Johnson misses shot at record 8th title after wrecking at Daytona
DAYTONA BEACH – Jimmie Johnson’s pursuit of a record eighth NASCAR championship is officially over.
Johnson was involved in a multi-car wreck in the late stages of Saturday’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway, leaving the future Hall-of-famer on the outside of NASCAR’S playoff picture.
Johnson finished the regular season six points behind Matt Debenedetto, who claimed the 16th and final postseason spot. William Byron, Johnson’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate, scored his first career win to punch his playoff ticket.
“We had a really good car,” an upbeat Johnson said after the race. “I felt like we had a way to transfer (into the playoffs), to win, and things just got ugly there in Turn 1. It’s unfortunate, but that’s plate racing.
“Congrats to my teammate, though. To get that first Cup win like that, in this setting, with the drama ... that’s a big win for (Crew Chief) Chad (Knaus) and William.”
Johnson entered the night four points behind Byron for the final playoff spot, but did what he had to do early, scoring the second-most playoff points in the field over the first two stages.
Johnson fell behind midway through the final stage, but managed to avoid the night’s first ‘Big One’ with five laps to go when – a 10-car pileup that brought out an extended red flag.
When the field went back to green, Johnson worked his way through the field and was running behind the leaders when Joey Logano got turned going into Turn 1.Johnson went high to avoid the mayhem but he couldn’t escape Matt Kenseth’s No. 42, which clipped his right-rear and sent him spinning into the middle of the field.
Johnson’s No. 48 team did everything they could to repair the car, but the damage was already done.
“I don’t know what I could have done differently,” Johnson said. “That’s tough to overcome. I still only missed it by six points. We did all that we could.
“I’m so thankful for Hendrick and the career I’ve had there. There are still 10 races left, though, and 10 trophies to chase.”
Johnson’s seven Cup titles are tied for the most in series history with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt Sr. His 83 career Cup Series wins is tied for sixth on the all-time list.
Debenedetto narrowly avoided the chaos that ended Johnson’s night, and nursed his No. 21 Ford to a 12th place finish – good enough to punch his first career playoff ticket.
Erik Jones, another driver on the playoff bubble entering the night, saw his race end when he was caught up in the 10-car wreck late in Stage 3. Clint Bowyer, meanwhile, clinched a playoff spot after earning enough points in Stage 1 to secure his position inside the Top-16.
The 10-race NASCAR postseason will begin next week at Darlington.