While NASCAR’s playoffs, the Chase for the Sprint Cup starts Saturday at the Chicagoland Speedway, the game was on last Saturday night at Richmond International Raceway.
Once again five-time and defending champ, Jimmie Johnson, tangled, twice, with Kurt Busch.
The first incident was likely just a “racing deal,” as Busch locked his brakes going into a turn forcing Johnson’s car into a wall, and then, into the garage for lengthy repairs.
Whether it was an accident or a deliberate act Johnson returned to the track, many laps down, and made a sloppy attempt at retaliation. He spun out, worse, without any major injury to Busch’s car. Johnson explanation was "I'm just not going to let people run our race car.”
This level of aggression is nothing new among the two Cup champions “And unfortunately we have had a history over the years,” Johnson admitted.
Was this payback an indication that there is a chink in Johnson’s armor? It might.
Earlier this year Busch said that he was “in Johnson’s head.” He repeated it again after the incident in Richmond.
“When he came back to us, you know, you could see it coming. That’s not something you see from Jimmie Johnson every day so I know we’re in his head. If we’re going to race this way, he’s got to worry that there’s 10 other guys in this Chase, not just the 22.”
Other drivers agree that Johnson, his crew chief, Chad Knaus, and the entire team have something special.
"The No. 48 is perhaps the mentally strongest team there is out there,'' Brad Keselowski said about Johnson's team."I don't think anyone would argue that and they have speed.”
Even though there are 41 other cars out on NASCAR tracks at any given time Kurt Busch and Johnson seem to find a way into each other’s fenders more often than not.
With NASCAR’s announced policy to allow drivers to police them on the track it seems that the Chase could start to resemble a demolition derby of paybacks.
“So it seems to be turning that way, absolutely,” said Johnson. “The boys have at it, certain things are in effect.”
Once again five-time and defending champ, Jimmie Johnson, tangled, twice, with Kurt Busch.
The first incident was likely just a “racing deal,” as Busch locked his brakes going into a turn forcing Johnson’s car into a wall, and then, into the garage for lengthy repairs.
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| Jimmie Johnson (Photo: Getty Images for NASCAR) |
Whether it was an accident or a deliberate act Johnson returned to the track, many laps down, and made a sloppy attempt at retaliation. He spun out, worse, without any major injury to Busch’s car. Johnson explanation was "I'm just not going to let people run our race car.”
This level of aggression is nothing new among the two Cup champions “And unfortunately we have had a history over the years,” Johnson admitted.
Was this payback an indication that there is a chink in Johnson’s armor? It might.
Earlier this year Busch said that he was “in Johnson’s head.” He repeated it again after the incident in Richmond.
“When he came back to us, you know, you could see it coming. That’s not something you see from Jimmie Johnson every day so I know we’re in his head. If we’re going to race this way, he’s got to worry that there’s 10 other guys in this Chase, not just the 22.”
Other drivers agree that Johnson, his crew chief, Chad Knaus, and the entire team have something special.
"The No. 48 is perhaps the mentally strongest team there is out there,'' Brad Keselowski said about Johnson's team."I don't think anyone would argue that and they have speed.”
Even though there are 41 other cars out on NASCAR tracks at any given time Kurt Busch and Johnson seem to find a way into each other’s fenders more often than not.
With NASCAR’s announced policy to allow drivers to police them on the track it seems that the Chase could start to resemble a demolition derby of paybacks.
“So it seems to be turning that way, absolutely,” said Johnson. “The boys have at it, certain things are in effect.”