Written by Adrian Beecher
Daytona, FL – Jimmie Johnson found his way back into victory lane on Saturday after a late crash, started by a pass Johnson was making on Paul Menard for the lead. A situation that Johnson chalks up as just good ole plate racing
After the crash on lap 56, the rain fell and brought out the 3rd red flag of the race for weather, at which point, NASCAR elected to call the 75 lap race complete after lap 59. With Johnson the leader at the time, he claimed the victory.
“Yeah, I guess I need to look at it some more. I was inside of him for a little while before things went haywire, so I don’t know what caused his car to get out of control. I didn’t hit his rear bumper cover. I made a move and got to the inside and was side drafting him, and his car started wobbling. So I don’t know what caused it. It’s the last way I want to win a race. I’ve lost plenty this way. Restrictor plates usually do end this way. So I don’t know — it’s plate racing. I’m here to win races, and I hate there are a bunch of tore-up cars, but I didn’t drive through a car and create a wreck.”
Despite it being a win, it doesn’t have the same feel for Jimmie as a points race Cup win. Ironically enough, he didn’t enter victory lane the way he would after any normal points Cup race either, as he walked over to Gatorade Victory Lane high-fiving fans as his crew wheeled the No. 48 Chevrolet, with its new Ally Bank paint scheme, into the gated checkered pavilion. So, no burnout or any after effects, mostly due to weather.
“You know, points races are different, but we’ll take this. You know, we still need a points race win to say we’ve been back to Victory Lane. It’s a great first step today to get first reps with Kevin, a lot of new members on the team, to bring Ally into the sport with a victory and qualifying third. Just a really big day for the 48 team, and just building the confidence that we’re going to need to carry into the season.”
It was race number one for Johnson and his new crew chief Kevin Meendering, who came over from the Xfinity series, where he was the crew chief for perennial championship contender Elliott Sadler. A relationship that looks to go on for many years if Johnson has anything to say about it.
“Kevin and I, this team have mentioned it many times, many different ways, I’m far from done. So for us today, there was no other thought process than to try to go out and win the pole and win the race, and we came close to doing both.”
Johnson had previously worked with Chad Knaus for 17 years under Hendrick Motorsports. Team owner Rick Hendrick wanted to shake things up going into the 2019 season as he announced in October of 2018, and moved Knaus to the No. 24 with driver William Byron behind the wheel. So Johnson and Knaus remain close as they go through this transition together.
“You know, it’s a transition for both of us, and we’re both working through it on the professional side, but the personal side, we’ve been great friends for a long time.” said Johnson, “Both of us want to make sure that our friendship is one that lasts a lifetime and that we’re here for each other outside of — inside the racing bubble, but certainly outside with family and all the other stuff that goes with it.”
It looks like Hendricks knew exactly what he was doing as the 24 team captured the pole and Johnson and the No. 48 snagged the Clash win to wrap up week one of Speedweeks. The question is, can this momentum carry over into the Daytona 500 and beyond?
“Into the week, I feel good. It’s tough to say what you have in Daytona for these two weeks really carry into the season and Atlanta, Phoenix, California, all that stuff. So for this week and the success that we had today in qualifying and today on track, absolutely, it was a great sign for the week ahead.” said Johnson.
