Building a Championship, Brick by Brick
In 2004, it seemed that Jimmie Johnson would earn his first championship. He would have won it, in fact, under the ‘old’ title format that had been in place throughout NASCAR’s modern era.
But that was the year Chairman Brian France instituted the “Chase for the Nextel Cup”, effectively creating a playoff system of sorts.
Since then, the Lowes team, which has been stellar throughout the season until about the time football season starts, has struggled during the stretch run to the Chase, as well as during the ten race Chase itself.
In 2004, the first year of the new championship format, Jimmie came into the Brickyard 400 having lead the points standings for seven weeks. He started 9th that day and finished 36th.
In the next two weeks Johnson started on the pole at Watkins Glen and Michigan. He finished 40th at each event. After a 3rd the next week at Bristol, Johnson had finishes of 14th and 36th heading into the Chase. He slipped to 2nd in the standings.
Then, the new ‘Chase rules’ came into play. The point differentials were wiped clean and every team in the top 10 were seperated by a mere 5 points per position. They were the only ten that were eligible to win the ‘04 championship. Over the next four races, the Lowes team had dropped to near the bottom of the list of championship contenders, 9th out of ten. It was at that point that the team went on one of the biggest tears in recent Cup history.
They won four of the last 6 races, including three in a row, but weren’t able to overcome their early Chase struggles, finishing second to Kurt Busch.
In 2005, the Chad Knaus led #48 team lead the championship standings for 16 of the 20 weeks heading into Indy. They finished 38th that day. They had fallen to 6th by the first Chase race at Loudon. Johnson climbed back to 2nd heading into the final race at Homestead-Miami Speedway…only to finish 40th there and fall to 5th in the final championship run-down…matching the lowest the team had been in points since week one.
Is this finally Jimmie’s year?
Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus have one of the closest driver-crew chief relationships in Nextel Cup racing. It’s evident when you hear them on the radio during the races. Sunday’s race for the #48 team could have proven disasterous for many other teams that don’t operate as smoothly as that Lowes team does.
On lap 39, Jimmie blew a left-front tire. Debris from the tire caused the caution flag to be displayed. Johnson brought the car down pit road and the team went about the business of repairing the fender, with the calm voice of Knaus instructing along the way.
Knowing they would have to restart from the back of the field, Chad knew they could take their time to get the repairs right. His calmness on the radio during a time of crisis, not getting agitated, seemed to have a positve effect on the guys doing the work. They repaired the fender with tape and used a small hammer to smooth out the rough areas.
When Jimmie got back out, Chad assured him that he still had the fastest car on the track. Jimmie reponded that he knew that, but was nervous about having to pick his way through all that traffic. Chad expressed confidence that Johnson would be fine.
Was he ever.
On lap 116, Jimmie Johnson had made his way through the field and led his first lap at Indianapolis ever. The team had built a large lead by lap 141, when a caution for debris sent the leaders to pit road. Johnson’s team elected to take four tires.
Four cars that had been running near the rear of the field, including Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr., elected to stay out for track position. After a few dicey laps and some three-wide racing, Jimmie Johnson made his way around Denny Hamlin and Matt Kenseth, setting his sights on the #8, and #5, who Jimmie knew were on older tires.
Earnhardt Jr. and Kyle Busch were no match for the much faster Lowes Chevy. Johnson passed the #5 first, then the #8 with eight laps to go. He went on to give his car owner, Rick Hendrick, another precious win at the Brickyard.
We will continue to watch to see if this team will finally capture the title they have been in contention for over the last few years. They have definately made a positive move in that direction, winning at the world’s most famous track. This just might be the year the #48 team builds it’s first Nextel Cup Championship…
…brick by brick.