Era coming to an end for Johnson, Knaus
Driver, crew chief paired for recordtying seven NASCAR championships
The ballgame is almost over. Just one more time for NASCAR’s Tinker to Evers to Chance to turn the big play. Make the winning move. Hear the crowd roar.
It’s down to Sunday’s Ford 400, at Homestead-Miami Speedway, for Jimmie Johnson, Chad Knaus and Lowe’s. After that maybe they’ll tip their caps in a sign of respect. A 17-year combination, which defined talent and success every bit as much as baseball’s fabled doubleplay trio, will end.
Come 2019, they’ll be wearing different uniforms.
Sunday’s Can-Am 500, which officially showcased ISM Raceway’s $178 million modern facilities for the first time before a sold-out grandstand crowd of 42,000, didn’t fare any better than the rest of this downer of a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season for Johnson and crew chief Knaus. They teamed up in 2002 and won 83 races, an unprecedented five consecutive Cups and record-tying seven in total, but Sunday finished an unspectacular 15th.
Johnson’s new crew chief will be Kevin Meendering, who has led Elliott Sadler in the Xfinity Series. Knaus’ new driver will be William Byron, who has four top-10 rookie-season finishes in owner Rick Hendrick’s No. 24, made famous by Jeff Gordon. (No pressure there.) Sponsor Lowe’s home improvement stores is leaving the sport entirely.
Hendrick has admitted that Johnson and Knaus love each other like brothers but also fight like brothers. He once held a milk-and-cookies meeting to air differences and keep them together, which gave berth to the run of five consecutive Cups.
While all involved have maintained a professional public face, back in the No. 48 team hauler, out of view, emotions have sometimes been raw. That’s where The Arizona Republic went for an exclusive interview.
“A lot of those emotions came to reality months ago when we started addressing this change,” Johnson said. “The most current emotion is frustration. We’re not running like we need to and, the crazy thing is, I see the effort on all sides. For whatever reason, we are not getting the results. That’s really the big piece why this change is happening.
“In some respects, it’s embarrassing. We can’t go any faster. So that stuff has been tough. Honestly, at the end of last year, we were very, very unhappy with where we were as a team. Unfortunately this year has just been more of that.
“I had to come to grips with (possible change) in the late spring and early summer. It hasn’t been an easy thing to see through. The respect, the relationship, I have with Chad, his family, his history with my family, this is not an easy change to make. But I wouldn’t be in the process of seeing this through if I didn’t think it was going to be better for myself and for all parties involved.”
Knaus, whose at-track intensity has become legendary, put it in stark terms.
“Of course it’s emotional,” he said. “Being a part of the 48 team since 2002 it’s like losing a family member. It’s been an awesome, awesome run with Jimmie and I and the 48 team have had. It’s run its course. It’s disappointing from that standpoint.”
Just how tough has the season been on Johnson? Would you believe the driver tied with Richard Petty and the late Dale Earnhardt for the most Cup championships has had moments of self-doubt?
“I do go through bits and pieces of it,” he said. “There’s been a big journey, I guess, of feeling like I missed my marks (turn-in points on the track) a little bit, or having an OK day, and still going to victory lane. (Now), a picture-perfect lap is good for 10th. A picture-perfect day is good for fifth. It’s just so crazy. (But) in my heart of hearts, I know I am still one of the best competitive and capable drivers.”
All four Hendrick Chevrolets have struggled for speed virtually the entire season, although Chase Elliott has broken through since August for his first three career Cup wins.
“I don’t think our equipment has been to the level it needs to be,” Johnson said. “I don’t think my communication with Chad has been to the level it needs. Chase and (crew chief ) Alan Gustafson have shown what the potential of our cars are and have done a really nice job.
“I’m so proud of what we’ve all done, as a group. It’s my responsibility to lead this team and find the right environment to take us back to what our cars are capable of. Our first goal is to be best in class at Hendrick.”
Lowe’s new management told Hendrick at the beginning of the year they would not be renewing. Ally Financial will become Johnson’s primary sponsor.
“We just had a get-together with Lowe’s at the (Charlotte) Hornets basketball arena,” Johnson said. “We had anybody that’s worked on the Lowe’s team over the years come and have a beer and hang out. It was really a celebratory moment.”
Maybe, just maybe, Knaus can tinker with the No. 48 enough for a last victory. Or Johnson can do it, by speed, or by chance.