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VOTE for the best driver MUG SHOT!
Will the Real Jimmie Johnson Please Step Forward?
3/14/08: SOZ Studios, MI - By Dennis Michelsen "DMIC" (RaceTalkRadio.com)
It is incredibly tough to three-peat in any sport! Cale Yarbrough is the only driver to accomplish that in NASCAR back in 1976 to 78. But to see the No. 48 team struggle so bad at Las Vegas and then at Atlanta was strange. Usually when the car starts out evil crew chief Chad Knaus does his magic and voile the car finishes in the top ten! In the Kobalt Tools 500 Jimmie Johnson would have finished two or more laps down if not for well-timed cautions. Will the real Jimmie Johnson please step forward?
Loose Cars Sink JJ
Last season on the smaller tracks we didn't get to see the true issue with the new Car of Tomorrow design. Even when these cars are handling at their best they tend to be a handful to drive. So far on the speedways the drivers that can handle a loose racecar have had the most success. This is not Johnson's specialty. So far Chad Knaus has not found the right combination to make the car driver better for the two-time champion. This team was the king of coil binding but so far the bump stops have them stumped!
Summer Time Could Get Ugly
The last few seasons have followed the same script for the No. 48 team. They get off to a fantastic start when the weather is cool and the cars will grip the track. But each summer they tail off. When the tracks get slick Jimmie Johnson struggles. Can you imagine how evil this car might handle in hot temps on a fast speedway? The No. 48 team better get their act together real soon or the summer heat will wilt their shot at the three-peat!
Built for the Chase
Would Jimmie Johnson ever have won a championship without the Chase format? This makes for a terrific debate. While the Chase format cheapens the championships there was no doubt that last season showed that this team is built for the Chase format. It doesn't matter if your team has a sluggish period during the season it is all about finishing strong. Since Jimmie Johnson is best when the weather is cooler the Chase format is built for him.
Balancing on a Pin
Try balancing a playing card on the tip of your finger. As long as you don't have a stiff breeze bothering you the card will stay without much practice at all. Now balance that same playing card on the tip of a pin. It is much more difficult and doesn't take much to knock it off. Welcome to the set up for the Car of Tomorrow design when compared to the old car. Chad Knaus will find a way to make these cars drive better for Jimmie Johnson, but it will take time.
Conclusion
Going into this season Jimmie Johnson was the runaway pick in the RaceTalkRadio Top 20. Our poll voters include some of the best beat writers and broadcasters covering NASCAR and their consensus is usually reliable. This week those same voters that include guys like David Poole, Monte Dutton, Dave Moody, Godwin Kelly, and Kenny Bruce just to mention a few have dropped Johnson to 12th. While the smart money is betting on the team to turn things around they better hurry up. Summer time is a few months away and this team could struggle badly when the weather heats up. Will the real Jimmie Johnson please step forward? Your fans are looking for a reason to cheer!
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