Jimmie Johnson’s Goal Was to Wreck Busch
Jimmie Johnson Admits That His Goal Was To Wreck Kurt Busch.
It looks like Jimmie Johnson has got his horseshoe back. In the closing laps of Sunday’s Lenox Industrial Tools 301 in New Hampshire Kurt Busch moved race leader  jimmie Johnson out of the racing groove and passed him for the lead. A roar erupted from the grandstand as Busch began to drive away.
“When we got going on the restart, Kurt knocked me out of the way, and I thought, ‘I don’t care if I win this race or not. I don’t care if I finish this damn thing. Â I am running into him and getting back by him one way or another,” Jimmie Johnson said.
Johnson was not done yet. A few laps later Johnson put the same move on Busch and held on to win the race.
“I have to say I was a little shocked,†No. 48 Johnson said. I haven’t spoken to him or really seen any video to know. If it was his intentions, that’s the first time in nine years racing with him that I have experienced that. It will definitely change the way that I race with him.â€
After the race Kurt Busch said that he didn’t think that Johnson would intentionally wreck him to get the win.
“I hate that he felt that I wasn’t going to wreck him because that was my goal was to wreck him,†said Jimmie Johnson. “I usually get caught up in it, so I knew what my thought process was. Wreck his ass.”
The win was Johnson’s fifth victory in 2010 and 2nd in a row.
Kasey Kahne put on a strong showing for Ford leading 110 laps until suffering an engine failure.
Jack Roush, leader of the Ford contingent, was seen walking away from pit road before the race was over. That was a serious statement. Roush never leaves early. But he had seen enough today. His best finishing car was Greg Biffle in 16th place.
Jeff Burton was leading late in the race when a caution flag flew. Burton’s crew chief made the call to stay out when everyone else pitted for tires. But if Burton had pitted everyone else would have stayed out so he was in a no win situation. Burton quickly lost the lead. Then he was involved in an incident with Kyle Busch that sent Busch for a spin and both of them had to pit for tires.
Dale Earnhardt Jr continued to show steady improvement. Junior started 31st and finished 8th. Dale Jr will be in Victory Lane before the end of the year. Maybe as soon as Saturday Night at Daytona.
But it’s what you as a fan thinks that is most important. What do you think about today’s race?
Photo Courtesy NASCAR Media
Jeff Gordon & Jimmie Johnson Have At It
Jeff Gordon’s New Enemy May be the Best Thing to Happen to Him
Jeff Gordon once had a pretty tough driver racing against him to keep him on his toes and make him race his best. That driver wasn’t afraid to bang on Gordon’s bumper, question his manhood and hang nicknames on him like WonderBoy.
That driver was Dale Earnhardt.
Dale would intimidate Gordon and keep him on his toes. Dale Earnhardt made Jeff Gordon a better driver.
It should come as no surprise that Jeff Gordon hasn’t won a championship since 2001.
But now Gordon has a new enemy. Jimmie Johnson. Gordon and Johnson are taking NASCAR’s suggestion to “have at it, boys†to heart.
As Jeff Gordon was passing the No. 48 at Talladega Sunday Johnson moved Gordon out of the racing groove and Gordon fell through the field like a rock. Before he could regain his momentum Gordon was involved in a wreck.
“I can tell you the 48 is testing my patience. It takes a lot to make me mad and I am pissed right now.”
“He’s been testing my patience and it’s about reached its boiling point.”
“I was coming 10 mph faster than anybody. I don’t know what it is with me and him right now, but whatever,” Gordon said.
Last week at Texas Gordon moved Johnson out of the way in a pass for the lead. Johnson retaliated by slamming into the door of Gordon’s No. 24 Chevrolet.
“Four time’s a little upset,” Gordon said sarcastically. “He just wants to be treated different than everybody else.”
Jeff Gordon has finally had enough of Jimmie Johnson. And it doesn’t matter that Johnson is his teammate, or that Gordon owns an interest in the No. 48 car, or that Gordon helped Johnson get a ride at Hendrick Motorsports.
Gordon and Johnson are not friends any longer. They are going out for beer and pizza any time soon. Don’t look for Jimmie Johnson to hitch a ride on Jeff Gordon’s jet for the next race.
Jeff Gordon is really fired up over Jimmie Johnson winning all the races and championships. Gordon wants his share.
Jeff, what took you so long? Do you think Jimmie Johnson will get the message?
Photo courtesy NASCAR Media
The Nancy Pelosi Secret to Winning in NASCAR
Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus have mastered the art of psychological gamesmanship. They are experts at getting inside the hearts and minds of their opponents.
Drivers are more concerned about beating Jimmie Johnson than they are about making their own cars faster.
Johnson enjoys the games. “I get caught up in that mind game stuff and find a lot of satisfaction in it,†Jimmie Johnson said. “I told Chad before the year was over I want to win a lot to frustrate the competitors.
Kurt Busch is concerned
Just look at Kurt Busch’s remarks after losing at Bristol despite dominating the race and leading 278 laps.
