LDN - Sports

Doing it his way, Johnson wins at Texas

[April 11, 2017] By Jonathan Ingram, The Sports Xchange

Maybe we should be calling Jimmie Johnson the Bearded Fox.

As with the renowned Silver Fox, also known as David Pearson, it's hard to figure out how Johnson gets from the back to the front, like he did Sunday to win the seventh round of the NASCAR Cup season at the Texas Motor Speedway. He is, as the saying goes, sneaky fast.

Johnson started last in the field as a result of replacing a tire after qualifying, was running second by the end of the second stage, then came from 21st to first in the final stage. All in a day's racing for the seven-time Cup champion, who rarely makes spectacular moves even though he makes spectacular progress.

Hall of Famer Pearson generally bided his time early in races to avoid using up his equipment and to avoid accidents born of haste. He eventually was given his Silver Fox nickname by legendary radio announcer Barney Hall while en route to one of his 10 victories at the Darlington Raceway later in his career, when there was snow on the rooftop but still plenty of fire in the belly.

Leonard Wood, crew chief for the Wood Brothers Mercury that Pearson drove to many a victory, enjoys telling the story of one of the driver's wins at Darlington.

Early in the race, Pearson was almost lapped by Buddy Baker. But by the end of the race, leader Pearson came around to put Baker a second lap down and, according to Wood, lit a cigarette while passing Baker, using the lighter installed in his car's dashboard. It was, needless to say, a reminder to Baker just how easy it was to get by.

Times have changed since then. The in-car cigarette lighter, for one thing, disappeared with Dick Trickle. And drivers, who share the same motor home lot 36 weekends a year, no longer show up one another on the track or try to otherwise psychologically browbeat each other into submission.

Now showing some flecks of silver in his beard, the sport's third seven-time champion is the epitome of the low-key approach to stock car racing. Inside Johnson's helmet, he believes he's capable of outrunning the field on any given day. But in public, he more resembles the would-be great Walter Mitty than he resembles the seven-time champs who preceded him -- King Richard Petty or The Intimidator, Dale Earnhardt.

One could say that the dip in popularity of NASCAR results in part from the lack of friction and rivalry between drivers -- and Johnson's unwillingness to show some swagger or intimidate. That would be the stuff of good ol' legends and Johnson has never bought into it. Yet, there is that Pearson-like quality to his driving and attitude. And there are plenty of fans wearing Johnson's colors.

After victory in Texas, his first this year and the 81st of his career, Johnson was asked about his comeback in Homestead, Fla., that earned him his most recent title and Sunday's last-to-first performance. He replied that overconfidence is the biggest enemy.

"It's very easy to step over that line and bust your butt, from a pit call being too aggressive, too aggressive on pit lane in the car, passing other cars like we did today," Johnson said. "I had to be so patient, and in the end, the patience kind of paid off for me."

Chad Knaus, his crew chief and co-conspirator in all his victories and championships, says that Johnson's ability to remain even-keeled has much to do with his success.

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"It seems as though we have in times of turmoil and distress managed to get some pretty solid finishes with the 48 car, and I think that's a true testament to Jimmie and his ability to not waver," said Knaus. "Like, he doesn't get spooked. He doesn't get too crazy. He keeps his calm. He's very calm in nature as we all know. So him doing that and allowing us to work on the race car the way that we need to without panic setting in, I think there's definitely an element to that."

Johnson has not been the epitome of a smooth-driving champion this year. He's been caught speeding -- which is generally an error of execution rather than one of a lack of control -- more than once on the pit road. He's been for a spin, or two, presumably while pursuing the outer edges of the envelope of NASCAR's new low downforce configuration. And he's been slow on the uptake when it comes to the new stage system.

His five playoff bonus points for winning Sunday's race were his first from the 49 that have been meted out in seven races. He has yet to win a stage and the playoff bonus point that goes with it.

Johnson can be sharp and egotistical. Referring to criticism about his slow start on the heels of his seventh title, he suggested after Sunday's victory that "maybe I didn't forget how to drive after all."

On the other hand, the generally self-effacing Johnson has also acknowledged that the new stage format does not suit his more laid-back approach to qualifying or the early laps of a race, which have generally served as a time to dial in his chassis. On Sunday, the car started fast and got faster midway in the event after adjustments.

Appearing in the same Wood Brothers colors that Pearson helped make famous, Ryan Blaney was the driver who initially appeared to have the new configuration at TMS and the new pavement best figured out. Doing nothing to dispel the idea that stage racing is younger man's game, Blaney led 148 of the first 172 laps while looking for his first career victory at age 23.

Blaney won the two opening stages, holding a fast-rising Johnson off in the run to the flag to end the second stage. When 19 cars stayed out during the subsequent caution, Blaney re-started 20th. Behind him was Johnson in the Hendrick Motorsports Chevy.

Johnson went on to win the race and Blaney struggled, particularly after he got blocked by lapped traffic. Blaney then slid through his pit box during a caution that re-grouped the field, ending his chances before finishing 12th.

Although Johnson suffered dehydration due to a faulty drinking tube and needed three bags of IV fluids after the race, his second charge through the field was not affected. He developed cramps in his left side on the high-speed banking while maneuvering past Joey Logano to take the lead. He suffered more cramps in victory lane, but there was no cramping the stuff of champions.

Needless to say, Johnson is now qualified for this year's playoffs with 19 races left to run in the regular season. That eighth title still looms large.

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