The latest auto news, reviews, prices, product and vehicle releases. Mar
22nd
Stay connected Subscribe to our RSS feed
For years the worst name you could give a driver in NASCAR was a “points racer.”
That meant a driver who wouldn't go hell for leather for victories. He'd be content to take it a little easier and record a fourth of fifth place finish.
And it was easy to tell. Especially when, after a race, a driver would say, “it was a good points day,” describing his inability to win.
This year NASCAR officials announced a new regulation, which virtually guaranteed a starting spot in the 16-driver, 10-race playoffs known as the Chase for the Sprint Cup. All a driver has to do is win race and finish in the top-30 in points. And the points leader will qualify up till the finale at Homestead.
With six Sprint Cup Championships and 66 victories in the 12 full seasons until this year the very last person you would call a points racer is Jimmie Johnson.
Or is he?
When your humble correspondent asked the reigning champ about if he was concerned about getting his first win of the year to “lock-in,” to the Chase he gave the following answer:
“When you look at the stats and you have 16 different winners in a year it's a pretty rare occurrence,” Johnson said.
“I still think that points are every bit as important as they have been until you get to Homestead. Even when you get into the Chase itself the top guy in points will advance in pretty much every scenario to race at Homestead.
“So points are still the focus in what I'm looking at. We have been able to win multiple races a year with a certain mindset. I am not going to chase home runs. I'm looking at a smooth and consistent 26 races and when we get a look at a home run we are going to swing for it. But we are not stepping up to the plate every time trying to hit it out (of the park for the home run).”
Kind of ironic eh?
Now I'm not calling Johnson names because, likely, he and crew chief, Chad Knaus have crunched the numbers/run the scenarios and figured out that the best strategy, which would earn the hallowed seventh championship in NASCAR's premier series will likely be won by the driver who earns the most points up until the finale at Homestead Miami Speedway.
Of course at this point, the new NASCAR rules state the driver in the final top four in the standings who finishes highest in the finale will be declared the champion. And that is sort of a wild card.
And this plays into the reigning champ's hands. He has been aggressive when it pays off and restrained it was required. That is the formula for winning championships.
Still you have to admit it does sound ironic when he talks about points.
That meant a driver who wouldn't go hell for leather for victories. He'd be content to take it a little easier and record a fourth of fifth place finish.
And it was easy to tell. Especially when, after a race, a driver would say, “it was a good points day,” describing his inability to win.
This year NASCAR officials announced a new regulation, which virtually guaranteed a starting spot in the 16-driver, 10-race playoffs known as the Chase for the Sprint Cup. All a driver has to do is win race and finish in the top-30 in points. And the points leader will qualify up till the finale at Homestead.
With six Sprint Cup Championships and 66 victories in the 12 full seasons until this year the very last person you would call a points racer is Jimmie Johnson.
Or is he?
 |
| Jimmie Johnson (Photo: Hendrick Motorsports) |
When your humble correspondent asked the reigning champ about if he was concerned about getting his first win of the year to “lock-in,” to the Chase he gave the following answer:
“When you look at the stats and you have 16 different winners in a year it's a pretty rare occurrence,” Johnson said.
“I still think that points are every bit as important as they have been until you get to Homestead. Even when you get into the Chase itself the top guy in points will advance in pretty much every scenario to race at Homestead.
“So points are still the focus in what I'm looking at. We have been able to win multiple races a year with a certain mindset. I am not going to chase home runs. I'm looking at a smooth and consistent 26 races and when we get a look at a home run we are going to swing for it. But we are not stepping up to the plate every time trying to hit it out (of the park for the home run).”
Kind of ironic eh?
Now I'm not calling Johnson names because, likely, he and crew chief, Chad Knaus have crunched the numbers/run the scenarios and figured out that the best strategy, which would earn the hallowed seventh championship in NASCAR's premier series will likely be won by the driver who earns the most points up until the finale at Homestead Miami Speedway.
Of course at this point, the new NASCAR rules state the driver in the final top four in the standings who finishes highest in the finale will be declared the champion. And that is sort of a wild card.
And this plays into the reigning champ's hands. He has been aggressive when it pays off and restrained it was required. That is the formula for winning championships.
Still you have to admit it does sound ironic when he talks about points.