“I don’t know, I’d rather lose to any of the 41 cars out there than the 48 car,†Busch said
“It’s up to the best of us to knock him off the top,†Busch said after losing to Johnson in the closing laps of Sunday’s Food City 500 at Bristol. “So it’s rough. You know, they’ve won three times this year. Not that we need to, deserve to win, it’s just that they are winning every chance they’re given. We just need to position ourselves more to get those wins.â€
Matt Kenseth is worried about Johnson, too. During the spoiler test this week at Charlotte Motor Speedway Kenseth was asked about the upcoming race at Martinsville and Johnson’s winning record there. “He’s good everywhere,†said Kenseth.
What drivers can learn from Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi knows how to play mind games all too well. She called President George Bush a “total failure†when Bush criticized Congress’s inaction on important legislation.
“God bless him, bless his heart, President of the United States — a total failure, losing all credibility with the American people,†said Pelosi.
When Barack Obama was pushing for passage of his Obama Care plan Pelosi urged her colleagues to vote for it. “But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it’†urged Pelosi.
There are a few NASCAR drivers who can stand to learn a thing or two about mind games from Pelosi.
Chad Knaus does the same thing to other crew chiefs. He’s been known to walk through the garage on the morning of the race with a rear spring over his shoulder headed to the race car – but never intending to change a thing on the car.
He just wants to get the other crew chiefs talking – to throw them off their game.
When the No. 48 team was invited to participate in a Goodyear tire test late last year many drivers including Greg Biffle were complaining that Johnson was gaining an unfair advantage. Here’s how Chad Knaus responded to that:
“But as far as sending a message, I hope it does. I hope people talk about it. Like I said earlier, I hope people are worried. I hope people are talking about the fact that we tire tested and it’s wrong. All these people can get wound up about stuff that really doesn’t matter,” said Knaus.
Dale Earnhardt was the master
I haven’t seen anyone this good at psychological racing since Dale Earnhardt. He wasn’t known as The Intimidator just for what happened on the race track.
Once at Talladega when all the other drivers were busy dialing their cars in during practice Dale shook things up with a very simple move. He parked his car in the garage, covered it up, and went fishing.
Dale Earnhardt won 10 Cup races at Talladega.
Earnhardt once struck fear into the hearts of his fellow drivers when he made his famous comment about drivers complaining about the high speeds at Daytona. Essentially, he told them if they were afraid to drive the car they should go home.
So who else in NASCAR is good at psyching out their competitors? What tactics have you seen played out by drivers? I’d be happy to hear about it in the comments, or feel free to contact me.
Can anyone beat Jimmie Johnson at Martinsville?
Is there any reason for NASCAR to run a race in Martinsville next week?
It seems like Jimmie Johnson wins every time we go there. Johnson has 6 wins at the half- mile Virginia paperclip. His average finish is 5.1.
So far this year Johnson has won 3 of 5 Sprint Cup races. He is the man to beat at Martinsville.
How do Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus do it?
The No. 48 team’s domination can’t be good for NASCAR – long known for keeping an equal playing field.
You don’t have to look any farther than the grandstands at Bristol to see that. There were 50,000 empty seats on Sunday. And Bristol has been sold out for 55 straight races.
Can anyone beat Jimmie Johnson at Martinsville
Pit Strategy Costs Gordon
Jeff Gordon Hands Victory to Jimmie Johnson
Jeff Gordon was pretty upbeat following Sunday’s Shelby American at Las Vegas Motor Speedway – despite the fact that a late race pit call cost him the win.
“It was a great day for us, dominating performance. The car was awesome, everything was good,†said Gordon. “The fact that we lost the race, now Chad looks like a genius.â€
Can he really be all that thrilled after leading 219 laps?
Gordon’s crew chief cost him the race. Why did Steve LeTarte call for only 2 tires?
Gordon proved that he could drive to the lead over and over Sunday. When he overshot his pit stall and had to re-start in traffic he quickly regained the lead.
Maybe Gordon and LeTarte thought Jimmie Johnson was on a 2 tire strategy as well, but Johnson ended up taking 4 tires.
“I had no doubt in my mind we could hold him off with four tires,†said Gordon. That makes it even more puzzling as to why he only took 2 and virtually handed the race to Johnson.
“Between the two cars, the 48 and the 24, whoever got out front at the end of that race was going to win the race if you had equal tires. I mean, we were very, very equal. They were better at certain stages of the run, but he couldn’t pass me,†said Gordon.
I don’t know if there was any communication between the 24 and 48 teams, but the 4 fresh tires are what won Johnson the race.
“You got to give ‘em credit where credit’s due. They’re very strong, a very good team,†said Jeff Gordon of the No. 48 team.
Chad Knaus just plain out-strategized Steve LeTarte on pit road.
“It came down to pit stops,†said Jimmie Johnson.
So what are Jimmie’s plans for the next race? “We’ll just come back this week and take the trophy again,†said Johnson.
So do we even need to have a race in Atlanta Sunday, or do we need to just write Jimmie Johnson’s name in the record book?
Photo Courtesy Nascar Media
Earnhardt and Johnson Repeat
How Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr are Making it Look Like Last Year All Over Again
It looked like 2009 all over again at Fontana Sunday. Jimmie Johnson could do no wrong, while Dale Earnhardt Jr couldn’t catch a break.
