Knaus said Johnson called him on Tuesday night with the news of retirement. The two talked for about 40 minutes about a lot of different things.

“We’ve done a lot,” Knaus chuckled. “Things that you know and things that you don’t know and things that you should never know. If you think about it, our first win together, celebrating that win in Fontana that night to going to our first championship and me busting into his room and blasting him with champagne as he and (Chandra) are in bed sleeping. To winning our seventh championship together, to the birth of our children and marriages.

“There’s so many things that most people in professional sports don’t have a partner that have gone through those times together, and I’m honored to have been that guy.”

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Knaus believes that at some point, Johnson will be able to soak in all that he’s done in his career. In turn, Knaus thinks the sport will rise around Johnson and praise him as is deserved. But it’s so hard for a driver to understand their impact while in the middle of their career. Knaus is one of many who expect Johnson will be enshrined in the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

“He’s so frustrating to me,” said Knaus of Johnson’s legacy. “I tried to turn him into a dirty driver at times. I tried to make him more aggressive at times. I tried to do all this stuff and shame on me for doing that because, just like Mr. Hendrick said, he’s going to leave this sport with everybody knowing that he did it the right way, and he didn’t shove people around.

“He couldn’t crash somebody if he had to. He just doesn’t have the capability; it’s not in his DNA. So what he’s done, the way he’s done it, the races he’s won, the people he’s touched, you could look at his accomplishments and say that’s what’s going to be longstanding, but I can tell you from what he’s done for me personally, and what he’s done for a lot our friends and our family, that’s what his legacy is, just being a damn good guy and a hell of race car driver.”

Of how proud he is of Johnson, the driver and person, Knaus can only laugh.

“Oh my gosh, kidding me?” he said. “I really look at him like a brother. I really do. So I think like you would with any sibling you want to see what’s best for them and you want them to able to attain their goals, and you want them to be able to do things the way they want to do.

“The one thing that’s great about this whole thing and his career is he can do what he wants and how he wants to do it. I think that’s really special. Not a lot of people get that opportunity.”

Chad Knaus, Hendrick Motorsports, Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR

 

Gordon on Johnson: “I’ve never raced with anybody better”

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emailBy: Kelly Crandall | 7 hours ago

Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson have always had a unique dynamic, so says the four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion.

One could look at how Johnson got the ride at Hendrick Motorsports. In 2001, he approached Gordon asking for advice before a race, which turned into Gordon wanting to hire Johnson for the fourth HMS team.

Or, look at how the two became good friends through the years, and just as fierce competitors. Gordon is also one of the few drivers who will be able to say that he competed against Johnson in basically the same equipment.

“And I can tell you that I’ve never raced with anybody better, and that’s why I respect him so much,” said Gordon.

Johnson went from a mediocre Xfinity Series career to having one of the greatest ever in the Cup Series. Now a seven-time champion, he will retire from full-time competition at the end of the 2020 season. After Johnson informed team owner Rick Hendrick of his intentions, he called Gordon.

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“The way he’s done it — to do it with class, to do it with style, to do it his own way — I appreciate that,” added Gordon. “To me, one legacy that he will leave at least on myself, when I came into the sport, I looked up to other drivers and either tried to emulate them or tried to beat them and hopefully forced them to step their game up. I hope that I did that for others, but I can tell you 100 percent Jimmie did that for me, and others I’m sure.

“I thought that I had things figured out, then Jimmie Johnson comes along and starts beating me on a regular basis, and it forced me to look within myself and go, ‘OK, what am I not doing? What more can I do? What can I do with setups and cars and team? Fitness?’ He elevated my game, and I think that to me is when a driver’s performance on track leaves a legacy behind to others.”

Gordon has four championships of his own, but they all came before Johnson entered the series. Winning his fourth title in ’01 gave way to Johnson becoming a series regular in ’02.

“And then there’s that,” Gordon laughs.

“Honestly, I look back, and something that means a lot to me as a driver was that I kind of stopped Dale Earnhardt from winning his eighth championship. And maybe he would have won it had we not lost him, but I can tell you 1995, had we not been there he would have won it. And you sort of set these benchmarks of challenges — I’m pretty sure Jimmie Johnson didn’t want to see me win another championship, and he was the one that was in the way of making it happen. And he stopped it from happening for several others from getting maybe their first or second.”
By 2005, Johnson and the 48 team had eclipsed Gordon and his 24, but the two managed to remain firm friends. Sutton Images

Whether it’s Gordon or any other driver, an argument could be made that Johnson’s dominance through the 2000s took away the opportunity for someone else to win a championship. Gordon came close, most notably in ’07, but ultimately lost to Johnson, who won four straight races during the playoffs.

Gordon credits Johnson for forcing himself and probably other drivers to step up their commitment level. Whether it was on track or with physical fitness, Johnson works “really, really” hard, related an admiring Gordon.

When Gordon retired following the ’15 season, he did so with 93 wins. Johnson will have 36 points-paying races next year to try and add to his 83 career victories.

“It’s one of the most unique relationships that I’ve ever had in the sport,” said Gordon. “But somewhere along the way, the friendship always outweighed (everything else) — whether I was getting my butt kicked by him or him beating us for a championship. So that’s been really cool the last couple years and certainly the last couple weeks — he and I reminiscing about some of those things.”

Hendrick Motorsports, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR

 

Johnson signs off from NASCAR: "My bucket is full"

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emailBy Kelly Crandall | November 9, 2020 10:10 AM

Jimmie Johnson put together a competitive top-five finish in his final NASCAR start as a full-time competitor Sunday at Phoenix Raceway.

“My bucket is full,” said Johnson. “NASCAR has been so wonderful for me. This journey has been more than I could have ever dreamed of or expected, or hoped for. The last couple of years on track weren’t as I dreamed up, but I’ve experienced the highest of highs and worked with the greatest people, been with one team through this entire journey, and just very thankful for all the people that have helped me get here.”

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Johnson ends his career with 83 career wins, which puts him sixth on the all-time wins list, and seven championships. He completed 19 full seasons and made 686 starts, and just once did Johnson miss a race during his full-time career.

The final two seasons of Johnson’s career did not include a berth in the playoffs. As a result, he finished the lowest in points he has in his career, 18th, in both 2019 and ’20. He also went winless for three consecutive seasons; his final win being at Dover International Speedway in the summer of 2017.

“I’ve let in about as much as I can,” said Johnson of the emotions. “I feel like the offseason will happen, and I won’t have team meetings and 2021 planning meetings, and my trips to the shop won’t be as frequent. I’ll still go and still be around HMS, just because it’s home. But I think as next year comes around and I don’t go to Daytona for the 500, and those firsts that come along, that’s when it’ll continue to set in deeper and deeper then.

“But I feel like I’ve had a special week, a lot of friends in town, I’ve spoken a lot on the phone, a lot of texts, very meaningful conversations, and very thankful that I’ve had that from friends, family, a lot of my peers here today. So, I’m feeling pretty full right now.”

Next season Johnson will run 13 races Chip Ganassi on the road and street courses of the NTT IndyCar Series. Johnson tested last week at Barber and will be back behind the wheel this week for a test at Laguna Seca.

“I’m integrated into the team,” said Johnson. “Certainly, more throughout the offseason will take place. Their season just finished, and obviously, ours did, as well. But I’m plugged in over there and trying to learn what I can and just trying to make the switch from a car with very little downforce to a car with a lot of downforce. I have a big challenge ahead of myself.”

Johnson will be eligible for NASCAR Hall of Fame nomination in two years.

Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR