Heading into the 2010 race season, Jimmie Johnson was, of course, among the favorite preseason picks to claim the Sprint Cup Series title, yet again. He headed into the season as the reigning four-time champion and there didn’t look to be anybody who could knock him off his pedestal to keep him from claiming a fifth-straight.
The season started just as expected with Johnson visiting victory lane following three of the first five races of the season. But after five races, NASCAR made a significant change to the Cup car that seemed to put a chink in Johnson’s armor—the switch from the wing that made its debut with the car of tomorrow a couple years prior to a new rear spoiler.
When the new spoiler arrived, Johnson, crew chief Chad Knaus and the No. 48 team seemed to have problems with it. It’s not that their first several finishes with the new spoiler on the car were in the toilet by any stretch of the imagination. They just weren’t the top finishes people had come to expect from them.
The team did seem to figure things out and get back to its winning ways at, of all places, a road course. Johnson broke back into victory lane with his first career road course win—a victory at Infineon Raceway. He followed that up with another win one race later.
The resurgence was short-lived. Sure, most drivers would love to have the season Johnson’s had this year. But 2010—while its had its highs—has provided more lows than normal for the No. 48 team.
Johnson looks to be in the midst of his second slump of the season. He only has one top-10 finish since his most recent win that came at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on June 27, and that was just barely a top-10—a 10th-place showing at Pocono.
In the most recent seven races on the Cup schedule, Johnson posted five finishes outside the top-20, and two of those were outside the top-30.
Johnson fans shouldn’t be worried, though—not with the Chase format. Of course, under the old points system, Johnson would pretty much already be eliminated from championship contention. After all, he’s ninth in points, 444 markers behind leader Kevin Harvick.
Johnson detractors are quick to say that Johnson wouldn’t have his four-consecutive Sprint Cup titles if it weren’t for the Chase system. If the driver makes it five-straight this season, the Chase format will definitely be his saving grace this year.
With Chase rules being what they are, Johnson will move into a tie with Denny Hamlin for the points lead after two more races—that is if Hamlin doesn’t win this weekend at Atlanta or next week at Richmond.
Because of the dominance and bonus points he accumulated early on in the season, Johnson will have his slate not only wiped clean but with a lead to start the Chase. If he can get the ship righted from just being slightly off course, Johnson still has as good a shot as ever to claim that fifth-straight Sprint Cup trophy.
Don’t rule out a fifth championship just yet.
Are you on Twitter? If so, follow @AutoRacingDaily. Amanda is also on Twitter: @nascarexaminer.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 09/03 at 01:43 PM
.jpg)
| 
|