Can this be a good sign for NASCAR?
When Earnhardt broke an axle it was mass confusion in the pit box. Crew 
chief Lance McGrew wasn’t even sure there was a replacement axle in the war wagon.
Brian Vickers broke an axle last year at Atlanta. Vickers’ crew changed the axle without losing a lap. That move was a key reason why Vickers was in the Chase – and Kyle Busch was not.
Why did it take the No. 88 pit crew 12 laps to make a similar repair?
Jimmie Johnson was on the other end of the lucky horseshoe. He was on pit road when a caution came out and was within less than a second of going a lap down. Not long after that he was leading.
Johnson was challenged by Kevin Harvick in the closing laps until Harvick scraped the wall with his No. 29 Chevrolet. After that all Johnson had to do was cruise to the checkered flag.
Do you want to watch the 2009 season all over again? Can this really be good for NASCAR?
Photo Courtesy Hendrick Motorsports
Jimmie Johnson as Good as Dale Earnhardt?
Dale Jr Ranks Jimmie Johnson Alongside His Father
Dale Earnhardt Jr said that Jimmie Johnson – knocking on the door of a 4th NASASR Championship – was just as good as Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty and David Pearson.
“You definitely have to put him there in with my father, Richard and David Pearson, and all them guys,†Dale Earnhardt Jr said.
Do you agree with Junior? Does Jimmie Johnson belong in the same class as Dale Earnhardt?
Photo Courtesy Hendrick Motorsports
Is Jimmie Johnson Cheating?
Do You Think Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus are Cheating?
I’m taking a quick poll. Do you think Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus are violating any NASCAR rules — or are they just really that good?
After all, NASCAR has had the No. 48 car back at the NASCAR R&D Facility after almost every race, and they still haven’t found anything.
What is really going on with Chad and Jimmie — cheating or just really good?
Share Your Opinion on Martinsville
Martinsville: Have Your Say
Over the final 53 laps Denny Hamlin held off Jimmie Johnson on 3 double-file restarts to win the Tums Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville.
Jimmie Johnson had won 5 of the last 6 Martinsville races and he looked to be a contender in this one. But Hamlin would deny him in the end.
Still Johnson increased his lead in the Championship standings by 118 points over Mark Martin.
Gordon Leads Early
Jeff Gordon showed strength early in the race as he bumped Martin Truex Jr out of the way on the way to the front of the pack. Gordon would later complain when Juan Pablo Montoya used the same move on him.
Still Gordon was in the lead by lap 22. But by lap 59 Jimmie Johnson would edge past Gordon for the lead after starting 15th.
Earnhardt’s Troubles Begin
Dale Earnhardt saw trouble early on in the race when he blew a right front tire. The cause for the flat tire turns out to be a melted bead on the tire caused by excessive heat build-up from the brakes.
None of Earnhardt’s teammates experienced a similar problem so it’s not clear why he was having brake and tire problems.  This would not be the last time he would have problems today.
On lap 128 Earnhardt hit the wall. Again the problem was a melted bead due to excessive brake heat. Earnhardt would go 2 laps down
By lap 163 Juan Pablo Montoya was in the lead, but by lap 1836 Denny Hamlin would be out front.
Hamlin Dominant
Denny Hamlin had the dominant car most of the day leading the most laps at 205.
By lap 251 Dale Earnhardt Jr was back on the lead lap. He would not stay there, though. The No 88 Chevrolet continued to suffer tire and brake problems.
By lap 321 Jimmie Johnson was out front and most of the remaining laps would be a battle between Hamlin and Johnson. On lap 362 Johnson and Hamlin battled side by side with Hamlin coming out on top.
Hamlin held off Jimmie Johnson on a green white checkered restart to take the win.
Why No Caution?
On the final lap John Andretti spun his car at the start-finish line. Even though Andretti’s car was sitting on the racetrack NASCAR did not throw the caution flag until the last second leaving Chad Knaus, crew chief for Jimmie Johnson, asking why?
So here’s your chance to share your opinion. What did you think about the race?
Will a 4th Jimmie Johnson Championship be Bad for NASCAR
Will Another Jimmie Johnson Championship be bad for NASCAR?
If Jimmie Johnson wins a record 4 NASCAR Championships in a row this year it will be great for you if you are a Jimmie Johnson fan. It will also be great for Johnson, Chad Knaus, Rick Hendrick and the whole No. 48 team.
Lowes and the rest of Johnson’s sponsors will be happy.
But it will be bad for NASCAR as a whole. Race fans will not watch on TV or buy a ticket as often if the same team keeps winning the title over and over
When one race team can win the Championship 4 years in a row it doesn’t say much for how close the competition is with the COT race car.
When Jimmie Johnson won the Pepsi 500 at California’s Auto Club Speedway he took over the Sprint Cup points lead. That doesn’t guarantee he will win it – but apparently Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus have something figured out that no one else has. The No. 48 car has won 9 of the last 19 Chase races. When one driver wins half the races something is wrong.
Do we really have a level playing field?