2008 Preseason No. 2: Jimmie Johnson

No. 48 Lowe’s Chevy

2008 Spin
OK, now top that! Jimmie Johnson entered the 2007 season the reigning champ, and all he did was pull a repeat. 

What will Johnson do for an encore in 2008? The stakes are high. Cale Yarborough’s three straight titles from 1976-78 have stood as a record for nearly 30 years. But if anyone can win three in a row in this day and age, it’s Johnson. His team has learned to use the point system for every possible gain, and nobody overcomes adversity the way the No. 48 team has. Behind in the race, behind in the points, it doesn’t matter. Somehow, some way, the silver, blue and black behemoth is a contender at the end.

The one-two punch of Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus has become the stuff of legend. If Johnson gets the glory, it’s Knaus’ guts that get him there. Knaus coaxes more out of a racecar — and his emotional driver — than almost anyone in the business. Sometimes that’s his downfall, as Knaus’ constant searching for an edge often bleeds into NASCAR’s infamous “gray area” of the rulebook, with the team suffering through lengthy suspensions as a result. 

But this group is a cohesive unit like no other. Like Knaus, car chief Ron Malec and many other crew members have been with Johnson since he first climbed through the window of a Cup car. Stability, stability and more stability is the glue holding the champions together, especially when you add sponsor Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse.

The only change for 2008 is the addition of Dale Earnhardt Jr. to the Hendrick Motorsports fold. But even that could be a positive, as Johnson and Earnhardt both like a racecar with a similar feel. If they jell as teammates, both stand to gain. With the pieces in place, expect Johnson and Co. to maintain the status quo in 2008 — especially since they won’t lose that competitive edge.

“A fear that motivates me all the time is that I’m gonna forget how to do this,” Johnson says. “That I wake up someday and I’ve just been dreaming. That really keeps me hungry, because I don’t think I’m taking everything for granted.”

With that attitude, Yarborough’s record looks more attainable than ever.

Opposing Crew Chiefs’ Take
“They’re the best right now, no doubt about it. Everything they do is right. They’re hard to beat, and it’s not going to be any different next year. … Definitely on top of their game. (Crew chief) Chad (Knaus) is a big pusher. He can be hard to work for, but as long as the reward is there, everyone pretty much considers it the price you have to pay. … They’ve won the championship the past two years, but it didn’t surprise me this year. It would surprise me if they won it again. Bringing (Dale Earnhardt) Junior in is going to change the dynamics of the place a little bit. It’ll be interesting.”

Fantasy Stall
Looking at Checkers: Most anywhere, but Johnson likes ’em fast. Atlanta, Charlotte and Vegas are favorite targets.
Pretty Solid Pick:  A cunning crew chief, fast team and feisty attitude make him good on short tracks.
Good Sleeper Pick:  He’s usually doing the pushing on the plate tracks but is in position for good runs.
Runs on Seven Cylinders:  Road courses appear to be the one chink in his armor.
Insider Tip:  Keep an eye out — he loves to pull off the sweep. When he wins in the spring, he’s likely to to so again in the fall.

For more in-depth driver news and hard-hitting features, order your 2008 Athlon Sports Racing Annual here.