In 2018, kids set to join Johnson
Seven-time champ, youngsters tomake up Hendrick team.
Hendrick CHARLOTTE,N.C.— Motorsports will unveil its four Daytona 500 cars later this week in a ceremony at the Charlotte Convention Center. It will be the first appearance for Hendrick’s 2018 driver lineup, which is anchored by unflappable seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson. Alongside Johnson will be: ■ Chase Elliott, a 21-yearold still seeking his first victory as JeffGordon’s replacement. He coughed away yet anotherwinSundaywhenhe couldn’t hold off Kyle Busch in the final laps at Dover.
■ AlexBowman, a23-yearold who efficiently filled in for Dale Earnhardt Jr. last year. Bowman has raced in twoNASCARnational events so far this year.
■William Byron, who is making a rapid climb through NASCAR’s ranks. Although he turns just 20 next month, he was rushed from the Trucks Series last year into the Xfinity Series this year and he’ll be in Cup next year for mighty Hendrick Motorsports.
When Earnhardt signed with Hendrick in 2008, it created the closest thing in NASCAR to the 1927 New York Yankees. There had never before been such a collection of star power and talent in one organization.
Now? Well, Hendrick Motorsports has gone from a dream team of millionaires to a team of millennials dreaming of their first win. That was evident Sunday when Johnson was one of the first at Elliott’s window following a humbling defeat. Elliott had the race well in hand until Busch simply chased him down and snatched the win away with just over a lap to go.
“I knew I couldn’t make him feel any better,” Johnson said. “Just trying to be there for him, let him vent, let him get those first few sentences out. I just know from my own experience, it’s just nice to kind of vent and get through that.”
So begins the new role of mentor for Johnson, who will be surrounded by a boy band of sortswhen he starts his 17th season at Hendrick next year. When that lineup debuts Thursday night in front of their 2018 Chevrolets, it will be impossible not to look andwonder how in the world Rick Hendrick let this happen. And, when faced with the reality of the situation, why didn’thebring in free agent MattKenseth for at least a year to give Johnson a supporting cast?
Thismess beganwhen Jeff Gordon made 2015 his final season. That earned Elliott a quick promotion to the Cup Series. Then a concussion sidelined Earnhardt for half of last year. Enter Bowman, who despite having zero credentials to drive the No. 88, did well enough filling in for Earnhardt to earn the job next year.
Andwhen Kasey Kahne’s time ran out with the team — and that was long before his July victory at Indianapolis — it was Byron who got called up to the big leagues.
Consider: If Johnson wins his record eighth title this year, Byron won’t be old enough to legally attend the championship party. Bummer, too, since Snoop Dogg played last year’s party.
If Hendrick actually has a trioof futureHall of Famers in his stable, then good for him. But there’s noway this changing of the guardwon’t come with serious growing pains for the organization. Elliott has proven that raw talent and fast race cars can make you a contender, but it takes racing smarts and experience to make it to victory lane.